Planning a trip to Crater Lake -- range anxiety!

[JayF]

Hey all,

I'm planning a roadtrip from my home in the Tacoma, WA area to Crater Lake National Park in late September.

I've looked at it in ABRP, and by charging to 90% at my last DCFC stop, I can get to my (planned, not booked) lodging with 65% remaining ( https://abetterrouteplanner.com/?plan_uuid=2-6a0bd09a-43030261b5ee310ffeca1851 ). There's really no way for me to get there with significantly more without putting my truck on the fast charger all the way to 100% (is that OK? It seems not-OK?), but even 75% wouldn't make that big of a difference (I guess +10% to all the stuff below).

I can get into the park, without charging again, at 44% charge ( https://abetterrouteplanner.com/?plan_uuid=2-6a0bd0f7-513fb96faebc2ff54ad9c8e8 ), but I have the option to charge at a DCFC here beforehand, which would allow me to arrive with 65% charge ( https://abetterrouteplanner.com/?plan_uuid=2-6a0bd199-cc0302f6d7db6aa106a25e40 ) -- with a significant time cost/detour.

I've not yet contacted my lodging to see if they offer even a plug for me to level 1 charge, it's not listed as an amenity so I am skeptical but am planning to call.

The scenic rim drive is about 30 miles around, although parts will be closed for construction -- so I anticipate using some charge in the park, but it'd likely be at extremely low speeds. They also have a level 2 charger at the gift shop I could use in case of emergency, so I'm not *seriously* concerned about cutting it that close; at 16kWh, assuming 2 mi/kWh efficiency, worst case is two hours to get enough juice to get to a fast charger.

Has anyone been there? Am I overthinking it? I just really don't know the terrain or how much I'll be going up/down the mountain (or how much I can trust ABRP's estimates! They've been correct so far but I haven't done anything challenging yet).

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[K6CCC]

I've looked at it in ABRP, and by charging to 90% at my last DCFC stop, I can get to my (planned, not booked) lodging with 65% remaining ( https://abetterrouteplanner.com/?plan_uuid=2-6a0bd09a-43030261b5ee310ffeca1851 ). There's really no way for me to get there with significantly more without putting my truck on the fast charger all the way to 100% (is that OK? It seems not-OK?), but even 75% wouldn't make that big of a difference (I guess +10% to all the stuff below).

You do have a Tesla SuperCharger about 5 miles south of your planned last DCFC so that would give you an additional percent or two vs the Flying J. It also has the advantage of 8 chargers vs 2 at the Flying J, so better odds of getting one. Yes, you absolutely can DCFC above 90%, but be forwarned, it gets really slow above 90%. From my experience, it will be about 60 KW rate from 80 to 90, and then start ramping down as you get higher. By 95% it's around 15 KW charge rate. I have DCFC charged to 95% four times.

If you really are desperate, there is L2 charging just south of the south entrance: https://www.plugshare.com/location/72488 There is one J1772 and one NACS, so if you are thinking about this as a backup, make sure to have NACS to J1772 AC charger adapter (different adapter from NACS to CCS DCFC adapter).

It would be nice if you could L1 at least at your lodging location, but remember that L1 will give you just over 1 KWH per hour plugged in. But it beats nothing.

 

[Newton]

I have been from Bend to Bellingham with no problem but have not tried Crater Lake yet. I think that you will be fine.

There are fast chargers in Eugene (at the Fred Meyer) so you don’t have to detour to Creswell. There is a more convenient supercharger before Eugene just kind of in a field, I don’t. know the town name. Is there some reason that you are not using superchargers? There is a supercharger in Chemult, OR which is only 30 miles from the rim.

In my experience with Hurricane Ridge and going to Winthrop, you do use a lot going uphill but you really do regenerate a lot when going downhill. The range meter does not capture this well, look at the battery percentage.

I carry a bunch of adapters so that I can charge at a campground which I have done a few times (before we had supercharger access)

 

[Grumpy2]

It is only 72 miles from Tesla available to us in Central Point to Crater Lake. At the Village there is a level 2 charger if you're staying there. If you go down the other side there is another Tesla charger at the junction of 97 and 138. I recommend you join the Tesla program before leaving and use their website to plot your trip. Be sure to turn off Plug & Charge to be sure you get the reduced rate.

 

[Newton]

Also check the weather forecasts, it really can snow up there in March and it can be pretty grim on those little roads with logging trucks wizzing by you in whiteout conditions. When I was a kid we would snowmobile along the rim (getting there in a VW Bus!) and it is not for the faint of heart.

 

[gbuydos]

Well if was retired and alone, I would take mine on a trip. However, my wife would kill me if I to her along. Too many variables, unknowns, time and other issues to make her anxiety go thru the roof. Good luck.

 

[21st Century Truck]

Good suggestions by locals, in the above posts.

I'll add my general suggestions to help mitigate the OP's range anxiety:

1. Traction battery range is greatly dependent on:
- the driver's lead foot, or lack of it. When in any doubt, SLOOOW DOWN including all the way to the next charging point. I find my truck's sweet spot for conservation efficiency is around 62 - 63 MPH although on rare occasions I've gone for tens of miles as slow as 35 - 40 MPH.
- A high degree of incline (the "climbing angle") will also eat a significant chunk of the traction battery's energy, and therefore range, more so than in a gasoline engine. Plan for this and it won't surprise You. The descents on the other side will give back some but no way all of this lost battery energy. In my experience, I count on regaining, maybe, 60% of lost range on descents... and this of course depends on whether the descent is equal in elevation to the climb. Often they are not directly comparable because one side of the mountain range's base lies at a higher altitude than the other side.
- Remember that strong headwinds, often although not always dependent on the time of day in the mountains, do shorten the range on our flying brick trucks. There's a general hiker's guide about mountain winds: "Downslope breeze in the late mornings, upslope breeze in the evenings".
- Adjust for cold temperatures' traction battery range loss in the cold season and at high elevations. A nice sweatshirt can be Your friend here to lessen the use of battery heat for the cabin.
- Electricity is electricity... often the difference between success and panic in borderline situations lies in the ability to just plug in for an hour or so, i.e. electric adapters. I carry and recommend to others as a minimum the following adapters: a NEMA 14-50 "RV style" 50 amp 240V adapter and also a welder's receptacle NEMA 6-50P 50 amp 220V adapter. There is likely a welding shop in every small town and village across North America, and often the welder is not actually welding at that moment. A friendly 3 minute conversation and a nice hour / 90 minutes for lunch in the town burger joint can gain a good safety range buffer in exchange for a ten spot. I've done this myself three times. I've also charged up for 2 hours in a farmer's field on the edge of town in Murdo South Dakota when we found that Murdo's single DC fast charging point had been busted for days on our arrival... the farmer had installed old junky trailers for his Summer field hands in the field, and had RV NEMA 14-50 pedestals there for the then-unoccupied trailers.

Enjoy Your Crater Lake trip!

 

[JayF]

You do have a Tesla SuperCharger about 5 miles south of your planned last DCFC so that would give you an additional percent or two vs the Flying J.

This is how I learn that apparently ABRP and Plugshare didn't know I had an NACS->CCS adapter.

I haven't noticed before now because I prefer non-Tesla charging when possible for multiple reasons (you can guess one; but the bigger issue is not wanting the social situation of boxing someone out from a charger who might need one b/c my Truck doesn't "fit" right).

There are fast chargers in Eugene (at the Fred Meyer) so you don’t have to detour to Creswell.

That was me forcing it to the IONNA because I want to use one They look like awesome rechargeries and I don't mind going a little outta my way to see it. The range anxiety is 1000% just related to my time in the park itself and getting around.


I've read all the feedback, I'll take it in (with my now-Tesla-aware planning tools) and take another swing at a plan. Thank you all! I feel a little more confident now but just so many unknowns! Maybe I'll get a trip up a closer mountain before I make the trip to get a better feel for it...

 

[K6CCC]

but the bigger issue is not wanting the social situation of boxing someone out from a charger who might need one b/c my Truck doesn't "fit" right).

To a large extent you can usually dismiss that one. Because Tesla builds far larger stations than just about anybody else, there just are not that many times that you can't find a charger. I have only once been unable to charge due to only one stall available, and that was at a downtown tourist city (Santa Barbara, CA) location on a weekend afternoon. Fortunately I was not in a need to charge, it would have just been a convenience while eating across the street.

 

[JayF]

To a large extent you can usually dismiss that one. Because Tesla builds far larger stations than just about anybody else, there just are not that many times that you can't find a charger. I have only once been unable to charge due to only one stall available, and that was at a downtown tourist city (Santa Barbara, CA) location on a weekend afternoon. Fortunately I was not in a need to charge, it would have just been a convenience while eating across the street.

You misunderstand. I don't care as much about waiting as I would making someone *else* wait due to me taking up two spots.

 

[K6CCC]

You misunderstand. I don't care as much about waiting as I would making someone *else* wait due to me taking up two spots.

It works both ways. When you have a 16 stall station and only six in use, it's not an issue. When it's a four stall station with three in use it is a problem. Even in the middle of nowhere I have never seen a SuperCharger that small. But four stall at other brands is common. Granted that most other brands have longer cables so the two spots next to each other is pretty much exclusively a Tesla issue for us.

 

[JayF]

So I've re-evaluated:

That Tesla supercharger is very close! That'll get used for sure. Even though I don't wanna give Musk the money, I'll probably end up getting the Tesla membership and using superchargers for this trip. If I have to use one, might as well get the membership and save myself a lot of money on DCFC.

I called my lodging, they didn't have charging BUT told me to call https://diamondlake.net/ because they had "shiny new EV chargers". When I called Diamond Lake, they said they have "level 4 fast chargers" installed just waiting to be energized next month. Even if the person was mistaken and it's Level 2 charger(s), that solves 100% of my problem -- I can get to 100% there, and have over 70% available once I arrive in the park. I'll set a "floor" at 20-25% for usage in the park to make sure I can get back to the supercharger.

Thanks for the insight! The comments here have been super helpful and I'll update the thread with a proper "trip report" once it happens.

 

[Grumpy2]

Enjoy your trip to Crater Lake. I-5 has been an "electric highway" for quite some time, no range anxiety along I-5 from Canada to Mexico. Lots of fun things available in Southwest Oregon.

 

[JayF]

Enjoy your trip to Crater Lake. I-5 has been an "electric highway" for quite some time, no range anxiety along I-5 from Canada to Mexico. Lots of fun things available in Southwest Oregon.

Yeah this post, I shoulda made it more clear, is 100% about managing a Standard Range battery the day I'm in the park. Just nervous about range and bluntly, I don't want my gearhead-dad's first impression of my truck to be it being low/out of range.

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