SoCal Branch Year 4 LEAF-Gatherings - See Year 5

[garygid]

We had a slightly smaller group last Saturday in Cerritos,
and I again had the pleasure of LEAF-frogging with Boomer.

I had intended to do a QC experimental Log at Mitsubishi,
but I was unable to get the QC Sniffer wired in time.
Good thing I went with Boomer, because that QC was
reported to be off-line on the 12th.

Since then, our QC Sniffer has successfully made logs
at the nice EvOasis QC/2 (24 kW charging capability only)
located in south San Juan Capistrano.

I made two testing sessions there, one using my old (large) ChargePoint
card, and one using my new (about half size) CP card, both just recently
linked to a credit card. They activated the QC immediately, and the first
session was $0.48 and the 2nd was $0.56, for $1.04 total (15 cents per
minute, apparently billed as one cent per 4 seconds). So, the result is
about 37 cents per kWh (in 2.5 minutes) when operating at the initial
60 amp rate. As the delivery rate is tapered off by the car, the cost
per kWh increases, being about 75 cents per kWh at the 30 amp delivery
rate, and $1.50 per kWh at the 15 amp delivery rate. However, I think that
there is a session maximum of $9. Not bad if one had a 72 kWh Pack.
However, I do not know if there is a limit on the session charging time.

Edit: Info from Evoasis:

$18 is our Max charge at both the Capistrano 25 kW station
and the 2 [two] 44kW units at Courtyard Irvine Spectrum. Angus

However, this info is/was not shown on the charger.

Other QCs, like many of the NRG eVgo stations, have a $5 session charge
when you start, and 10 to 20 cents per minute during the session, which
generally discourages short sessions, and increases the potential wait time.

 

[garygid]

Plan for our next Gathering this coming Saturday at the
Hometown Buffet on 17th Street in Santa Ana, just two
blocks East of the I-5 freeway (exit on 17th Street, about
one mile north of the I-5 and 55 intersection).

I plan to be there at about 8 AM when HTB opens.
Cheers All, Gary

 

[garygid]

Save this coming Saturday morning for our next Gathering.

 

[Boomer23]

Save this coming Saturday morning for our next Gathering.

Hopefully we'll have a new guy coming with one of the first Mercedes B Class EVs. This is his first EV ever and I think he'll enjoy meeting you all.

 

[garygid]

The Mercedes B EV showed up, along with 4 LEAFs, a Rav4EV, and ...
a Coda or? carrying 9 SoB (souls on board, as some would say), I believe.

Another very nice Gathering, as we now move into August, the
last month of our first 4 years of Gatherings.

Note that the EV event scheduled for August 9th at the Irvine
Spectrum (near the I-5 and 405 intersection in south Irvine)...
has been cancelled.

Cheers, Gary

 

[garygid]

Upcoming Gatherings and Events:

------ 48th month Gatherings ------ (ends our 4th year of Gatherings)
Gathering #48a: 9 Aug 2014 Tony Williams Big EVent at Irvine Spectrum. (CANCELLED)
Gathering #48b: 16 Aug 2014 at the HTB in Cerritos for breakfast. 
Gathering #48c: 30 Aug 2014 at the HTB on 17th St in Santa Ana.

----- 49th month Gatherings ------ (starts our 5th year of Gatherings)
Gathering #49a: 13 Sep 2014 at the HTB in Cerritos for breakfast.. 
Gathering #49b: 20 Sep 2014, EV Week Event, in Huntington Beach, at south end of Beach Blvd.
Gathering #49c: 27 Sep 2014 at the HTB on 17th St in Santa Ana.

 

[garygid]

In September, you might wish to attend:

National Drive Electric Week Event - Huntington Beach

Day: Saturday, September 20, 2014
Time:10am - 4pm
Location: Huntington Beach City Beach
21500 Pacific Coast Hwy (across from Hyatt)
Huntington Beach, CA, United States

For more info and to register for the event, see:
https://driveelectricweek.org/event.php?eventid=153" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you are interested in going, either with your EV, riding with
somebody else, or... let us know here and we can try to
coordinate rides, charging, and shuttling.

 

[tbleakne]

The Mercedes B EV showed up, along with 4 LEAFs, a Rav4EV, and ...
a Coda or? carrying 9 SoB (souls on board, as some would say), I believe.

Another very nice Gathering, as we now move into August, the
last month of our first 4 years of Gatherings.

Note that the EV event scheduled for August 9th at the Irvine
Spectrum (near the I-5 and 405 intersection in south Irvine)...
has been cancelled.

Cheers, Gary

It seems like forever since I last saw the gang, since the July 26 meeting occurred during my big CA road trip. I miss you all.

The trip was quite successful, met all my objectives, no big mistakes.
I got sufficient sleep all nights, felt safe while driving, never fatigued. Very grateful.
1789 miles, 268 Wh/mile.

I have been too busy to process pictures, but here is sketch of trip:
Day 1
Charge at 91040 at 70 amps,
Lunch at Whole Foods in Oxnard, visited SC site under construction
Supercharge at Buellton
SC at Atascadero. Would have had dinner at decent Mexican restaurant right across street, but running late, wanted to minimize nighttime driving.
end at Hyatt Monterrey for Tesla Conference. Longest day, arrived 10 pm, 370 miles.
Extra temporary HPWCs set up at hotel supplementing 2 permanent HPWCs. Perhaps 80-100 or more Model Ss.

Day 2
Conference, dinner and bondfire on the beach at Carmel with nice Tesla folks. Really on the beach, laying on the sand. Not easy getting down or getting up, but I did it.

Day 3
Conference ends with breakfast
Visit to Moss Landing
SC at Fremont
end at Inn at Locke House B&B in Lodi. I was first guest to charge on their brand new HPWC donated to them by Tesla.

Day 4
Visit and tour at Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico. Hops smell is unusual.
SC at Corning, last SC for long time
end at mountain home of friends from college days at Lake Almanor, near Mt. Lassen NP

Days 5-6
Visited with friends
Charged overnight on friends' 16A 240V circuit in woodshop.

Day 7
Lake Almanor to Reno to Truckee
Charged at Susanville RV park (not crowded, but did not need charge), Reno J1772 during lunch.
End at Cedar House Sport Hotel in Truckee
Charged at HPWC + Clippercreek J1772.
Their HPWC also donated by Tesla. They get several Tesla guests per week.
Dinner at gourmet restaurant in Kings Beach at Lake Tahoe

Day 8
Beautiful drive up Truckee river and down West side of Lake Tahoe.
Brief picture op at Emerald Bay
Brief stop at Taylor Creek Nature Preserve
Lunch while charging at S. Lake Tahoe Casino. Another Tesla also charging.
Drive down to 395, brief charge at Garnerville, last J1772 charger on 395 for 370 miles until it ends at Hisperia.
End at Meadowcliff RV park and motel. Rented both room and RV spot to charge car on 14-50.

Day 9
Drive to Bridgeport, where 395 was closed due to Hazmat spill. Detour would have added 115 miles, not feasible.
Plan change, nice dinner in Bridgeport
Retreated back to Meadowcliff for 2nd night.

Day 10
395 open, drove to Lee Vining & Mono Lake Visitor center

Lunch at famous Whoa Nelli Deli in Mobile Gas Station
per my plan, met with manager of Deli, got her business card, to send her info on getting charging installed.
It would be great location, Eastern gateway into Yosemite.

Dinner at June Lake Double Eagle Lodge. Very upscale, but they have no interest in installing charging.

End at Independence Inn at Independence CA, south of Bishop.
Very modest motel, but new tile work in bathroom, best and quietest A/C I have ever experienced,
important because it was 90F at 10 pm.
Charged on owner-installed 14-50. He spent $100 on materials, has had half a dozen Teslas visit him.

Day 11
Breakfast in Lone Pine (no restaurants in Independence).
Drove through Alabama Hills just north of town.
Lunch in Ridgecrest
SC in Barstow. I got last of 4 stalls. 2 MS without plates, one MS with MA plates. Young fella driving west with friends, met folks in SD returning east from Monterey Conference.
Home by 6pm, proceeded directly to Claremont Park to meet friends for summer concert.
End of trip.

 

[garygid]

Wow, Tom, you continue to amaze me with your splendid trips.

Mark it all up on a CA map, and bring it for show and tell next weekend in Cerritos?

Cheers, my friend.

 

[garygid]

I have been told that we will have a shaded (under canopy) table at the
National Drive Electric Week Event in Huntington Beach on Saturday
20 September, 2014. I am not yet sure if they will have chairs, but I
intend to bring a few. Better than sitting in the sand.

It is a non-comercial table, and I intend to bring show and tell
stuff, like our QC Sniffer, LEAF and Tesla S logging gear and info,
and related stuff. Perhaps Allen can bring his mini-QC machine
to show off. There might even be electricity to show off a 3D
printer, if somebody wanted to bring one, perhaps programmed
to print something useful?

The sheets of links that Allen made up last year were very good
and helped pointing people to online resources on many subjects.
It would be nice to collaborate on such an effort again.

Since this event starts at 10 AM, we might meet for breakfast
somewhere in the vicinity. If interested in any aspect of this
event, let's plan ahead for it.

 

[garygid]

One possibility for breakfast... (grin) is located about a mile east
of Beach (39) and a mile north of freeway 22. Beach goes
south to the ocean, right where the EVent is located.

9635 CHAPMAN AVENUE
92841 GARDEN GROVE, CA
(714) 636-7550

Breakfast Hours: Sat: 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Oh, did I forget to mention the name of the resturant?

 

[tbleakne]

The sheets of links that Allen made up last year were very good
and helped pointing people to online resources on many subjects.
It would be nice to collaborate on such an effort again.

Since this event starts at 10 AM, we might meet for breakfast
somewhere in the vicinity.

I agree a repeat and reboot of Allen's link sheet is an excellent idea. I recall having some input on his sheet.

Perhaps now is also the time to corroborate on a new EV business card. It would obviously not have as many links as Allen's list, but it would have the key ones to carry with you. Perhaps it would have one link to an online copy of Allen's full list ?

In addition to MyNissanLeaf link like Gary's original card of 4 ? years ago,
this new card would have links to:
Evseupgrade
Plugshare, Chargepoint, eVgo, Blink ?
the zoomable map of SuperChargers in operation, under construction, and permitted.

I am continually running into LEAF and other EV owners who have never heard of Plugshare. Some of them have the QC port but no idea where to find QC. Others complain about Plugshare missing something but they don't think to correct/add it themselves.
I found Plugshare's new filter for hotel/motels with charging very useful while planning my road trip.
I could print up a map of all the hotels/motels in CA with charging. A lot more has been added in the past year.
Plugshare also has a new filter for chargers near food, but that one is not well populated.

Another idea: print up half-size sheets to be placed on your own or other windshields with various polite messages.

If we had enough room at the EV event, perhaps under the table, I could display my set of charging adapters. I can connect to 10 different 240V receptacles, from 15A(12A cont) to 50A(40A cont). My 20A, 30A, and 50A cables of various lengths can be connected together to provide longer runs for the lower current levels. At 24A continuous I can do a total of 58', at 16A continuous I can do 83'.

I realize sometimes some of us might be viewed as going "too far". I would just like to communicate the idea that charging can be available at friends' houses, perhaps even using Quick220.

 

[tbleakne]

Since devices built with 3D printing are one theme on this thread, perhaps some would be amused by this story on NY Times a few days ago about a self-folding robot. Video is included.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/08/science/a-self-folding-robot-inspired-by-origami.html

 

[garygid]

On the card, a simple link to an on-line document or page
that has active links to all the other stuff might be best,
and a few other short links, to mynissanleaf, plugshare,
and other short general-interest URLs ???.

I get the cards from VistaPrint... look for a coupon deal.
Something like 250 cards for under $10, or so, including shipping?.

A paper handout, where we can check off the links that
we want to refer somebody to, might also be good.
If we can stary with Allen's document, we can edit it
and pass it around a bit. What format is it?

If you want to display your "attachments", that would be good.
A map of your recent trip in the TS might be interesting.

Other suggestions?

 

[JeremyW]

Are they allowing cars near the table? Could probably show off my Leaf.

 

[garygid]

Jeremy,
Yes, it would be very nice to show of the Bursa Mod.

Do not know if a car at the table can be arranged,
but you could ask the organizers via the link above.

 

[garygid]

I have enquired about electricity, two tables, chairs, good shade,
and parking a LEAF near the table, for September 20th.

Bring all suggestions to Cerritos this Saturday, or, PM or
call me if you cannot make our Gathering this coming Saturday.
Who has registered to attend?

Thanks, Gary

 

[Boomer23]

I'm registered, Gary. I think that I have free parking because of being one of the early ones to register. I can't recall the number, but I think the first 500 registered get free parking.

 

[garygid]

Extract all the electrical parts, hang most on a pegboard,
and see the LEAF boot up, run the engine, and charge.

Perhaps more interesting for a geek, but amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McvDjpdcBw0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[garygid]

First 250 park free, now 260 are Registered.

See a draft of Allen's "LEAF Links" on Saturday.
Comments and suggestions welcome.