Dave: I'm looking forward to meeting you at the grand opening. For others, feel free to show up for the DCQC grand opening (free food) at Noon, Aug 2nd, 51 Firing Center Road, Yakima. From Ellensburg, drive the scenic highway 821 Yakima Canyon Rd to skip all the killer HILLS on I-82 and it drops you right at the intersection for the charging station. If you need/want a charge, plan on getting there at least an hour or two early.DaveinOlyWA said:Thanks for the info. I will be doing trip to Yakima next week for DCFC opening there so will likely see similar temps. I am guessing you didn't have LEAF Spy? This will be first real challenge for heat issues for me. I did do Ellensburg right after their grand opening but temps only in mid 90's. Yakima is expected to be in the mid 100's so definitely a bit "warmer"bnewkirk said:I just got back from a 300+ mile round trip from Centralia to Ellensburg in our 2018 SV. Much of the day the temperature was in the 90s. Did a quick charge in North Bend, but a 30 minute session only netted about 40%. Apparently the heat limited the charging. Due to traffic, we were getting pressed on time (not enough time to get another charge), so we drafted a semi into Ellensburg. Had to use AC (set at 72 with 3 fan bars) and the battery registered in the red for temp. After the car sitting in a sunny parking lot at 95 degrees for a couple hours, we went over to the QC and it took 80 minutes to bring it up from 10% to 80%, again in the red zone. This time the warning come on saying the battery is hot and we should drive conservatively. Set the cruise for 55, but as we began to go up the pass, the warning said power would be reduced and put us in 2018 turtle mode. I was in the slow lane with the semis doing 40 mph. Made it to North Bend with 20% and went to the QC and parked in the shade w/ water poured under the car for evaporation cooling. 30 minutes only netted 20%, so we went another session to get up to 60%. Then we set the cruise at 55, turned off the AC and opened the windows as we went downhill to minimize battery usage. Needless to say, it was a bit of an antsy situation. Bad traffic in Tacoma helped keep battery usage down and the turtle mode warning finally went off. South of Tacoma we drafted a semi home at 65 mph with 5% left in the battery. This was my first long trip with the car and I'm not favorably impressed. I will not take it beyond its normal charge range in hot weather again.
Next time you do trip, I would suggest Suncadia or something. Its a bit of a detour being 5 miles off I-90 but its a great walkabout along with a QC that does not have a timer and its generally cooler as well. Be warned, the wind there is "brisk"...
bnewkirk's report is more confirmation that the 2018 Leaf without TMS is not in my future. I'm sticking with my 2011 until it's battery won't get me 10 mi RT to the grocery store. Sorry Nissan, you're not getting any more of my money until you have a TMS that keeps the battery at optimum usable temperatures and doesn't generate excessive degradation.