[SteveEngineer]

We are planning to drive from San Diego to San Luis Obispo in our Bolt EUV on ... gulp ... Christmas Eve, this year. We will be taking the northern route via the I-210 around the worst of the Los Angeles congestion, at least. I tentatively plan to recharge at EVgo in Duarte and use up some of those credits that we got from GM as we go through, but I also have an account with Electrify America just in case. My question is directed at any "LA locals" that know the DCFC situation on holidays in LA: Does this make any sense? Are we going to get stuck in a long waiting line to recharge because of the holiday traffic crush? We have the option of driving our ICE car instead, which can do this jaunt on one tank of expensive gas -- but we like our EUV better! We hope to make it to Ventura County by lunchtime, by the way.

Any advice from LA folks who have tried this on a holiday? Thanks in advance ...

 

[VoltoBolt]

Via the 210?!?

I suspect that Saturday will not be that bad, compared to Friday.

I do much inter county driving on my Bolt EV for personal and Uber related driving.

From my home in the eastern San Fernando Valley, I used to drive my Bolt quite often to Santa Cruz and stop for charging "in the old days" in either Paso Robles (Interstate 5 to Hiway 46, passing the scene of where James Dean died on his motorcycle accident) or San Luis Obisbo (the 101).

EVGo and EA have many facilities available to you before San Luis Obisbo.

My advice is to charge later in your discharge cycle, so that the flow of electricity remains faster; as it will slow down once you pass 60% and I do not recommend DCFC charging past 80% unless it is essential; too slow!

Where exactly are you starting from? What is the route you chose?

Depending upon where you start: I-5 to the 101 seems the best route: about 310 miles; so only one charging stop would be needed; perhaps at the Pacific View Mall in Ventura (EA); 180 miles, with backups in Santa Barbara, 215 miles, or even further.

 

[cwerdna]

I can't speak to the DC FC situation but don't depend only on EVgo or EA. You should check Plugshare for where you might want to charge and have at least 1 backup for each charging stop. Don't make the mistakes at https://www.chevybolt.org/threads/road-tripping-in-an-ev.39631/#post-628422.

I actually might be driving to So Cal from the Bay Area on the 25th and I have no concerns since I would be taking highway 99 for that. I might come back on the 31st but after going to Santa Barbara, Solvang, and Hearst Castle, coming up 101. I also don't have concerns.

 

[NortonCommando]

...passing the scene of where James Dean died on his motorcycle accident) ...

Sorry, I'm that guy,,,,
He was driving his 1955 Porsche 356 Spyder.
He was on his way to race it at an event in Salinas while between movie projects.
The car needed 'break-in' miles so he was driving it to the race.

 

[VoltoBolt]

Right, I knew it was a single vehicle incident, but I got sloppy and didn't check my memory with an online search!
He had just finished his post-production work on "Giant" a great motion picture for its times, and only his 3rd!

 

[VoltoBolt]

Don't make the mistakes at https://www.chevybolt.org/threads/road-tripping-in-an-ev.39631/#post-628422.

Going to that link, then itself links to an "incident" posted on a Facebook Group, that itself is private and the information cannot be accessed generally.

Could you go back to that post (which is very helpful information from you, as usual) and give a summary of that incident?

 

[NortonCommando]

Right, I knew it was a single vehicle incident, but I got sloppy and didn't check..

Sorry again,
a yahoo swung wide making a turn onto the road not seeing the Spyder and a Head On resulted.
Guy/mechanic in the right seat survived. The other guy in the '50 Ford got a bloody nose and had to hitch hike to finish his trip.

 

[VoltoBolt]

Somewhat prophetic!

 

[FlyingMachineEV]

We are planning to drive from San Diego to San Luis Obispo in our Bolt EUV on ... gulp ... Christmas Eve, this year. We will be taking the northern route via the I-210 around the worst of the Los Angeles congestion, at least. I tentatively plan to recharge at EVgo in Duarte and use up some of those credits that we got from GM as we go through, but I also have an account with Electrify America just in case. My question is directed at any "LA locals" that know the DCFC situation on holidays in LA: Does this make any sense? Are we going to get stuck in a long waiting line to recharge because of the holiday traffic crush? We have the option of driving our ICE car instead, which can do this jaunt on one tank of expensive gas -- but we like our EUV better! We hope to make it to Ventura County by lunchtime, by the way.

Any advice from LA folks who have tried this on a holiday? Thanks in advance ...

I live in Los Angeles county, typically you don’t have an issue finding chargers that are available. It’s the free ones that get occupied quite often. EA & EVGO You shouldn’t have an issue at all. Just have a few stations handy they’re normally close to one another. Like others said I wouldn’t charge until you were at least down to 30%

 

[Martin D]

I can't speak to the DC FC situation but don't depend only on EVgo or EA. You should check Plugshare for where you might want to charge and have at least 1 backup for each charging stop. Don't make the mistakes at https://www.chevybolt.org/threads/road-tripping-in-an-ev.39631/#post-628422.

I actually might be driving to So Cal from the Bay Area on the 25th and I have no concerns since I would be taking highway 99 for that. I might come back on the 31st but after going to Santa Barbara, Solvang, and Hearst Castle, coming up 101. I also don't have concerns.

Just a note that 99N is still a joke at Merced, with whatever they are doing about the speed rail (?) thing still having the northbound lanes split with no ability to exit from the super narrow left/split lane, and it gets backed up. Sometimes rip hair out bad.

Southbound 99 also gets some bad backups in the same Merced location. The 2 lanes are together but super narrow (like the N bound) and it tends to get a log jam as motorists freak being inches from semis that really have to pay attention to not take some of the other lane.

You don’t like I-5? No issues there whatsoever.

 

[VoltoBolt]

.You don’t like I-5? No issues there whatsoever.

I think he lives in the foothills east of 99; but far enough north that I-5 has moved further west.

 

[Martin D]

I think he lives in the foothills east of 99; but far enough north that I-5 has moved further west.

Completely understandable as a bypass to I-5 might be 152.
I live on the Westside. I-5 is ~5 miles from my house. I guess I don’t think about how few live in a burg like Newman. A lot have never even heard of it.

Stockton is the usual place to switch since 5 and 99 are about the closest to each other.

 

[cwerdna]

Just a note that 99N is still a joke at Merced, with whatever they are doing about the speed rail (?) thing still having the northbound lanes split with no ability to exit from the super narrow left/split lane, and it gets backed up. Sometimes rip hair out bad.

Southbound 99 also gets some bad backups in the same Merced location. The 2 lanes are together but super narrow (like the N bound) and it tends to get a log jam as motorists freak being inches from semis that really have to pay attention to not take some of the other lane.

You don’t like I-5? No issues there whatsoever.

Merced isn't relevant for me. I join highway 99 south coming from highway 152 east. On the return I get on 152 west.

That said, I do recall running into some terrible traffic at night on highway 99 before MUCH further south, near a rest area.

The primary thing for me is that highway 99 has WAY more DC fast charging choices than 5 + more free (cost nothing) ones. Some on 5 are notoriously bad like EA Raju Countryside Market - Shell | PlugShare. Per Plugshare, there are reports sometimes of 1 out of 4 DC FCs working coupled w/long lines. The check-ins have aged off the web site but I think I've seen it where all were down at that site. Harris Inn Steakhouse | PlugShare has had reports of line lines sometimes.

Shell Firebaugh | PlugShare sometimes has lines and down DC FCs.

Chalios Mexican Restaurant | PlugShare didn't exist before, IIRC.

I think he lives in the foothills east of 99; but far enough north that I-5 has moved further west.

If you're referring to me, no. I live in the Bay Area. To go to the Los Angeles area, my path in an EV is 101 south to 152 east (until it ends) to 99 south until it ends and merges with 5 south.

In an ICEV, I'd normally go 101 south to 152 east to 5 south.

Going to that link, then itself links to an "incident" posted on a Facebook Group, that itself is private and the information cannot be accessed generally.

Could you go back to that post (which is very helpful information from you, as usual) and give a summary of that incident?

Will try when I get a chance. I think I might've already included most or all of the issues that person ran into in my bullet points.

 

[VoltoBolt]

Don't make the mistakes at https://www.chevybolt.org/threads/road-tripping-in-an-ev.39631/#post-628422.

Since that Facebook Group cited at that link is private, could you please summarize those mistakes we should not make?

 

[VoltoBolt]

And let us not forget that DCFC charging on Hiway 99 is, for the most part, irrelevant to a trip from San Diego to San Luis Obispo!

 

[FlyingMachineEV]

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