SageBrush said:
GRA said:
So, for Bay Area residents, putting a QC in Groveland or some point east of it makes it possible to visit Yosemite and return with just one QC stop along the way (each way)
Take a closer look at a map, and remember that charging past 70% SoC or so is *really* slow, and Yosemite has poor or non-existent charging facilities. Starting at the midway point and ending there is ~ 200 miles not counting any driving around in the park.
Not. Going. To. Happen
I've not only looked at the map, I've run the trip numerous times on EVTriplanner with Model S60s as well as Model 3s. Groveland is about 116 miles and ca. 3,000 ft. above me and worst case a Model 3SR (assumes 55kWh) uses 123 rated miles. Groveland to Lee Vining is 91 miles, i.e. in a Model 3 SR to do the 182 miles round trip takes from 98 to about 140 rated miles (because of the thousands of feet of descent coming back) - the latter number is based on 1.0 speed factor, 32 deg,. outside and 72 deg. inside temps, and 1,000 lb. load, which represents a fall trip with a full load (but no headwinds or rain). That falls into the yellow section (will probably make it) of a Model 3SR's range, assuming start at 80% charge and 15% reserve. At 85% or higher, it's in the green (will make it). The S60, being a lot heavier uses more energy; the Bolt's about 270 lb. lighter than a Model 3 SR, and while draggier, speeds are low (max. limit 45) in Yosemite. The Niro and Kona are both less draggy than the Bolt and have another ~ 20 miles AER, so it should be correspondingly easier for them. Stopping for a meal in Groveland allows ample time to charge to 80% or more from 45 or 55% SoC, which would be the arrival SoC assuming start SoC at home of 90%.
CEC also plans to put in a QC about 20 miles east of Groveland, which is in even better position from the Bay Area and Lee Vining, but last I saw they were only planning to put one there, which means it's an opportunity charger only.
As to Yosemite Valley, that's doable now roundtrip un-recharged via Hwy 140 in a Bolt from existing eVgo QCs along Hwy 99 in Atwater, without needing to use any of the chargers (two J1772 + one Tesla dest.) in the Valley. You would want to charge to 90% for full load, late fall conditions. For that matter, one of our former members here managed to get a 24kWh LEAF from Fresno to Tuolumne Meadows and back, using inside the park L1 and L2 charging:
https://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=9965&p=226781&hilit=yosemite#p226706 so BEVs with triple the range and reasonably close to the park QCs (Groveland to NW park entrance 23 miles, 54.5 miles and ~5k ft. more to east entrance) are relatively speaking a piece of cake.
Charging speeds beyond 70% or so are slower than in a Tesla, but then you're not starting from 10 or 15% SoC in this case, so a sit-down meal stop is adequate to get the needed charge.