EV to Vegas in the Rain and Wind. A few takes:

[TPC]

Here in LV for a couple days to help out Grandma Axehandle.

Pretty good rain half the way and wind the other half.
The rain didn’t ignite the car into a rolling bonfire as the news reported may happen.

Last trip no wind on a warm dry day 300 miles on a charge.

Today 22 mph cross winds that same charge just got me to Barstow.
Wind is the enemy of EVs. Damfino why.

I’m thinking with all that excessive power ya don’t realize the cruise control & you are putting your foot in it more with the wind. Maybe not.

Free charging so no cost. Solar charging in Baker:

Last visit the Tesla chargers were packed with heated feuds in the cue. Thought fists were gonna fly. Screaming and yelling, cutting each other off.

Odd ducks those Tesla owners. Some use an adaptor and charge at the non-Tesla chargers to avoid the Tesla drama. Hearing the non-Tesla chargers are cheaper as well.

I was tipped off the new 350 DC EA chargers have a bug and are delivering more than the rated 350 Kw which in turn will code and brick some EV's.
Avoided that and used the 150s.

Improvements this Las Vegas run are how fast the EA chargers “shake hands” with the car and start charging. 15 seconds from plug-in to the charge flowing. No fuss either.
That’s a BFD.

 

[boatnam2]

How long do you sit on charger?

 

[mjc]

So who is paying for all the free electricity?

 

[pronstar]

What EV are you driving?

Yeah, considering the vast majority of a vehicles power is used to overcome drag/wind resistance, it makes sense that it’s no bueno for range.

It’s akin to putting a rooftop carrier on it.

Heck, when we had a Prius, just putting a bike on a rear bumper rack killed our highway mpg, from high-40s to mid-30s.

 

[TCHB]

What EV are you driving?

Yeah, considering the vast majority of a vehicles power is used to overcome drag/wind resistance, it makes sense that it’s no bueno for range.

It’s akin to putting a rooftop carrier on it.

Heck, when we had a Prius, just putting a bike on a rear bumper rack killed our highway mpg, from high-40s to mid-30s.

I would pull a empty atv trailer with a tall rear gate with my Chevrolet truck and mileage would go down quickly.

 

[81Sprint]

So who is paying for all the free electricity?

Jao and Kamaltoe

So... We are

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

I glad you are happy.

That is way too many gyrations and gymnastics for me when trying to make time on the road. 300 miles in perfect conditions is getting there at least.

I’ll stick with my 5 min or less wait at Costco.

 

[pronstar]

I would pull a empty atv trailer with a tall rear gate with my Chevrolet truck and mileage would go down quickly.

Yeah I was really surprised back when I towed my Rhino on a single-axle trailer with a ramp tailgate that was like wire mesh. Air doesn’t flow thru them as much as we think they do…it’s a giant sail

 

[boatnam2]

Chevron look to be having a little fire, so much for mid term gas price drops.

 

[TPC]

Rolled outta LV this morning with 100% charge 310 miles range.
98 miles to Baker.

Rolled into Baker just now - had 127 miles left and 52% charge showing.

Cruise control at 70 mph the whole distance.
36f is the mulligan.
Good thing all the chargers working.

EVs are a long ways off from not having to be on your game with range planing and reliable chargers in route.

Next stop EV chargers at the Walmart in Barstow.
No doubt the scariest Walmart in the USA.
This is the location I thought I saw Vic Morrows head in the planter.

Lucid owners bragging they’re getting more than their 500 mile range.

I dunno about that but I do know our next EV will have to be rated at least 400 miles and I’ll expect 300.

 

[TPC]

How long do you sit on charger?

20% to 80%:
The 150 KW 20 minutes
The older 350s about 11 minutes.

 

[TPC]

So who is paying for all the free electricity?

Electrify America gave the Wifie 1000 free hours then last month reset her account to another 1000 free hours. Part of the 3 billion dollar VW diesel emissions fiasco settlement. VW owns Electrify America.

A lot of the casinos offer free charging too.
Even the Bluewater has free plugs.
Though Bildoe will kick my ass if he catches me there.

The one free and one $8 flat rate cheap Terribles EV chargers in Jean have been broken for most this year:

------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ---------------------

Electrify America chargers free charging. Notice the last 20% at 19KW charging rate on a 150KW machine. If I were paying at this point the cost would be about $13. Cheap. It says 43 cents on the screen with a CC, but with the app it's usually 31 cents per KWH. Read that: Usually. 350kw machines are more and peak hours may be more.

 

[TPC]

I glad you are happy.

That is way too many gyrations and gymnastics for me when trying to make time on the road. 300 miles in perfect conditions is getting there at least.

I’ll stick with my 5 min or less wait at Costco.

Home charging and used as a daily commuter car is what’s practical now.

If you have solar that’s a big bonus. If you have free charging at work that’s a bonus too.

If you go on a trip it takes careful planing. Tesla still the best choice for distance users.

Next time the wife drives to Vegas she’ll take her Mazda 6.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Home charging and used as a daily commuter car is what’s practical now.

If you have solar that’s a big bonus. If you have free charging at work that’s a bonus too.

If you go on a trip it takes careful planing. Tesla still the best choice for distance users.

Next time the wife drives to Vegas she’ll take her Mazda 6.

I appreciate your honesty. At this point I would trade range for less performance. When I can do an honest 300 miles at 80 MPH in any condition for a $50k spend.. I’m in.

 

[Dan Lorenze]

Going to Vegas I like the Baker Supercharger, I stop there to pee and enjoy a Jersey Mike's number 7. On the way home I charge in Barstow for 30 mins, just enough time to walk over to Del Taco.. EV's are not best suited for road trips but they are certainly doable.

 

[DWC]

The 150 KW 20 minutes
The older 350s about 11 minutes.

Do the non-Tesla charger throttle back charging the last 1/3 to get you out of there like Tesla? A 20min charge to get you to to the next charger turns into a 45min for a full charge.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Do the non-Tesla charger throttle back charging the last 1/3 to get you out of there like Tesla? A 20min charge to get you to to the next charger turns into a 45min for a full charge.

That would be grounds for ending myself right there at the charger.

 

[DWC]

That would be grounds for ending myself right there at the charger.

It’s just a little frustrating. . We plug into a standard socket when we get to Havasu. I try to fill it up in Barstow to get a head start on the trip home. The last 1/4 to 1/3 crawls. I would pop into Chilis for wings and a beer and would still be out before it’s done. Needless to say, It stays home now.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

It’s just a little frustrating. . We plug into a standard socket when we get to Havasu. I try to fill it up in Barstow to get a head start on the trip home. The last 1/4 to 1/3 crawls. I would pop into Chilis for wings and a beer and would still be out before it’s done. Needless to say, It stays home now.

I admired your zeal the first couple Havasu trips in it

Again, I have nothing against EVs. Everyone is free to travel how they want. The charge at home convenience just comes at a cost on the road.

 

[TPC]

Solar supplement powered charging station at the Comfort Inn Mojave. Mojave is also mostly a Solar and wind powered grid.

The Lightning is drawing 350KW and knocking me offline. He pulled out and I’m charging good at 150kw. He charged pretty quick on the 350. The Lightning can take a whopping 90 AMP charge. Ford did things right. Maybe a few Mulligans along the way, but they did good features and elect design with the Lightning.

It’s all the same charging principals Tesla and non Tesla that we’ve experienced.

But:
The older style batteries are usually charged to 80% occasionally charged to 100%.

I read the new dry, solid state batteries are charged to 100% if you want to is how I understand it.

This new 350kw grenaded:

 

[Dan Lorenze]

I've learned that waiting around for the last 15 mins to top off is a total waste of time, the payoff of a few more miles vs the time you're gonna wait isn't worth it. It's all about charging for 30 mins and split unless you're enjoying a nice lunch then let it top off.

 

[boatnam2]

The 150 KW 20 minutes
The older 350s about 11 minutes.

Not too bad, my GF is getting one here next month or so.

 

[DWC]

I admired your zeal the first couple Havasu trips in it

Again, I have nothing against EVs. Everyone is free to travel how they want. The charge at home convenience just comes at a cost on the road.

Agreed. It’s a badass car around town as TPC says. Solar makes it pretty much free (not counting the car/solar investment up front). The Honda takes 6gals to get to Havasu. I’ll take the $25 - $30 any day over a long lunch stop.

 

[pronstar]

Solar powered charging station at the Comfort Inn Mojave.

The Lightning is drawing 350KW and knocking me off line. He pulled out and I’m charging good at 150kw.

View attachment 1170514
It’s all the same charging principals Tesla and non Tesla that we’ve experienced.

But:
The older style batteries are usually charged to 80% occasionally charged to 100%.

I read the new dry, solid state batteries are charged to 100% if you want to is how I understand it.

This new 350kw grenaded:
View attachment 1170518

There’s zero chance that charging station gets significant power from solar panels alone.

 

[traquer]

"Cruise control at 70 mph the whole distance" no offense but that sounds so boring.

Anytime I'm out in the desert and not driving a truck or towing something, I like to let it rip anytime there's a break in traffic and I have my V1 with me.

 

[TPC]

No

There’s zero chance that charging station gets significant power from solar panels alone.

No question but it’s ample power none the less.
Remember both Baker and Mojave grids are mostly solar + Mojaves additional wind generated supplied.

At night the charging stations are power bank supplied. Power banks are comprised of recycled and repurposed EV car batteries.

BTW Eventually Musk will be a electricity tycoon.

 

[TPC]

Not too bad, my GF is getting one here next month or so.

That’s 20% to 80% numbers with no one else charging.
Lots of variables. Outside Temp, battery pre-conditioning, others charging, moody chargers, generation 1, 2, 3, 4 chargers.

The 80% to 100% stretch it slows way down on public chargers but pretty quick at home. Dunno about the 350KW on the newer style batteries. Supposed to be much better,, but Damfino beyond what I read.

No slowdown charging at home. Fast and reliable.

My quality-of-life hack is middle of the night charging - means chargers available and usually delivering full KWs if no one else there.

If the Mojave chargers were down there's a free CHP EV charger 100 yards away that was charging at 8 miles range per hour. I’da been doomed. Absofuckinlutely screwed. I've been told it's since been juiced up to much more power. Probably get a good enough to get home on free charge in under a half hour.

The EV world in the US has to get much better before we buy another EV. Just a novelty ride for now. Even EV dealers have no chargers for their customers that I've ever seen. In the early days of diesel cars Mercedes Dealers all had 24/7 diesel pumps available to customers.

When the wife rolls EV I have the 7500 kw generator in the back of the truck with adequate fuel and cables to head out if she gets stranded.
Crazy but it’s a great backup plan:

BTW: EV battery chargers are in the vehicles. The charging stations and your portable and home cords just supplies power.

Like I mentioned our EV is a novelty ride.

 

[DLC]

It’s ok hun! I dropped $12 bucks for gas to get us to the next gas station ….

 

[pronstar]

I have the 7500kw generator in the back of the truck with adequate fuel and cables to head out if she gets stranded.
Crazy but it’s a great backup plan.

How does the car like the genny power?
Is it an inverter unit?

 

[TPC]

"Cruise control at 70 mph the whole distance" no offense but that sounds so boring.

Anytime I'm out in the desert and not driving a truck or towing something, I like to let it rip anytime there's a break in traffic and I have my V1 with me.

That’s one test stretch LV to Baker.
I kicked it in the ass all the other driving, to and from and it was a blast.

Precision steering, instant 100% torque and dual Motors all the time, leave tailgaters wondering WTF when you blast away, quiet, nice ride, comfy seats, excellent handling.

Amazing 60 to 100 mph acceleration.
I’m doing 60 and get tailgated in a 50 zone, floor it and the dash lights up red and we hit light speed instantly.
I ain’t bored.

 

[TPC]

How does the car like the genny power?
Is it an inverter unit?

Yes and yes.
800V architecture it inhales amps like a stoner with a big fat blunt.

The 800V is essential when buying an EV.

Its ridiculous that a generator has to be a backup plan. But it’s our novelty car. I can live with and kid myself that angle.

The EV6 loves to take any inverter charge with no fuss.
Even the HF 3500 works good.

 

[TPC]

It’s ok hun! I dropped $12 bucks for gas to get us to the next gas station ….

We spent the last 3 days in Vegas and we were shocked fuel prices were just like Home.

Maybe shouldn’t have been surprised.
Use to be at least $1 difference.

 

[pronstar]

Yes and yes.
800V architecture it inhales amps like a stoner with a big fat blunt.

The 800V is essential when buying an EV.

Its ridiculous that a generator has to be a backup plan. But it’s our novelty car. I can live with and kid myself that angle.

The EV6 loves to take any inverter charge with no fuss.
Even the HF 3500 works good.

I didn’t know you got an EV6…very nice car.
You get in and it feels like you’re driving the future.
They knocked it out of the park at that price point

 

[Ziggy]

Agreed. It’s a badass car around town as TPC says. Solar makes it pretty much free (not counting the car/solar investment up front). The Honda takes 6gals to get to Havasu. I’ll take the $25 - $30 any day over a long lunch stop.

Free ev charging perhaps but you will still spend the $25-30 for a fast food lunch.

 

[timstoy]

With the price of electricity and availability l don’t think your going to get free electricity for much longer. We are all paying for the free electricity now and wait till they start charging EV a road tax.

 

[TPC]

Free ev charging perhaps but you will still spend the $25-30 for a fast food lunch.

That new Starbucks on Goodsprings RD along outbound I15 is twice the price of here in town.

Best to hit the Terribles store. That Terribles (southbound) location is amazing. We've had some really bizarre experiences there I don't post, no one will believe them.

Starbucks EV chargers are usually 33 cents a kwh. Not bad most others are about 45 cents.

Musk has been raising Tesla Chargers to 60 cents @kwh. Musk feeding his excess power to the grid in megawatts across the USA and will one day be a power Tycoon. He'll have the nations power system by the nutsac.

We buy food at the Travel Stops whether running with gas, diesel or EV. Except the vegetarian wife, she packs Hamster food.

Gotta walk the dog anyway:

 

[TPC]

With the price of electricity and availability l don’t think your going to get free electricity for much longer. We are all paying for the free electricity now and wait till they start charging EV a road tax.

Volkswagen is paying for it now. They own/run Electrify America chargers.

Evidently several billion dollars worth from the diesel emissions scandal settlement. That’s a lot of free charging and it excludes Tesla.

Home charging on solar I am still beside myself how cool it is.

Also you can plug in anywhere, any power outlet.

 

[Racey]

Wind is the enemy of EVs. Damfino why.

Same reason riding a bike in the wind sucks, and how thousand ton yachts can cross ocean with no fuel

 

[TPC]

Going to Vegas I like the Baker Supercharger, I stop there to pee and enjoy a Jersey Mike's number 7. On the way home I charge in Barstow for 30 mins, just enough time to walk over to Del Taco.. EV's are not best suited for road trips but they are certainly doable.

We like to go to the Pit Stop Bar and Grill just a short walk down the hill from the (301 Montara rd) Barstow WalMart chargers.
Excellent food and Amber the bartender is wayyyy cool - worth the visit alone. Nice locals.

EV's are still just enough hassle the wife now wants to take her Mazda on longer trips and not deal with the potential issues.
Teslas are still light years ahead of the pack in so many ways.

Gasoline and diesel prices in Vegas are the same or even higher than LA now.

BTW: Those free chargers that Newsom brags about at roadside rests,,, they still don't work. We make it a point to try every one we come across.

------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ --------------------------- ----------------

 

[TPC]

We have 3 fiber optic lines running all over the neighborhood and to the house now.
One is the cable TV company, one is ATT and the third service is shared by 4 other providers.
All free connections + no extra cost for the fiber optic service beyond what you are already paying.

Tesla Starlink has them all running scared. Musk will control all that too. For the moment we have competition.

Musk is building solar power stations and along with his solar EV charging stations he's dumping loads of power into the grid 24/7/365.
His new chargers have both Tesla vehicle connectors and Non Tesla vehicle EV connectors. Soon be supplying giga watts, Musk talking up Terawatts is the goal.

Superchargers and now graduating to superfast Mega chargers.

This is just the beginning.
We're seeing a renaissance developing.
Graphene Ion and Sodium Ion batteries will be next. Lighter, hold more power, run cold, fast charge cheaper, recyclable.

Dunno if anyone caught the smaller than the semi, bobtail EV truck and trailer Tesla is about to release.
It'll be a sensational seller.

 

[TPC]

Most the chargers we encountered in Vegas for those that have to pay were 31 cents a KWH for the 150's with the Electrify America app. That's really good.
Faster 350KW chargers ya pay more.

In South Summerlin we charged the car and in the same parking lot walked over the the Edge of Town Bar and Grille. Ordered beers and food and the car was charged before the food arrived. Unplugged, moved it closer to the bar. 22% to 100%.
Good food, nice bartenders, big screens, nice vibe, perfect place:

Cold day makes a difference in charging time. EV's with battery pre-conditioning make a difference in charge time and amount of charge the EV is willing to take as well.

Electrify America has located their chargers in the nicer areas around Las Vegas. Not bad. They get a lot of action.
Back in Barstow we plugged in at Walmart, walked down to the Pit Stop Grill and locals at the bar said "Your braved the WalMart Parking lot?"
Lot's of walking dead about.

 

[WYRD]

Sounds like what you saved on gas you spent on food

 

[Ricks raft]

There’s zero chance that charging station gets significant power from solar panels alone.

Big diesel generators sitting there.

 

[TimeBandit]

Thanks for the write up.

We have a VW id4 on order for the wife, it should be perfect as a big trip for her is 100 miles.

 

[pronstar]

Thanks for the write up.

We have a VW id4 on order for the wife, it should be perfect as a big trip for her is 100 miles.

Did you guys get a good deal on it?
It seems to be a good car, but sales have fallen far short of expectations so discounts should be plentiful.

 

[TimeBandit]

Did you guys get a good deal on it?
It seems to be a good car, but sales have fallen far short of expectations so discounts should be plentiful.

It won't be here until Q1 '23, at this point it is just "on order" with a fully refundable $500 deposit.

I ordered it right before they changed the rebate rules, just my luck.... But wifey still wants it.

The 2023 will be made in the states so they qualify for 1/2 of the $7500. EV rebate

The other "1/2" depends where the components of the battery were sourced. That's a unknown.

At this point I am paying MSRP, but with 1/2 the rebate now gone a discount may be in order.

If you bought a new 2022 right now that was made in Europe you would get zero rebate.

 

[TPC]

Big diesel generators sitting there.

Natural gas powered if the grid goes down. Always be a charge available.

 

[TPC]

Thanks for the write up.

We have a VW id4 on order for the wife, it should be perfect as a big trip for her is 100 miles.

VW just got their US EV factory going. Nice cars.
I like the VW EV mini van too:

 

[TPC]

Sounds like what you saved on gas you spent on food

,,,,,and booze don't forget. Way more.
Won $20 on the video poker and that didn't even cover it.

The farther ya get from the strip,, the looser the slots/video poker.
A player can really feel the difference in action.

Love driving the car. The home Solar charging is just a bonus. Probably will own it less than a year, already have my eyes on something else.

 

[TPC]

At the Baker Ca West side Charging stations: