Expanding EV charging in Yosemite

[GRA]

<snip>
Tuolumne Meadows, on the other hand, is comparatively isolated and much less congested. Other than Tesla Superchargers, US-395 is an EV charging desert, and there appear to be no plans to change that in the near future. I agree that CCS/CHAdeMO QCs in Lee Vining could be quite helpful, even for Tesla owners. Still, there's a lot of elevation change between Tuolumne and Lee Vining, so it's not exactly ideal to have to drive down to Lee Vining if you're in Tuolumne and you need to add more charge (unless of course you're going to Mono Lake for the evening anyway). People in gas cars now have to do this, but at least they generally have more range per "fill up". Also, compared to using a QC, it's more convenient and easier on the grid to charge on L2 while one sleeps, and it's always ideal if one can start the drive home with close to a full charge.

So, in view of Tuolumne's isolation and the large number of campsites there, I'd strongly encourage you to submit any EV charging proposal that includes L2 in Tuolumne Meadows. Even for through-travelers on CA-120, having some EVSEs in Tuolumne would provide range assurance on that long stretch of road.

I'm leaning your way for Tuolumne (and Badger Pass) at least, for reasons we both agree on, although I think we could skip Wawona and maybe the Valley (especially if they put a QC in El Portal), although we really should have L2 down there at the lodgings/campgrounds. But, if there are QCs at both Rush Creek and Lee Vining, they're only 68.5 miles apart and that's easily doable round trip in either direction, eliminating most if not all the anxiety.

Another option, which I discussed with the owner a few years back, would be a few L2(s) at Tioga Pass Resort by Tioga Lake, as they have a cafe' there that gets a lot of visitors, as well as their overnight guests. At the time I think they were changing owners so they were non-committal, and in any case there were no external outlets at all, but now that there are more BEVs that can get there I'll give it another shot and see if they're interested. Even with those, some L2s in Tuolumne would be useful, and it is a destination itself, unlike Lee Vining (barring the Deli; I've made that round trip quite a few times just for dinner), which is mainly a way station to other points.

[paulgipe]

abasile, gra, keep up the work on this. We just spent a week at Toulumne Lodge and drove our Volt. Yes, I've seen a Volt charge on the 120 outlet near the shuttle stop but it isn't ideal. I don't recommend it as it looks like someone's parking in a no parking area. I didn't avail myself of it for that reason. The Volt has an engine so it's disruptive to charge that way when it's not needed.

The idea of some L2s there and in the campground or at the old gas station is sound and overdue. We bought the Volt in part because we can't get the Leaf up the East Side to Toulumne. Tesla, no problem. There's are chargers all the way up. CCS/CHAdeMO, not a one and as far as I can tell there are no plans for any!

There are the two NEMA 14-50s in Independence. We always stay at the Independence Inn and that gives us 35 miles either way as an EV.

Even with a Bolt we'd barely make Independence from Bakersfield on one charge--and that's no place to run out of juice.

Do either of you have an contacts at the CEC, Volkswagen, or EVgo? We need some DCFC on the East Side--at least something around Ridgecrest/Mojave.

Paul

[GRA]

Just spent a couple of days backpacking/peak bagging out of T. Meadows, and noticed that they've completely removed all the buildings and other structures at the former gas station, leaving it now a gravel-covered empty lot. OTOH the transformer is still there. Was pushed for time so didn't have an opportunity to find out what if any plans they have for it, and have been holding off recommending in-park charging work while I wait to see if CEC will finally get off their butts and build the outside-the-park QCs they've been talking about for the past year or more, especially as a lot of park money has been going to firefighting the past two years. Got to say, though, that I've been driving 120 from Crane Flat to T.M. for 40+ years now, and I've never seen it in such good condition - almost totally smooth, even shoulders, well marked. Kind of like how the interstates were when new.

[paulgipe]

I will have a piece up in a week or so on how we drove up the east side in a Bolt: Independence, Mammoth Lakes, Tuolumne Meadows, Independence, Bakersfield. I wasn't going to post it here unless you think it's warranted.

I talked to a Volt driver while at the Lodge and he was the one who put up the plugshare entry. He didn't charge this time and neither did another Volt that was there.

I saw no other EVs except one Tesla making a transit of Tioga Pass.

Paul

[GRA]

I will have a piece up in a week or so on how we drove up the east side in a Bolt: Independence, Mammoth Lakes, Tuolumne Meadows, Independence, Bakersfield. I wasn't going to post it here unless you think it's warranted.

I talked to a Volt driver while at the Lodge and he was the one who put up the plugshare entry. He didn't charge this time and neither did another Volt that was there.

I saw no other EVs except one Tesla making a transit of Tioga Pass.

Paul

Ah, you beat me to it! Maybe I can still be the first to take a Bolt up there from the west, if someone hasn't done so yet on mychevybolt.com - So far, no one's posted that they have"https://www.mychevybolt.com/forum/viewt ... acc#p18665

Please do give us a link to the story when you do put it up. I'd love to rent a Bolt or similar and try to make it up to the Meadows from the west (have to use an eVgo QC in Salida or Modesto , and L2 probably at Evergreen Lodge to make the round trip), but the nearest one (on Turo) is in the South Bay and it's just too much hassle to get there and back, and leave my car there while gone, for $55/day rental. I saw two Model S' (85 and P85D) parked at the Wilderness Permit Center when I was getting mine Wednesday morning, and a Model X heading up to the Meadows from Crane Flat as I was heading home Thursday evening. Those were the only BEVs I've seen up there, although I also saw a Volt or two, a PiP and a Fusion Energi around the Meadows. I'm mildly surprised I haven't seen a Kona or Niro PHEV up there yet, but there numbers are still pretty small and they lack AWD - as usual, there were lots of Subies/RAV4s/CR-Vs/Escapes as well as bigger CUVs, and a surprisingly large number of no (side) window Ram Promaster and Ford Transit vans that people are apparently living in full time now; climbers and other active outdoorsy types used to live out of their pickups (with camper shells), but they seem to have moved upmarket. See the video ad for Ram here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lSbtLZliDI

[paulgipe]

My article EV Road Tripping: Bakersfield Bolt to Yosemite via US 395 and the "East Side" is up.

The part that's pertinent to this thread is below.

The Lodge

The Bolt delivered. We were the only pure EV at Toulumne Meadows Lodge, but we did see two Volts.

No one charged at the Lodge, though it has been done before. My advice is not to plan on charging in Toulumne Meadows. There is only a 120-volt outlet at the Lodge and it's in a traveled way, making any overnight charging problematic.

We did raise some eyebrows when people realized the car was electric. The ranger at the entrance station even commented on the car when we entered the park.

I'll have the piece up on the Bolt sites shortly.

Paul

[GRA]

Thanks, Paul. They really need to get moving on the east side and 120 and maybe 140/41 corridors to Yosemite. I'd hoped they'd get them done for this vacation season, but it looks like next year.

BTW, did you not want to come up 99? I can't blame you for enjoying 395, but you certainly could have made Tuolumne and back via QCs on 99 plus L2s/14-50s with your Jesla on any of the western entry routes without having to stay at a $400/night hotel. I know people have used the 14-50s at Yosemite Pines RV park just east of Groveland https://yosemitepinesrv.com/index.php/cabins-yurts ,

and Evergreen Lodge on the Mather road has both a Tesla DC and a J1772: https://www.evergreenlodge.com/?gclid=E ... gLCm_D_BwE,

or you could have gone through the valley (if it had re-opened when you would have passed through). One of these years I'm going to stay in one of Yosemite Pines' yurts just to do it, and they have 14-50s right next to them in some cases.

There's more to do in Mammoth than Groveland, but if it's mainly a place to sleep, who cares?

[GRA]

Plugshare is showing Chargepoint QCs, presumably the CEC ones, under construction in Oakdale, Groveland, and Oakhurst. Oakdale and Oakhurst each have two dual-connector CCS/CHAdeMO, probably 62.5 kW max, plus 1 J1772. Groveland will apparently have 1 dual-head QC of unknown power and 3 J1772s. The numbers will likely soon be inadequate, but at this point we'll take anything we can get, and IIRR the sites were required to have access to enough power be able to double the number of chargers if required.

[GRA]

^^^Updating the above, the CEC site in Oakdale got its first few check-ins in time for Memorial Day, although Plugshare still shows it as under construction - maybe none of the check-ins bothered to contact them and let them know. The site at Rush Creek Lodge at Yosemite is also reported open, although as there's only a single CCS/CHAdeMO + 1 J1772 it's useful only for opportunity charging. The same will apply to the site in Groveland once open, albeit there will be two more J1772s. Oakhurst on Hwy 41 isn't reported open yet. All are on the Chargepoint network.

[GRA]

Paul, the CEC Chargepoint site under construction in Groveland disappeared from Plugshare's map a few weeks ago, Do you have any info about what's going on with that? I'm hoping that it's being redesigned to have at least two QCs, instead of one plus a bunch of L2s that almost no one will ever use, but that's probably just wishful thinking.