Expanding EV charging in Yosemite

[paulgipe]

Guy,

Don Condon, EAA, reported yesterday that Bishop is live. EA does not confirm it and there are no check ins. Don didn't charge so at this stage I classify it as a rumor, but a good one.

Paul

[GRA]

^^^ Fingers crossed.

[paulgipe]

I am trying to get a local to visit the site in Bishop, CA.

At this time, I am not convinced that the site is live. I think Don was mistaken.

Paul

[GRA]

In an attempt to juice things along I sent EA the following email - let's hope it has some effect, and if I get something other than a boilerplate reply I'll post it:

I'm very deaf, so please don't call me - email only. Are you going to get the stations in Coso junction and Bishop, CA. open before XMAS, so that Southern Californians can drive to Mammoth Lakes for the Holidays? These stations have been "Coming Soon" for a long time now, and sat untouched for a few months during the summer. It's desirable that BEVs other than Tesla can make this trip as soon as possible, and if not by XMAS then certainly before the MLK holiday so people can ski. You already opened Bridgeport, which will see far less traffic than these two.

BTW, you also need stations in Lee Vining and Lone Pine, to handle the cross-traffic through Yosemite on 120 (far greater traffic volume than 108 via Bridgeport); Lone Pine is the gateway to Whitney Portal and all of Sequoia/Kings Canyon south of Bishop, as well as the turnoff to Death Valley for people coming south down 395.

Thanks.

They've been opening a bunch of urban sites in California, and while those are certainly valuable, we need more regional access sites at the moment.

[GRA]

On my way back from Yosemite Wednesday I stopped at the Groveland CEC/Chargepoint site to see if any progress had been made since I stopped by in October (see previous page). At that time, the QC pedestals were covered by their shipping cartons; the cartons have now been removed, exposing the interior guts of the QCs, but it appeared that they'd been sitting like that for a while, which is stupid given that Groveland gets both rain and snow. The dual L2 is still unpowered. Paul, do you or anyone else here have a contact email for someone responsible at CEC so we can nag them? This is ridiculous.

[paulgipe]

Guy,

I sent you a PM with a contact.

In my last conversation with CEC, they noted that CP has until June of this year to complete their contracts. CEC does have milestones for them though.

We have 2-4 CP stations near here that they've yet to start construction.

For future rounds of funding, we won't even be able to track them. It's bad enough now, but when we can't track them we have no idea of where or when stations will be built. The CEC is outsourcing the contracting to the counties.

Paul

[GRA]

Paul, I haven't received the PM.

Guy

[GRA]

As described in several posts in the Bolt topic last week, I rented a new (54 miles on the odometer) 2020 Bolt on Turo last week, and drove it from the Bay Area via I-580/205/5/S.R.120/99/120/108 over Sonora Pass (9,624') to Lee Vining (6,780') and then up to Tioga Pass (9,945'), back to Lee Vining and then home by the same route. I couldn't take my usual route via 120 through the Park, but Oakdale to Bridgeport is probably very similar to Oakdale to Lee Vining as far as distance and energy use. I post the info here for anyone driving a similar size BEV to use as a basis for trip planning.

I collected energy use info along the way. I charged to 100% in Tracy, where there are EA, EVgo and CP QCs within a half mile or so of each other, and then topped to 90% in Oakdale, which is the furthest east dual QC on the way to Yosemite. There is a single CP QC at Rush Creek Lodge on 120, 20 miles east of Groveland, but as it's likely to be occupied by lodge guests even if it's working, I wouldn't depend on it. There's also a dual CP site in Groveland that's been waiting for a transformer for a year now, with no indication when that might happen. The only QC (not SC) on the east side north of Bishop is the EA site in Bridgeport, which I was unable to charge at (see Bolt topic). It took 8.3 kWh to get from Tracy the 37.9 miles to Oakdale. The rest of my numbers are between Oakdale (155') to Lee Vining and/or L.V. - Tioga Pass. I drove normally for me, somewhat fast, but used minimal amounts of A/C or heat.

Oakdale - Yosemite Junction: 25.1 mi./8.3 kWh

Yos. Jct. - Clark Fork: 55.9 mi./22.0 kWh

Cl. Fk. - Sonora Pass: 16.9 mi./10.0 kWh
_______________
Oakdale - Sonora Pass: 97.9 mi./40.3 kWh

Sonora Pass - Bridgeport: 31.5 mi./2.6 kWh
_______________
Oakdale - Bridgeport: 129.4 mi./42.9 kWh

Bridgeport - Lee Vining (Gus Hess Park L2 chargers): 25.8 mi./5.7 kWh. Note, drove 55-50-45 to ensure adequate reserve at Lee Vining, so figure 7-8 kWh at normal speeds.
________
Oakdale - Lee Vining: 155.2 mi./48.6 kWh


Lee Vining (G.H.P.) - Tioga Pass: 12.9 mi./7.2 kWh

L.V. (120/395 Jct.) - Tioga Pass): 12.0 mi./6.9 kWh

T.P. - 120/395: 11.9 mi./ (-)1.7 kWh

T.P. - G.H.P.: 12.8 mi./ (-)1.7 kWh
_________
G.H.P.- T.P. RT: 25.7 mi./5.5 kWh

120/395 - T.P. RT: 23.9 mi./5.2 kWh


G.H.P. - Sonora Pass: 56 8 mi./18.6 kWh

Sonora Pass - Yos. Jct.: 72.6 mi./3.3 kWh

Yos Jct. - Oakdale 25.1 mi./5.9 kWh
_________
G.H.P. - Yos. Jct.: 129.4 mi./21.9 kWh

G.H.P. - Oakdale: 154.5 mi./27.8 kWh

From Lee Vining to Yosemite Junction I averaged 5.9 mi./kWh, and 22 mi./kWh from Sonora Pass to Yosemite Junction!

[paulgipe]

Guy,

Great report with enough useful detail others can repeat the experience.

We're headed up to near Lone Pine Wednesday. Don't know if we'll try to get up to Horseshoe Meadows or not.

Paul

[paulgipe]

Guy,

I can't find that Bolt topic on the Bridgeport EA station. Can you provide a direct link.

Paul