BC2BC Mexico to Canada via Electric Highway June 12-20, 2012

[GaslessInSeattle]

sounds like you are getting closer to quick charge territory! Congrats!!

 

[rumpole]

Hi Tony,

Looks like you were spotted at a Super 8 evse in Ukiah : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7JxKKOcxnw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That's a nice decal job. Very impressive.

 

[1051]

Hi Tony,

Looks like you were spotted at a Super 8 evse in Ukiah : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7JxKKOcxnw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That's a nice decal job. Very impressive.

Bad link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7JxKKOcxnw&feature=youtube_gdata_player" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[TonyWilliams]

If anybody wants to meet up at the various QC sites in Oregon, just follow along on the SPOT tracker to estimate when I'll be there. I plan to go to the California border on 5 freeway FIRST, before going north.

So, Grants Pass, Ashland, then Center Point, going north.

Portland government meet up Tuesday on "Electric Highway" at 2pm, so I'll be working to hit that date/time.

Wednesday in Seattle for final party and meetup. Thanks all for your support.

TRACK ME HERE

 

[saywatt]

Tony, Welcome to the Great Pacific Northwest!!

If anybody wants to meet up at the various QC sites in Oregon, just follow along on the SPOT tracker to estimate when I'll be there. I plan to go to the California border on 5 freeway FIRST, before going north.

So, Grants Pass, Ashland, then Center Point, going north.

Portland government meet up Tuesday on "Electric Highway" at 2pm, so I'll be working to hit that date/time.

Wednesday in Seattle for final party and meetup. Thanks all for your support.

TRACK ME HERE

 

[saywatt]

Tony, if you haven't already, you may want to read this thread before venturing into the world of OR QC's.

http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=9215&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[SOLE]

Looks like you made it to Grants Pass, Congrats! How many bars did you have left when you got the QC?

 

[TonyWilliams]

Looks like you made it to Grants Pass, Congrats! How many bars did you have left when you got the QC?

Well, I plan for zero... Why waste time charging "extra". I had 14% (a few miles past LBW). This charger is so fast, I don't have time to answer emails and get McDonalds!

The Grants Pass, Oregon AeroVironment DC fast charger is a VERY well done install; near the freeway, plus McDonalds, Taco Bell, and other signs of civilization (and place to kill 15-45 minutes) are across the street. The AV charger worked with no glitches, first tap of the "fob", took about 60-90 seconds, and started a full power download. The generation II Gidmeter is showing a solid 119 amps going in at 393 volts.

Note to folks returning with my car. The amps start tapering off around 60%, so I might suggest that as a good place to stop a charge if you can make it to the next charger. Everything above that just starts to heat the pack, and extends time.

 

[TonyWilliams]

Tony, if you haven't already, you may want to read this thread before venturing into the world of OR QC's.

http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=9215&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yes, I did. I'm familiar with the issue, and strategies to mitigate it. See above.

 

[TonyWilliams]

Tony, if you haven't already, you may want to read this thread before venturing into the world of OR QC's.

http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=9215&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yes, I did. I'm familiar with the issue, and strategies to mitigate it. See above.

AV stopped at 86.% (243 Gid), which is exactly what the Andromeda does (80% SOC reported by car).

Going back to California!!! I could get used to this !!!

 

[cwerdna]

Going back to California!!! I could get used to this !!!

Heh. And, Oregon has no sales tax while Washington state has no state income tax. People who live in Vancouver, WA (right near Portland, OR) can almost get the best of both worlds!

Maybe you should pick up a few items while in OR. I wonder if you'll have time/plans to stop at http://www.powells.com/locations/powells-city-of-books/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (a must visit) and or visit places like http://www.traveladventures.com/Programs/Science--USA/Pacific-Northwest-Marine---Natural-Science/Oregon/Multonmah-Falls" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://vistahouse.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

 

[walterbays]

Looks like you were spotted at a Super 8 evse in Ukiah : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7JxKKOcxnw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That's a nice decal job. Very impressive.

And it's an hilarious parking space marking job by Super 8: "Reserved Parking: Hybrid and Low Emission Vehicles Only"

Very nice article on the trip in Torque News: http://www.torquenews.com/1075/tijuana-british-columbia-nissan-leaf-8-days

 

[DaveEV]

Uh oh. Tony reported 35 minutes ago on PlugShare that the AV CHAdeMO in Ashland is broken. It appears that there are no reliable QC stations...

Broken "start" button. I'm stuck with the adjoining L2 charger, which I fully appreciate over nothing. The originally planned 20-30 stop just became many hours, and late into the morning.

 

[TonyWilliams]

Uh oh. Tony reported 35 minutes ago on PlugShare that the AV CHAdeMO in Ashland is broken. It appears that there are no reliable QC stations...

Broken "start" button. I'm stuck with the adjoining L2 charger, which I fully appreciate over nothing. The originally planned 20-30 stop just became many hours, and late into the morning.

How the F do they make a "$50k" machine with a button that can physically break? And it only needs three... Start, stop, and emergency shutoff.

Dumb.

 

[LEAFer]

Uh oh. Tony reported 35 minutes ago on PlugShare that the AV CHAdeMO in Ashland is broken. It appears that there are no reliable QC stations...

Broken "start" button. I'm stuck with the adjoining L2 charger, which I fully appreciate over nothing. The originally planned 20-30 stop just became many hours, and late into the morning.

Hope it's fixed by late Sunday night !

 

[walterbays]

It would be interesting to see the scorecard: How many public L2 stations so far have been working, broken, ICEd, in-use? How many L2 units or dryer plugs at private homes have been working, broken? How many plugs at RV parks have been working, broken? How many public L3 stations have been working, broken, ICEd, in-use?

I've been trying to figure out how a Blink L2 at Costa Verde center could have a broken touch screen for 4 months without them apparently even trying to fix it, or how a Blink/Chargepoint installation where the equipment is working fine could be stuck on final city paperwork for over 3 months now. I have an idea that the only really reliable charging infrastructure today is in garages and RV parks.

 

[saywatt]

Answer - Not MIL-spec. But then it would be $150K machine!

How the F do they make a "$50k" machine with a button that can physically break? And it only needs three... Start, stop, and emergency shutoff.

Dumb.

 

[TonyWilliams]

Answer - Not MIL-spec. But then it would be $150K machine!

How the F do they make a "$50k" machine with a button that can physically break? And it only needs three... Start, stop, and emergency shutoff.

Dumb.

Sorry, I'm not a big fan of "mil-spec", FAA approved, et al, to suggest some higher standard. It's a standard, surely, but many times as prone to break down, and since it's "approved", it can't be properly fixed without making it a "federal case".

Certainly better than no specification, low ball, cheapest button they could find, of course :mrgreen:

 

[TonyWilliams]

I crossed the border of California (again) at 7:25am, and things are going smooth.

8:05 / 8:20am - Central Point - 34 miles - temps F/bars 45/6 - starting/stopping Gids ---/75%

9:11 / 9:37am - Wolf Creek - 44 miles - 52/6 - 21%/71%

10:09/10:24am - Canyonville - 23 miles - 60/6 - 45%/76%

11:00/11:07am - Roseburg - 27 miles - 58/7 - 40%/57%

11:48/11:57am - Rice Hill - 26 miles - 63/8 - 28%/72%

12:23/12:34pm - Cottage Grove - 26 miles - 63/9 - 42%/64%

1:09/2:20???? - Springfield/Eugene - 21 miles - 63/10 - 38%/100% ???

 

[Ingineer]

It's ridiculous these charge stations have such poor engineering. First off, I think putting a touch screen on anything possibly subjected to vandalism is asking for trouble. They should have put an LCD behind a slab of ballistic composite, or at least a decent piece of polycarb, then used a rugged payphone-style keypad for the user interface (if even needed). At least they should take a look at the techniques used by the gas pump industry!

A start button could be made rugged for minor expense. Just use buttons like these:


Ruggedization is not that difficult or expensive, it just requires some forethought, which apparently isn't occurring. (yet)

It would be a major selling point if one brand was more resistant to problems in the field. It costs a LOT to keep sending technicians out to these things to work on them, way more than beefing up the design prior to deployment!

-Phil