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

[danrjones]

I checked out as much as I can in my area this morning. At coso junction both the EA site and the Caltrans site look the same as the last time. EA is likely waiting on SCE and the Caltrans site is waiting for the charger to be installed. Who is installing the charger was never clear to me, whether Caltrans or Genuine Engineering or someone else.

Nothing at Bradys. And at Inyokern nothing changed this last week. Probably also waiting on SCE.

So we have two sites that are probably ready and waiting on SCE. Whether EAs Coso site will be first I can only guess. Added a photo of Coso Caltrans site to plugshare and one at Inyokern.

[paulgipe]

Looks like it's going to be a full year that EA station has been idle since installation. That's got to be some kind of record--even for EA.

Paul

[danrjones]

Looks like it's going to be a full year that EA station has been idle since installation. That's got to be some kind of record--even for EA.

Paul

I went by Inyokern this weekend and it looks like they have cleaned up the work area, and everything is finished except the transformer, Another site just waiting on SCE. I suppose I could try emailing SCE to find out what the wait is, and soon it will be wild fire time again. Maybe they don't have the transformers?

[danrjones]

Stopped at the Inyokern site today and one of the construction companies was there adding Bollards. One of the gentleman in a truck there told me SCE requested a site change to add Bollards. He also told me what I pretty much knew which is that the site is waiting on SCE for a transformer. He had no ETA.

Added a few photos.

[paulgipe]

Thanks Dan.

Paul

[danrjones]

Tomorrow on my way to horseshoe meadows for some hiking I will check the two coso junction sites. Not expecting any progress, but its 60 seconds to check. I'll check Bradys as well.

[paulgipe]

Give us a brief report on Horseshoe Meadows as well. What trail you taking and is there snow. I want to do Trail Peak this year.

Paul

[danrjones]

Paul, good news:

The road is open to the top gate. The forests service has it gated at that final corner about a half mile walk before the campgrounds and the the lower parking lots. They do that often at the beginning of the season when inyo roads has the road ready but the forest service is not ready. This year, however, it is possible the forests service will not open the gate. At least for now I would expect an extra walk but for trail peak its not a big issue. Campgrounds may remained closed all season, TBD. Langley though on very tired feet that extra walk from the top parking lot is not fun at the end. Beautiful up there. Did a short loop around the main meadow, up Trail Pass and back down Mulkey pass. Just a short day hike and back home. Snow still on north slopes but we were able to negotiate. Couple more weeks and Trail peak will be melted out. Langley still has a lot.

Bad news: No updates at all on either Coso site nor Brady's. Nothing has been done. Brady's is waiting on prep work I'm sure, but the Coso sites (EA for sure) is almost certainly waiting on SCE. One would almost start to think SCE has some grievance against charging stations...

[GRA]

Dan, did you make the RT to HM un-recharged? What was your distance and kWh used?

[danrjones]

Dan, did you make the RT to HM un-recharged? What was your distance and kWh used?

No, my 2018 leaf is simply not capable of the trip. When Coso Junction comes on line, the plus should be able to make it, but my 2018 still will not. I checked ABRP and even charging to 100% at COSO, when it comes online, I wouldn't make it back to Coso unless I drive something like 35 mph both ways on 395 up to Horseshoe. That would not work.

For these hiking trips in the high sierra I use my wife's Outback. My goal is to trade in and replace the 2018 leaf with something longer ranged next year sometime. One of my selection criteria is that it can reach the trails I like to hike. I will sit and test cars in ABRP to see what can make it where around my area. Virtual test drive....

I wish it did make it, but at the time the Leaf was our first full EV (non hybrid) and I got a great price on it, so it has been a test for us. I knew when I got it that it wouldn't be capable of road trips around where I live.