Upstate (formerly North) California LEAFs

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edatoakrun

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 11, 2010
Messages
5,222
Location
Shasta County, North California
12/6/14 edit: Thread title change. I added "Upstate" to North California LEAFs.

Please limit this thread to LEAF/BEV news for the Northern third of California, from the Bay Area-to-Sacramento-(almost)-to-Reno line, north to the Oregon Border.

I just wanted to report that there is a blue LEAF at Crown Motors Redding, if anyone local would like to take a look.

It's not an official, "demo", but was brought in for Cool April Nights, and will be at some of the events this week. Not sure if you can drive it or not, I didn't ask. As it has been 5 months since I'd seen one, I had a chance to take a look at a few of the details I was wondering about.

I also asked about their two L2 chargers, and they will be powered and available 24 hours a day, Cypress ave. exit, about a mile west of I-5 should any of you Southerners be headed up this way.

The folks at Crown have been very pleasant, especially considering I ordered elsewhere. They were not on the LEAF dealer order database when I RAQ'd In September, but they said they have 13 orders as of today. More than I'd have expected for a "small' town like Redding.

And I was told two of these LEAFs may well be delivered before mine, even though ordered months later...

For those lucky buyers, my sincere congratulations.

I'm still waiting on my "week of May 2" delivery.
 
My LEAF made it to Petaluma this AM, and should be ready for pick-up tomorrow.

I am looking for a contingency charge point along highways 113/99 between Davis and Chico sometime between Friday and Monday. Even a short 120 volt charge might allow me to avoid the "flatbed of shame". Between Biggs and Chico, would be Ideal.

The Woodland J 1772 is still out of commission (and the 120 volt outlet on-site is turned off, also, according to Adam at PG&E!) so, as far as I know, the gap is 90-93 miles.

So if there is anyone, member, lurker, or otherwise, that can make an offer of assistance, by posting here or sending me a private message, I'd appreciate it.

BTW, two January orders made it to Redding Nissan today, on the same day as my 10/1 order...

Ed
 
Looks like this class will be about 1/2 on a survey of alternative fuels (including BEVs) and 1/2 on propane, specifically.

I spoke to one of the staff to register, and it sounds like there is a decent chance to sell the concept of combining BEV charging with propane for the (very few) north state alt fuel site opportunities. Note the Sacramento class next month, for you CENTRAL CA folks...

Class details and reg info at the link below.

No Cost, 3-day class! Register now for Transfer Flow’s Alternative Fuel Training Class, Jan. 17 - 19 in Redding or Feb. 6 - 8 in Sacramento! Lunch will be provided on all three days, and attendees will receive two training certificates upon completion of the class, plus the training books! Call Warren Johnson today at (530) 893-5209, ext. 12 to register!

Dates and Locations
January 17 - 19
Smart Business Resource Center
1201 Placer Street, Redding, CA

February 6 - 8
Teeco Products
7471 Reese Road, Sacramento,CA

http://www.transferflow.com/propane_training.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
Well, I think there are probably a few dozen LEAFs in the area, now.

At least two of them will be at:

http://wholeearthandwatershedfestival.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The newly-formed SCEVO association will have a LEAF on display, and more info available for potential EV owners, on Saturday the 28th, 10-3, at Redding City Hall.

Feel free to drop by, or pass the word on, if you have friends or relatives in the area,

If you'd like to help with the effort, by hanging out at the display for a while, and answering EV questions, post here, or PM me.
 
A year after picking up my LEAF and driving it home from the Bay area, I finally made the trip back.

530 miles over 3 days, all on L2. I took my previous Route south, charging at public J 1772s, with charges in Chico (I made it to the Chico EAA meeting, and the while-you-recharge Sierra Nevada brewery tour and free tasting, is worth the trip in itself), Woodland, Vacaville, and San Rafael, my overnight destination, 251 miles in total. Sunday I made my way to Lafayette, where I added a few bars, then returned to Vacaville for the night, about 93 miles. To my regret, I didn’t have the time to risk a side trip to the San Ramon DC.

From Vacaville, it’s about 185 miles to my home, along the I-5 corridor, (driving mostly on what is left of old highway 99) with stops at Williams and Corning, using my 16 amp upgraded EVSE at RV parks.

At the end of the first day I was dreading the return trip, but old 99 turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. Much lower level of traffic than on the eastern route, with far less obnoxious drivers. Apparently it’s driven mostly by locals, who manage to simply pass slower vehicles, rather than forming ICEV-tailgating-caterpillars, which made the two lane “new” 99 and 113 route a nightmare.

If you want to drive at or below the speed limit, to add range per kWh, take “old” 99.

I also think that well-run RV parks are often superior to public J1772s for required BEV charging, as opposed to opportunity PHEV charging, where L2 opportunities are few and far between.

I had back-up charge points for the entire trip lined up, and needed them twice at public J1772s, one being ICED, and one out of order.

The two RV parks both wanted my business, and I was happy to pay their modest fees. (will post details at Recargo soon).

Both said I would be welcome to check in before closing hours, and come and go as I pleased, or just take a nap (in fairly secure and quiet locations) till my charge was complete.

Next trip I will probably leave in the afternoon and recharge overnight on L1 at a motel (I checked out the charge opportunities at several in Williams), requiring only a few hours of L2 to make it to the plethora of J1772s at Vacaville.

No real drama. I turned over 9,000 miles during the trip, with no detectable range loss. LEAF NAV, unfortunately, does not contain many of the roads used, and old 99 has been rerouted and renamed in so many places, I’d suggest you try it during daylight, at least the first time.

I never even saw the LBW, as my longest leg between charges was the 89 miles from home to Chico.

Edit: I actually did see, LBW, and drove a few miles past VLBW, as planned, when I made the familiar 51+ mile last leg from Vacaville to San Rafael Saturday night, having started with only 7 bars.

I kept written logs, which along with CW, will allow me the confidence to reduce recharge times, by charging to between 70% and 90%, at both Williams and Corning, rather than charging to 100%, next trip.

Yes, you will need patience headed into North California in a LEAF, but if you have the time, there is no need to wait for DC, IMO.

I hope to make a trip to Oregon, and link up with the DC (I-5 Green Highway) corridor soon.
 
Wouldn't have imagined it possible a year ago. This summer, I'm giving serious consideration to driving from San Jose to San Diego in the LEAF. It's doable if one has time and patience.
 
edatoakrun said:
530 miles over 3 days, all on L2. I took my previous Route south, charging at public J 1772s, with charges in Chico (I made it to the Chico EAA meeting, and the while-you-recharge Sierra Nevada brewery tour and free tasting, is worth the trip in itself), Woodland, Vacaville, and San Rafael, my overnight destination, 251 miles in total. Sunday I made my way to Lafayette, where I added a few bars, then returned to Vacaville for the night, about 93 miles. To my regret, I didn’t have the time to risk a side trip to the San Ramon DC.

Did you ever write this up and post it on the Nissan LEAF Facebook page? I'm pretty sure you'd get some response from Jonathan, the social media director. Also, would be good to see your map/charge spots. Or are they all posted on Recargo now?
 
gascant said:
edatoakrun said:
530 miles over 3 days, all on L2. I took my previous Route south, charging at public J 1772s, with charges in Chico (I made it to the Chico EAA meeting, and the while-you-recharge Sierra Nevada brewery tour and free tasting, is worth the trip in itself), Woodland, Vacaville, and San Rafael, my overnight destination, 251 miles in total. Sunday I made my way to Lafayette, where I added a few bars, then returned to Vacaville for the night, about 93 miles. To my regret, I didn’t have the time to risk a side trip to the San Ramon DC.

Did you ever write this up and post it on the Nissan LEAF Facebook page? I'm pretty sure you'd get some response from Jonathan, the social media director. Also, would be good to see your map/charge spots. Or are they all posted on Recargo now?

Posted at Recargo. Also check out the Recargo RV park sites in the Lassen National Park region.

IMO, Rancheria RV park at Hat Creek (where I charged yesterday on a 140m mile Lassen Park HWY 299/89/44 loop trip) would be a particularly good place to stay for an EV summer trip to the nearby Parks and wilderness areas.

They have 3 tent sites with 50 Amp service!

The Lassen Peak road should be plowed and open in a few more weeks...


http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=5022&hilit=+lassen" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
Shasta County may take the last step toward adopting its regional climate action plan Tuesday before the sometimes-controversial program to cut greenhouse gas emissions urged by state environmental officials is put through a final review process and made official...

http://www.redding.com/news/2012/sep/20/shasta-countys-regional-climate-plan-raises-some/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Just heard about this Friday. Sorry for the late notice, to the forum.

If by chance anyone want to go to the BOS meeting /Workshop tomorrow morning, be sure to say hi.

I expect quite a few Tea-Partyers there. There's been a lot of "Climate change conspiracy=agenda 21" talk , on the local AM airwaves recently...

If you want your comment to be put into the record, send it to:

[email protected]


I think you need to do it now, as in today? But there should be another comment period in the future.


Below is my entire (hastily written) comment, a shorter version of which is supposed to make it into a LTTE in tomorrow's Redding Record Searchlight:


What’s missing from the Shasta County regional climate action plan?

In over a year, I've put over 13,000 miles on my battery electric vehicle (BEV), over 12,000 of those miles in Shasta County. My reduction of CO2 pollution in Shasta County by driving a BEV, rather than a far-less-efficient gasoline powered car, approaches 100%.

My reduction in CO2 pollution world-wide, is between 70% and 90%, since the CO2 pollution created in just getting the oil and tar located in distant regions, out of the ground, refined, and transported to the gas pumps of North California, is comparable to the CO2 pollution created in the production of North California’s relatively low-emission off-peak (overnight) grid power, that I usually use to charge my car.

And, of Course, American troops have never been asked to shed their blood to secure electricity imports. Every American BEV is fueled by American energy, providing jobs in America, to those who produce electric vehicle fuel.

It has also cost me a little over one cent per mile driven, by charging overnight, using PG&E's optional time-of-use rate E9.That's like buying gasoline at a under 50 cents a gallon, if you can get a gas-fueled car to compare it to, that actually gets over 40 MPG. That happens to be the cheapest electricity rate available in Northern California, but every EV owner can charge at home, for the cost equivalent of $1.25 a gallon, or less.

The lower cost and CO2 pollution are both the result of my having my own fuel station. You probably already have one already too, an electric outlet at your home. Charge overnight and you start every day with a full charge. But, if you wish to make trips over 70-90 miles or so (with a 20 kWh “full tank”, the size I have in my BEV) in one day, you have a real problem. There are currently no fast-charge stations between the San Francisco Bay area and Ashland Oregon. So, in our region, instead of picking up about three quarters of a “tank” in under 30 minutes, it still takes you many hours (just as long as it takes at home) to refuel on the road.

Fast charge stations are required to make BEVs a practical option for many North State drivers.

Unfortunately, North State political leaders have allowed the exclusion of the Northern third of the State from the pilot project to install fast-charge stations on. And so far, no local government or private entity has produced any credible plan to fill the North California Gap, in our State’s fuel infrastructure.

As recently announced:

“Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. joined with the California Public Utilities Commission today to announce a $120 million dollar settlement with NRG Energy Inc. that will fund the construction of a statewide network of charging stations for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), including at least 200 public fast-charging stations and another 10,000 plug-in units at 1,000 locations across the state...

The network of charging stations funded by the settlement will be installed in the San Francisco Bay Area, the San Joaquin Valley, the Los Angeles Basin and San Diego County. This new infrastructure network is a breakthrough in encouraging consumer adoption of electric vehicles and will contribute significantly to achieving California’s clean car goals...”

http://gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=17463" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So, while Oregon and Washington have nearly completed their programs to build fast charge stations, from The Oregon/ Northern California border to Canada, and Central and Southern California of are on the way to doing the same, it looks like the “West Coast Electric Highway” will end in Ashland, and then not begin again until Sacramento/Vacaville, before continuing on, all the way to Mexico.

http://westcoastgreenhighway.com/electrichighways.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Why is there no mention in the Draft Shasta County regional climate action plan of any planning to provide the obvious benefits of giving residents a superior alternative to power their cars, rather than caving in to the continuing financial extortion and pollution of our atmosphere, by the oil industry?

Why is there no mention of the most “bang for the buck” CO2 reduction measure currently available, reducing CO2 pollution by getting rid of the obsolescent gasoline engines in our cars, rather than, as the plan does now, by emphasizing less practical efforts to discourage private vehicle travel, with the loss of the many of the benefits cars provide?

Why are the advantages of moving our energy infrastructure into the twenty-first century, not only to our environment, but to our regional economic development, lost to North State government agencies?

What are the Shasta board of Supervisors, and other North State government and business leaders, planning to do about it?

Ed Marek

Oak Run
 
Hey, we're gonna start planning to get ready for the cars we've been driving for years...

Seriously though, this is the first official recognition of the need for EV infrastructure planning by a governmental agency in the North State that I am aware of.

I hope any North State residents frequenting this forum, whether future or present EV owners, will join the several others of us who have been trying to improve local infrastructure, and will participate in the local planning process.

...The City of Mount Shasta will receive $200,000 to produce a comprehensive plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) readiness plan for Siskiyou, Shasta, and Tehama counties. The commercial introduction of PEVs is just now beginning. Developing a readiness plan will enable stakeholders to help communities prepare for more of these clean vehicles, and is key to creating linked charging infrastructure along the state’s main highway corridors. Streamlining permitting and installation for charging stations will be a key benefit of this planning effort...

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/cec-20121011.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Grant request and description here:

http://www.energy.ca.gov/business_meetings/2012_packets/2012-10-10/Item_12_City_of_Mount_Shasta.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
I stopped at Crown Nissan, Redding CA for some L2 yesterday, intending to head up to Whiskeytown NRA for a hike.

Never made it to Whiskeytown, but had a nice walk at Swasey open space, instead.

Anyway, I spoke to a Nissan LEAF sales specialist, who I'll leave anonymous, both because I didn't ask if I could quote him, and everything below is subject to errors in my understanding and memory:

DC at North CA Nissan Dealers?

Not luck yet. DCs at just the three Nissan dealerships on the Davis-to-Chico-to-Redding route (which I've driven several times on L2) would get you to within ~100 miles of Ashland, and from there CHAdeMO paradise on the "Electric Highway" all the way to Canada.

As to Crown, I was told their actual DC installation estimate cost was ~$27k, but total cost to "upgrade the service" would exceed $60 k. Neither Nissan corporate nor REU is offering them any incentives, and they just don't anticipate the LEAF sales volume to justify that cost.

I was also told Crown has sold 21 LEAFs so far, and expect to sell ~40 in 2013.

They are now sold out of LEAFs and (to their annoyance) haven't been able to get any since the big incentives on 2012 closeouts were announced.

They have five 2013 on order by March, all SVs and SLs, and while I was there they checked on delivery dates, and two of the march orders have been scheduled for earlier delivery (output from Tennessee ramping up?) are now expected in February, so four in total are now expected to come in next month.

I was told that Chico Nissan might have sold a few more LEAFs than they had in Redding, but since Chico is even more "out of the way" than Redding, A DC there is probably also doubtful.

On a related topic, Redding (REU) ratepayers can soon expect another rate increase, as:

...Redding Electric Utility rate hikes that are projected to take effect this year and next. The first step toward the increases of 7.84 percent each is a Feb. 5 public hearing...

http://www.redding.com/news/2013/jan/15/redding-council-clashes-makeup-electric-utility-pa/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So, you poor suckers in Redding will probably soon be paying marginal rates of near 16 cents per kWh (and even higher average rates, including the service fees) to charge your BEVs, if you don't do something before then. This is not only blocking BEV adoption in Redding, but is, IMO, allowing Redding, the largest urban area between Sacramento and Oregon, and the largest market for BEVs, to act as a "roadblock" to closing the DC gap on the I-5 corridor.

As I wrote two years ago, in the comment (mis-titled by the "wretched flashlight" editorial staff):

Can Redding afford THE REU rate hike?

...A major reason most utilities have moved away from fixed rates, and replaced them with seasonal, tiered and time-of-use rates, is that fixed rates fail to produce the lowest total costs to ratepayers.

This is because the cost to utilities to deliver power to customers varies dramatically.

REU pays many times more per kWh to supply electricity at peak demand periods (summer afternoons) than at other times of the day, and seasons of the year.

Fixed rates require a utility to sell electricity below cost at peak demand periods.

Utilities then need to increase other charges (such as REU’s high service fee) to offset these losses.

Since REU rates conceal the true cost of power from the ratepayer, customers cannot realize full savings from conservation, or by shifting their electricity use schedules. Fixed rates raise total utility costs for all customers, by preventing reductions in peak load. Can REU, its ratepayers and the city of Redding afford to continue to pass up the savings offered by better rate designs?...

http://www.redding.com/news/2010/dec/07/can-redding-afford-a-utility-rate-hike/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
edatoakrun said:
I was told that Chico Nissan might have sold a few more LEAFs than they had in Redding, but since Chico is even more "out of the way" than Redding, A DC there is probably also doubtful.
Whadaya mean "out of the way?" I-5 is just for foreigners. Valley people drive 99. ;)

Ray [former Chico State student, unfortunately only briefly]
 
planet4ever said:
edatoakrun said:
I was told that Chico Nissan might have sold a few more LEAFs than they had in Redding, but since Chico is even more "out of the way" than Redding, A DC there is probably also doubtful.
Whadaya mean "out of the way?" I-5 is just for foreigners. Valley people drive 99. ;)

Ray [former Chico State student, unfortunately only briefly]

Actually, for shortest route, maximum m/kWh, and minimum aggravation, I suggest old 99.

From my trip report from last May, on page one of this thread:

...530 miles over 3 days, all on L2. I took my previous Route south, charging at public J 1772s, with charges in Chico (I made it to the Chico EAA meeting, and the while-you-recharge Sierra Nevada brewery tour and free tasting, is worth the trip in itself), Woodland, Vacaville, and San Rafael, my overnight destination, 251 miles in total. Sunday I made my way to Lafayette, where I added a few bars, then returned to Vacaville for the night, about 93 miles. To my regret, I didn't have the time to risk a side trip to the San Ramon DC.

From Vacaville, it’s about 185 miles to my home, along the I-5 corridor, (driving mostly on what is left of old highway 99) with stops at Williams and Corning, using my 16 amp upgraded EVSE at RV parks.

At the end of the first day I was dreading the return trip, but old 99 turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. Much lower level of traffic than on the eastern route, with far less obnoxious drivers. Apparently it’s driven mostly by locals, who manage to simply pass slower vehicles, rather than forming ICEV-tailgating-caterpillars, which made the two lane “new” 99 and 113 route a nightmare.
If you want to drive at or below the speed limit, to add range per kWh, take “old” 99...
 
The "north" counties are working on a plan (and have some money coming), and have a multi-county consortium together to do it. It is conceivable that something may actually happen before summer. I have plans to go to Mt Shasta, Montague, and Yreka soon to scout around a bit, and meet with some folks up there.

Here's where I recommend DC CHAdeMO chargers to bridge the link between Ashland and Calistoga, DRIVING SOUTHBOUND only for a Nissan LEAF range vehicle. I made the graphic specifically for our upcoming car rally (which is going south on I-5):


BC2BCashland2calistogaCHARGERlocations_zps10e0e96b.jpg
 
Can someone from the Sacramento area tell me a good way to get from Red Bluff to Sacramento?

I have Ingineer's EVSE upgrade and a few adapters so I think I can handle most RV parks. I thought that I would stop at the Thunderhill Raceway but after emailing them I don't think I can be sure that an outlet will be available.

So my plan “B” is to go to the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co in Chico and then to Colfax Amtrak Station 86 miles away! Ouch!

Anyone know a better way? Is the 86 mile trek to the Amtrak Station advisable at say 50 MPH? Will I induce road rage if I try that? :p
 
Luft said:
Can someone from the Sacramento area tell me a good way to get from Red Bluff to Sacramento?

I have Ingineer's EVSE upgrade and a few adapters so I think I can handle most RV parks. I thought that I would stop at the Thunderhill Raceway but after emailing them I don't think I can be sure that an outlet will be available.

So my plan “B” is to go to the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co in Chico and then to Colfax Amtrak Station 86 miles away! Ouch!

Anyone know a better way? Is the 86 mile trek to the Amtrak Station advisable at say 50 MPH? Will I induce road rage if I try that? :p

Why do you ask about Colfax? are you trying to get there, or to Sacto?

If you need to go to Sacto, my suggestion is to use "old 99" and charge at RV parks as posted at recargo, and follow "old 99" to the L2 at woodland.

Never tried it myself, but Chico to Colfax without a recharge is probably only practical in warm weather. I'd try to line up an RV park en route, if I were you.

From P 1, my trip report on both routes last May:

A year after picking up my LEAF and driving it home from the Bay area, I finally made the trip back.

530 miles over 3 days, all on L2. I took my previous Route south, charging at public J 1772s, with charges in Chico (I made it to the Chico EAA meeting, and the while-you-recharge Sierra Nevada brewery tour and free tasting, is worth the trip in itself), Woodland, Vacaville, and San Rafael, my overnight destination, 251 miles in total. Sunday I made my way to Lafayette, where I added a few bars, then returned to Vacaville for the night, about 93 miles. To my regret, I didn’t have the time to risk a side trip to the San Ramon DC.

From Vacaville, it’s about 185 miles to my home, along the I-5 corridor, (driving mostly on what is left of old highway 99) with stops at Williams and Corning, using my 16 amp upgraded EVSE at RV parks.

At the end of the first day I was dreading the return trip, but old 99 turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. Much lower level of traffic than on the eastern route, with far less obnoxious drivers. Apparently it’s driven mostly by locals, who manage to simply pass slower vehicles, rather than forming ICEV-tailgating-caterpillars, which made the two lane “new” 99 and 113 route a nightmare.

If you want to drive at or below the speed limit, to add range per kWh, take “old” 99.


I also think that well-run RV parks are often superior to public J1772s for required BEV charging, as opposed to opportunity PHEV charging, where L2 opportunities are few and far between.

I had back-up charge points for the entire trip lined up, and needed them twice at public J1772s, one being ICED, and one out of order.

The two RV parks both wanted my business, and I was happy to pay their modest fees. (will post details at Recargo soon).

Both said I would be welcome to check in before closing hours, and come and go as I pleased, or just take a nap (in fairly secure and quiet locations) till my charge was complete.

Next trip I will probably leave in the afternoon and recharge overnight on L1 at a motel (I checked out the charge opportunities at several in Williams), requiring only a few hours of L2 to make it to the plethora of J1772s at Vacaville.
 
edatoakrun said:
Luft said:
Can someone from the Sacramento area tell me a good way to get from Red Bluff to Sacramento?

I have Ingineer's EVSE upgrade and a few adapters so I think I can handle most RV parks. I thought that I would stop at the Thunderhill Raceway but after emailing them I don't think I can be sure that an outlet will be available.

So my plan “B” is to go to the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co in Chico and then to Colfax Amtrak Station 86 miles away! Ouch!

Anyone know a better way? Is the 86 mile trek to the Amtrak Station advisable at say 50 MPH? Will I induce road rage if I try that? :p

My suggestion is to use "old 99" and charge at RV parks as posted at recargo.

From my report on p 1 of my trip last May:

A year after picking up my LEAF and driving it home from the Bay area, I finally made the trip back.

530 miles over 3 days, all on L2. I took my previous Route south, charging at public J 1772s, with charges in Chico (I made it to the Chico EAA meeting, and the while-you-recharge Sierra Nevada brewery tour and free tasting, is worth the trip in itself), Woodland, Vacaville, and San Rafael, my overnight destination, 251 miles in total. Sunday I made my way to Lafayette, where I added a few bars, then returned to Vacaville for the night, about 93 miles. To my regret, I didn’t have the time to risk a side trip to the San Ramon DC.

From Vacaville, it’s about 185 miles to my home, along the I-5 corridor, (driving mostly on what is left of old highway 99) with stops at Williams and Corning, using my 16 amp upgraded EVSE at RV parks.

At the end of the first day I was dreading the return trip, but old 99 turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. Much lower level of traffic than on the eastern route, with far less obnoxious drivers. Apparently it’s driven mostly by locals, who manage to simply pass slower vehicles, rather than forming ICEV-tailgating-caterpillars, which made the two lane “new” 99 and 113 route a nightmare.

If you want to drive at or below the speed limit, to add range per kWh, take “old” 99.


I also think that well-run RV parks are often superior to public J1772s for required BEV charging, as opposed to opportunity PHEV charging, where L2 opportunities are few and far between.

I had back-up charge points for the entire trip lined up, and needed them twice at public J1772s, one being ICED, and one out of order.

The two RV parks both wanted my business, and I was happy to pay their modest fees. (will post details at Recargo soon).

Both said I would be welcome to check in before closing hours, and come and go as I pleased, or just take a nap (in fairly secure and quiet locations) till my charge was complete.

Next trip I will probably leave in the afternoon and recharge overnight on L1 at a motel (I checked out the charge opportunities at several in Williams), requiring only a few hours of L2 to make it to the plethora of J1772s at Vacaville.
Thanks, 99 does look like a better bet.
 
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