Update on CalTrans District 9 (Sierra Nevada East Side) DC Fast Charger Program

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Thanks Dan.

Frustrating. This is what it's been like for six years trying to get news out of any of these guys--and getting them moving on getting these stations up and operating.

EA's Coso Junction station is still off line and Bridgeport is down too. There's not even a Level 2 in Ridgecrest or Inyokern.

Paul
 
paulgipe said:
Thanks Dan.

Frustrating. This is what it's been like for six years trying to get news out of any of these guys--and getting them moving on getting these stations up and operating.

EA's Coso Junction station is still off line and Bridgeport is down too. There's not even a Level 2 in Ridgecrest or Inyokern.

Paul

I wanted to get over to check inyokern airport and Brady's this weekend but I haven't been feeling well. This coming weekend hopefully.

At work yesterday morning my leaf was literally parked next to two white model 3s and one red model 3. But locals arent going to create demand in town for a level 2 as we charge at our houses anyway.

I know a few spots here in town that would be good for a level 2, such as the museums or one of the shopping centers, but I doubt the owners have even considered it.
 
That's why we need those DCFC stations. When I come through I have to charge at Alan Kirk's home Level 2. Gives me a chance to chat with Alan but he may not always be there. He drives a red Model 3. His wife is driving the Leaf. ;)

Paul
 
Bad news, and maybe some good news?

I did a trip this AM and checked Brady's and Inyokern Airport.

Brady's has nothing started, nothing flagged or any sign of anything.

But the airport indeed has something under construction. I will post the photos and maybe one of you can tell me if this looks like the start of some fast chargers. Two of them maybe? There are two box structures and holes carved out but also a big stack of pipes sticking up behind as well.

As to the airport, its not a great location, as you will have to walk about a mile for food. Better than nothing I suppose. The construction is in the old lot for AVIS rental car section from when the airport had commercial flights. A brief history lesson, Inyokern airport used to have a commercial flight 3 times a day on a puddle jumper to take people on Skywest (a United sub) until it went out of business. Most of the travelers were contractors and government from the base, because the flight was like $400 just to LAX and back. They recently tried to bring air service back but it again was too expensive and not dependable enough. The perking spots are still marked as rental car spots but I don't think Avis is actually there anymore.
 
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danrjones said:
Bad news, and maybe some good news?

I did a trip this AM and checked Brady's and Inyokern Airport.

Brady's has nothing started, nothing flagged or any sign of anything.

But the airport indeed has something under construction. I will post the photos and maybe one of you can tell me if this looks like the start of some fast chargers. Two of them maybe? There are two box structures and holes carved out but also a big stack of pipes sticking up behind as well.

As to the airport, its not a great location, as you will have to walk about a mile for food. Better than nothing I suppose. The construction is in the old lot for AVIS rental car section from when the airport had commercial flights. A brief history lesson, Inyokern airport used to have a commercial flight 3 times a day on a puddle jumper to take people on Skywest (a United sub) until it went out of business. Most of the travelers were contractors and government from the base, because the flight was like $400 just to LAX and back. They recently tried to bring air service back but it again was too expensive and not dependable enough. The perking spots are still marked as rental car spots but I don't think Avis is actually there anymore.
Dan,

I spoke to Linda Urata about this station Friday and she said SCE told her it would take them 5 mos. to get the transformer installed. That will put it past EV Connects deadline to the CEC. Maybe you talked to her. At least it's a sign of action. Have you seen any activity in Mojave at the Denny's? At least there we have the EA station now. Coso still not showing any activity.

Thanks for the report.

Paul
 
I have not talked to her. She works at the airport? What happens if they miss the deadline?

I haven't been down to Mojave on a few weeks. I'll definitely check it next time I'm down there.

I'll also try to get upto coso junction to check both sites there next weekend.

Thanks
 
Linda works for Kern COG in Bakersfield. She's involved with EV charging infrastructure.

My knee-jerk reaction is that EVC started construction so the CEC wouldn't yank their contract. If the project goes beyond June they're in violation of the contract. Who knows, maybe they won't get paid.

EA of course is not part of the CEC contracts and CARB doesn't seem interested in any enforcement. EA has met most of its obligations. What's CARB care if EA isn't servicing rural areas of California promptly.

Paul
 
paulgipe said:
Linda works for Kern COG in Bakersfield. She's involved with EV charging infrastructure.

My knee-jerk reaction is that EVC started construction so the CEC wouldn't yank their contract. If the project goes beyond June they're in violation of the contract. Who knows, maybe they won't get paid.

EA of course is not part of the CEC contracts and CARB doesn't seem interested in any enforcement. EA has met most of its obligations. What's CARB care if EA isn't servicing rural areas of California promptly.

Paul


You might be right, they just won't get paid until completion. To be fair, if they complete all their work and are waiting on SCE (which might be EA's problem too) then that'not 100% their fault.

As to CARB, you are probably right. They don't seem to care that one CHAdeMO per EA station in spots with no backup is not sufficient. I've pretty well decided that when I return my leaf in a couple years the next one will need to be CCS. "Compliance" is not enough.
 
They made a lot of progress in a week at inyokern airport. Looks like a dual head fast charger and two level two. Now looks like they are waiting on SCE as you said. I added photos to plugshare and will share them here a bit later. The level 2s require greenlots. Not sure if that's normal, but the reviews of the greenlots app for android are pretty lousy.

I haven't yet been down to Mojave but several have used it, including a user who posted his experience on YouTube. He was having issues with the card reader. But charging worked well with his Hyundai.
 
I went north this morning and checked both the sites at Coso Junction. The EA site looks exactly the same as it has. There is a big hole in the ground where it looks like SCE needs to do some work. I'll add a photo. But with the trash in the hole I think that's how the site has been sitting for awhile.

The good news is that across at the rest stop there has been work done! All the prep work is done and they need to install the physical charger. Probably need SCE to do work as well. I'll add those photos too. My guess is that Genuine Engineering has finished their work and this falls under the "The charging stations will be installed by others at a later date." that they sent me. So the question is WHO and when.

Nothing yet at Bradys.

Photos to follow.
 
COSO Rest stop. This is going to be a nice spot, but I am worried it will get ICED. Two chargers also would have been good here, or some LVL 2s. Odd they did LVL 2s at Inyokern airport, which has NO bathrooms or food, but did just one DC charger here.

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From Genuine Engineering:

The actual charging stations will be installed by the manufacture that Caltrans has selected. They are still being designed and will be installed at a later date. They will not be installed by us. Caltrans hired to perform the civil and underground work to prepare for the charging stations to be installed and hooked up.

This is what I was thinking, and it means Genuine is likely done with their work at Coso Junction.
Makes me wonder who Caltrans will use for the charging stations. Or if that part is even funded.
 
Corresponding update from Caltrans:



So happy that you went to see the progress of the charging stations. This project is progressing along nicely. The reason for the delay in installing the actual chargers is that they are currently being manufactured. The company that is manufacturing the chargers is backlogged but working on them. Also, the utility companies nearest each charging station is in the process of installing the correct power source required to operate the chargers. Once the power is to the locations and the chargers are received, Genuine Engineering will schedule a time to return to each location and install them.

That is why the contractor was not able to give you an answer as to when the project will be complete.

I asked who was building the chargers but I didn't receive an answer to that. But it does sort of sound like it is all paid for, just delayed.

we kind of knew already that SCE was also a hold up, from EA.
 
I went by inyokern this AM and they are getting ready to pour the pad for the transformer. I'll add a photo later.

On my way to Palmdale I checked the Dennys in Mojave. Nothing at all. That's disappointing considering both an EVC and chargepoint are suppose to be in work there.
 
Also stopped at the EA in Mojave but was in my wife's outback so did not charge. All looks well as one would expect per plugshare reports.
 
As an FYI, there is a tribal gaming casino coming in Ridgecrest. As Paul Gipe pointed out there is currently nothing in this (my) area, which is the gateway to death valley for those coming from Palmdale or from Bakersfield, and also convenient as a stop heading north to the Eastern High Sierra.

I made a suggestion that the Tribal casino could put in some chargers. I have no idea if they would take the suggestion, and even if they did, how long it would be before it was open. But IF they did, it would give a spot in Ridgecrest that has chargers with Bathrooms, food and entertainment.

I've thought about local locations for DC fast chargers and I've only come up with a few options. A supermarket or Walmart parking lot, that will get you food and bathroom, but no entertainment. We also have a location with two museums and a park, but those museums would only get you bathroom and entertainment (no food), and limited hours. So a casino, no matter your opinion on gambling, would get you extended hours and bathrooms and food, plus possible entertainment if you choose.

I made the suggestion and that's all I could do. Hopefully the developer will consider it.

The only other chargers we know about are at IYK airport (IMO a lousy location as there is no food, no bathroom and no entertainment) and Brady's, which is more out of the way, and has a gas station only. Tesla did is right putting there Inyokern location in about the best possible spot.

I doubt local businesses will consider it on there own here due to cost, and quite honestly being an otherwise remote rural area.
 
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