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New chargers to open at Newhalem Creek hydro project, Washington

Newton

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So I was just looking on plugshare for our fall hikes in the Cascades. My big dilemma between the standard or extended range was how to get up highway 20 in an fairly inefficient EV. It is about 150 miles from my house up steep "turn your air conditioner off or you will overheat" roads. I have done the trip with my EV6 a few times with no worries, but when you are in Winthrop, WA the nearest fast charger is a ways into Canada. I think that the SR drives a bit better with less weight, and I really hate sunroofs especially on trucks. (I live in a windy area under trees and it rains a lot.) I eventually got the SR Lariat when Ford put out a pretty sweet deal on them which made it many thousands less than an equivalent ER. I resigned myself to taking the Kia to Winthrop, it is fine for that (pretty nice actually) but it isn't F-150 levels of comfort.

On my last trip back, I noticed that the (very) slow chargers at Newhalem were bagged off. While planning another trip I got curious and wanted to see if what I suspected was true -- and it was. Newhalem is closed to put in a pair of 350KW chargers and "a lot" of level 2 chargers! This makes sense because Newhalem Creek is a big hydro dam project that provides electricity for Seattle. I think ole' Thor is going to give it a go this season.

SR Lightning for the win!
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HitchRide

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Robert
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Still bagged up as of May 10th. Had to charge along the warehouse. The only decent level 2 charger along hwy 20 was in Twisp at the Outpost.
I have to say that you really get to know these small towns when walking around waiting for these (mostly) free slow chargers to add a few miles.
Ask me anything about Concrete WA!
 
 







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