SoCal Year 5 LEAF & EV Gatherings - See Year 6

[Sondy132001]

Generally how many people show up ? and is there a certain you are sitting at, so I know you're Leaf owners =) This would be my first time going.

S

Hi and welcome. The number of attendees varies between as few as four (rarely) to as many as 12 or 15. It also varies by the time of day. Usually four or five of us are there by 8:30 am, with the maximum number seated by 9:30 or so.

As for recognizing us, you'll see several tables pulled together in the area farthest from the food, but not in a special room. We will look nerdy, generally bearded, over 60 with notable exceptions, mostly male, and all remarkably attractive. You might hesitate to approach us because we are so good looking, you'll think you've stumbled into an Oscars after-party.

We'll look forward to meeting you!

My girlfriend and I will be there Saturday, look forward to meeting you guys and learning new things about my car

 

[Boomer23]

Generally how many people show up ? and is there a certain you are sitting at, so I know you're Leaf owners =) This would be my first time going.

S

Hi and welcome. The number of attendees varies between as few as four (rarely) to as many as 12 or 15. It also varies by the time of day. Usually four or five of us are there by 8:30 am, with the maximum number seated by 9:30 or so.

As for recognizing us, you'll see several tables pulled together in the area farthest from the food, but not in a special room. We will look nerdy, generally bearded, over 60 with notable exceptions, mostly male, and all remarkably attractive. You might hesitate to approach us because we are so good looking, you'll think you've stumbled into an Oscars after-party.

We'll look forward to meeting you!

My girlfriend and I will be there Saturday, look forward to meeting you guys and learning new things about my car

Cool. We'll be looking forward to meeting you.

 

[garygid]

I live in Laguna Hills, and any kind souls are welcome to join
our Gathering. There will be LEAFs, at least 3 Teslas, and usually
some Rav4EVs, and occasionally a sprinkling of other vehicles.

Welcome.
Most of the staff know where the EV group sits.
Also, some of us are taller than most of the others in the resturant.

North on I-5 past the 55 interchange, 17th street exit, go
2 blocks East, and Hometown Buffer is on the right,
just before the train tracks.

CU there.

 

[garygid]

46 hours until our next Gathering, at the HTB on 17th in Santa Ana,
just 2 blocks East of interstate 5.

For most normal folks, do not eat before arriving, and
do not plan a luncheon for after you leave. If you leave hungry,
you have either done something wrong, or on purpose.

Of course, very few of us have ever been accused of being "normal",
and that is part of the richness that our Gatherings include.

The HTB food offerings generally change to their lunch menu between
10:30 and 11 AM, where chicken, meat loaf, and other "lunchy"
items bdcome available.

 

[garygid]

25 hours and 24 minutes to go, ... yum, gasp, burp!

Did you see the total solar eclipse? :shock:

 

[LeafyD]

Planning on another stealth breakfast visit. Should be lining up at 8, eating hearty by 8:15 and out by 8:45. If I dawdle, please push me out the door! Going out to the valley for the Theodore Payne native garden tour. See you guys tomorrow, bright and early!

 

[garygid]

2 hours and 5 minutes to go.
Up, up, up,... Go, go, go!

 

[JasonA]

Planning on another stealth breakfast visit. Should be lining up at 8, eating hearty by 8:15 and out by 8:45. If I dawdle, please push me out the door! Going out to the valley for the Theodore Payne native garden tour. See you guys tomorrow, bright and early!

If you're coming up this way, stop by the house and see the solar setup now as we're just finishing up this morning!

And you can charge here as well

 

[tbleakne]

I arrived late, after LeafyD had left, and I am not the one to report total counts of all vehicle types, but I know there was a brand new Mercedes EV, at least one RAV4 EV, and 5 Teslas, a possible record.

We had a very interesting visitor who had driven his Toyota RAV4 EV from Moab, UT, with quite a story of how he got here. He was in town to get major service, including a new primary drive gear, since no service of a RAV4 EV is available outside of CA.

He kept talking about his pusher trailer, but only two of us ended up seeing what he was talking about at the very end of the breakfast. It appeared to be the bare chassis of a VW bug, with no body, only the rear-mounted engine, rear wheels, and transmission. He tows it behind his RAV4 EV with the transmission in neutral. When he needs pushing for range extension, which must be frequently, given where he lives, he first stops and puts the transmission in 4th gear. He gets back up to speed on the highway, and turns on the RAV4 headlights, which starts the VW engine. The VW pushes him along with a little to spare for regen into his main RAV4 EV battery. If he needs to hit the brake, he has wired the brake light to immediately kill the VW ignition. Since the VW is still in gear, its engine goes into compression and becomes a drag. I am not sure whether he can restart the engine without stopping, but if he wants to return to electric tow mode, he must stop to put the VW transmission in neutral.

He said he is not the first person to do this, but I feel he deserves our respect for pushing the envelope of the EV revolution in a very rual area with only Tesla charging showing on Plugshare.

 

[mwalsh]

He kept talking about his pusher trailer, but only two of us ended up seeing what he was talking about at the very end of the breakfast. It appeared to be the bare chassis of a VW bug, with no body, only the rear-mounted engine, rear wheels, and transmission. He tows it behind his RAV4 EV with the transmission in neutral. When he needs pushing for range extension, which must be frequently, given where he lives, he first stops and puts the transmission in 4th gear. He gets back up to speed on the highway, and turns on the RAV4 headlights, which starts the VW engine. The VW pushes him along with a little to spare for regen into his main RAV4 EV battery. If he needs to hit the brake, he has wired the brake light to immediately kill the VW ignition. Since the VW is still in gear, its engine goes into compression and becomes a drag. I am not sure whether he can restart the engine without stopping, but if he wants to return to electric tow mode, he must stop to put the VW transmission in neutral.

He said he is not the first person to do this, but I feel he deserves our respect for pushing the envelope of the EV revolution in a very rual area with only Tesla charging showing on Plugshare.

Woah!

 

[garygid]

I think that we had at least 14 warm bodies, perhaps a couple more,
because several left early (Dori and Gary) or arrived later on.

The 4 Teslas that I expected belonged to Tom, Robert, his friend Mike, and me.
Who brought the 5th Tesla? Since the last meeting, Andy received (in Oregon)
his Tesla Chademo Adapter (TCA), which he reports tested successfully. Tom
was due to get his TCA on Saturday, and my TCA should arrive today (Monday).

Looking at PlugShare, I see that there are lots of QC (or combo) chargers in
the greater LA area now, many, or perhaps most, either eVgo, or Greenlots, it
seems, but at least a lot more progress than I realized. With the whiplash
injury this last year, I guess that I have been even more out of touch than usual.
I an so very thankful for all of you.

With LEAFs, Rav4EVs, probably a Coda, and others, we really have a wonderfully
varied collection, with a variety of nice modifications or additions. I just got a glance
at the pusher, and the Moab Woodsman apparently made very good use of a
(probably totaled?) VW rear wheel drive... a very interesting guy indeed.

We all had a great time, even though there were something like 200 HHS
(Highland? High School) orchestra students that totally packed the place.
Many were bubbling with energy and conversation, while others seemed...
somewhat tired, sleepy, worn out, or ... just more subdued. Nice to see
a big bunch of nice young people doing constructive things.

The ladies from Mission Viejo did not show, perhaps we were just too good looking,
or they saw Caroline's smile, and just couldn't compete. Maybe next time.

The next Gathering will be in 3 weeks instead of 2, due to Easter weekend.
So, Gather at the HTB "on" South Street in Cerritos on April 11th.

 

[tbleakne]

The 4 Teslas that I expected belonged to Tom, Robert, his friend Mike, and me.
Who brought the 5th Tesla? Since the last meeting, Andy received (in Oregon)
his Tesla Chademo Adapter (TCA), which he reports tested successfully. Tom
was due to get his TCA on Saturday, and my TCA should arrive today (Monday).
.

The 5th Tesla was Sparky's.
My TCA was on the UPS truck Saturday morning, ready for delivery next business day, which is today. Not sure where to test it near Claremont.

 

[Sondy132001]

I think that we had at least 14 warm bodies, perhaps a couple more,
because several left early (Dori and Gary) or arrived later on.

The 4 Teslas that I expected belonged to Tom, Robert, his friend Mike, and me.
Who brought the 5th Tesla? Since the last meeting, Andy received (in Oregon)
his Tesla Chademo Adapter (TCA), which he reports tested successfully. Tom
was due to get his TCA on Saturday, and my TCA should arrive today (Monday).

Looking at PlugShare, I see that there are lots of QC (or combo) chargers in
the greater LA area now, many, or perhaps most, either eVgo, or Greenlots, it
seems, but at least a lot more progress than I realized. With the whiplash
injury this last year, I guess that I have been even more out of touch than usual.
I an so very thankful for all of you.

With LEAFs, Rav4EVs, probably a Coda, and others, we really have a wonderfully
varied collection, with a variety of nice modifications or additions. I just got a glance
at the pusher, and the Moab Woodsman apparently made very good use of a
(probably totaled?) VW rear wheel drive... a very interesting guy indeed.

We all had a great time, even though there were something like 200 HHS
(Highland? High School) orchestra students that totally packed the place.
Many were bubbling with energy and conversation, while others seemed...
somewhat tired, sleepy, worn out, or ... just more subdued. Nice to see
a big bunch of nice young people doing constructive things.

The ladies from Mission Viejo did not show, perhaps we were just too good looking,
or they saw Caroline's smile, and just couldn't compete. Maybe next time. I'll be there next time, I have a potbellied pig, I woke up Saturday morning and he had gotten himself into trouble, so I had to take care of him, I was disappointed and look forward to meeting all of you.

The next Gathering will be in 3 weeks instead of 2, due to Easter weekend.
So, Gather at the HTB "on" South Street in Cerritos on April 11th.

 

[garygid]

Pot-belly pig, not everyone has one if those.
Is this a friend, or a pre-barbecue candidate?
Hopefully you managed the problem well.

Look forward to you joining us in Cerritos, assuming that
you can get there and back. If you cannot, maybe you can
arrange to LEAF-frog with someone... ask here.

Cheers, Gary

 

[garygid]

Orange County College - OCC Green Day event on 15 April 2015

They are putting on the OCC Green Day on Wed April 15th from 9 AM to 1 PM.
They would like one LEAF to drive onto their lawn for display, and they are
also willing to display a Rav4EV, Coda, and Tesla (and other?) if available.

Need to arrive around 8:30 to set up, and they will provide us with a
free table (and water and chairs, I think) to promote our group, or do show-and-tell.
We could show EVSEs, various adapters, and the Tesla Chademo Adapter.

The area is in the sun, no shade, but we could bring a canopy and
they have some students that would help us set up.

Since it on a work day, Wednesday, not everybody can get free to
attend, but I can bring my Tesla, I think, although somebody
has a red one that is much more striking than my silver Nicolas.

It is in Costa Mesa on Fairview by the Fairgrounds. 
Anybody interested in shaping young minds?
Post here and PM me if you want to participate.

 

[Sondy132001]

Pot-belly pig, not everyone has one if those.
Is this a friend, or a pre-barbecue candidate?
Hopefully you managed the problem well.

Look forward to you joining us in Cerritos, assuming that
you can get there and back. If you cannot, maybe you can
arrange to LEAF-frog with someone... ask here.

Cheers, Gary

He's a pet, a 250 lb pet pig, April 11 might be hard for me I'm working the Pig Tent at the Costa Mesa fairgrounds Pet Expo that day, maybe the next Santa Ana one I can meet you all.

S

 

[TonyWilliams]

Orange County College - OCC Green Day event on 15 April 2015

They are putting on the OCC Green Day on Wed April 15th from 9 AM to 1 PM.
They would like one LEAF to drive onto their lawn for display, and they are
also willing to display a Rav4EV, Coda, and Tesla (and other?) if available.

Need to arrive around 8:30 to set up, and they will provide us with a
free table (and water and chairs, I think) to promote our group, or do show-and-tell.
We could show EVSEs, various adapters, and the Tesla Chademo Adapter...

It is in Costa Mesa on Fairview by the Fairgrounds. 
Anybody interested in shaping young minds?
Post here and PM me if you want to participate.

I can probably bring a RAV4 EV.

 

[garygid]

Somewhat sadly, my faithful Maple LEAF has left me, after 4 years and 21k miles.
It feels like a loss of a friend, the end of an adventure, or end of an era to me. :?

The good side is that the new owner is an "older gentleman" who lives nearby, and
is likely to become a friend and attend our Gatherings, at least while he learns
about the strange new ways of e-life. Steve seems like a good guy, and, like
many of us, has been through some of the tough trials of growing older.

If things work out as planned, he will ride with me and join us on April 11th
at the Hometown Buffet in Cerritos. Everything happens for a reason.

He had Maple "detailed", and he says that she now looks brand new, so he
is quite pleased. For now, he only has 120v available in his garage, and
getting more might be very difficult, since there might only be one circuit
to the garage, and getting another circuit installed problematic.

We still need to get him hooked up with Carwings, the Leaf Owners Portal,
and wipe my phone and nav info. Has anybody done this easily?

Cheers, Gary

 

[GlennD]

Somewhat sadly, my faithful Maple LEAF has left me, after 4 years and 21k miles.
It feels like a loss of a friend, the end of an adventure, or end of an era to me. :?

The good side is that the new owner is an "older gentleman" who lives nearby, and
is likely to become a friend and attend our Gatherings, at least while he learns
about the strange new ways of e-life. Steve seems like a good guy, and, like
many of us, has been through some of the tough trials of growing older.

If things work out as planned, he will ride with me and join us on April 11th
at the Hometown Buffet in Cerritos. Everything happens for a reason.

He had Maple "detailed", and he says that she now looks brand new, so he
is quite pleased. For now, he only has 120v available in his garage, and
getting more might be very difficult, since there might only be one circuit
to the garage, and getting another circuit installed problematic.

We still need to get him hooked up with Carwings, the Leaf Owners Portal,
and wipe my phone and nav info. Has anybody done this easily?

Cheers, Gary

I just wiped the Homelink on the two cars I traded in. That is easy. You just hold down the two end buttons for a while. You are different since you want to hook up a friend. I assume Nissan will have to be involved.

 

[Boomer23]

Orange County College - OCC Green Day event on 15 April 2015

They are putting on the OCC Green Day on Wed April 15th from 9 AM to 1 PM.
They would like one LEAF to drive onto their lawn for display, and they are
also willing to display a Rav4EV, Coda, and Tesla (and other?) if available.

Need to arrive around 8:30 to set up, and they will provide us with a
free table (and water and chairs, I think) to promote our group, or do show-and-tell.
We could show EVSEs, various adapters, and the Tesla Chademo Adapter.

The area is in the sun, no shade, but we could bring a canopy and
they have some students that would help us set up.

Since it on a work day, Wednesday, not everybody can get free to
attend, but I can bring my Tesla, I think, although somebody
has a red one that is much more striking than my silver Nicolas.

It is in Costa Mesa on Fairview by the Fairgrounds. 
Anybody interested in shaping young minds?
Post here and PM me if you want to participate.

I can probably make this event, and I can display the black 2013 LEAF SL with the 4 camera parking system, if needed. I've attended in several prior years. Mwalsh has brought his LEAF and appeared to enjoy being an EV explainer in prior years.