[sparksbev]

Anyone have experience driving to or from Reno from any point? I love my new Bolt and have made trips to Berkeley, CA, but I'm unsure of my range going to smaller towns like Susanville, CA. Susanville has one charging station, with nothing in between, but what is Plan B if it's broken? Thanks!

 

[cwerdna]

Have you checked Plugshare, filtering by J1772 and CCS/SAE Combo (assuming you the DC FC inlet)?

ABRP can also aid in planning your trip.

 

[Vicki37]

In a pinch, you can also carry with you a 240v to 110v Nema plug to connect to any RV park that has a 240v nema 14-50P... Your GM original charger is compatible w/ 110 or 240v (but it will charge double the rate at 240v)...

 

[Martin D]

I lived in Sparks for a couple years a couple decades ago. You shouldn’t have any problem driving to Susanville and back on a full charge. It’s only about 90 miles.

 

[GregBrew]

I've been known to frequent old style motor hotels for lodging. Many (most?) are single story, and you park right outside the room's door. I've snaked an extension cord out of a window, to the OEM EVSE set to 12A. I'm sure to plug the EVSE's extension cord into where the blow dryer is plugged in. If the circuit can handle a 1500W blow dryer, it should be able to handle an EVSE at 12A. Another possibility is the circuit that the through-the-wall HVAC is plugged into. It might even be a 240V circuit, if you're lucky, and you have the adapters. It also should handle the EVSE's load, if you can afford to forego the HVAC.

In a pinch, it's a relatively easy way to pick up 50-60 miles of range over night. Could get you to to the next DCFC, that was just out of range. The small towns that tend to have these motor lodges are often quaint, and worth a visit if you like that kind of thing. Sometimes, it's about the journey...

 

[UnAlpine]

The one DCFC in Susanville is a Tesla Supercharger, so that won't help. There are three level 2 chargers in the area. You should be able to roundtrip to Susanville without a problem from Reno. Heading toward Sacramento...there are three different DCFC sites in Truckee. There are two free DCFC stations along the way to Sac at the rest areas. Plus once you get to Donner Summit, it's mostly downhill all of the way to Auburn. Reno itself is sort of a barren wasteland of DCFC for non-Tesla's.

 

[Bolt Action]

Wonder why no one has come up with a spare battery for the trunk?

 

[sparksbev]

Thanks, everyone! Susanville has a ChargePoint, but there is nothing between there and Reno. The ideas about using an RV campground or an old motel are great for Plan B. It's just range anxiety. I appreciate the thought that I'll have enough range to do a roundtrip without recharging. I was worried about going uphill most of the way to Susanville, possibly with the air conditioner on. Thanks again!

P.S. Ditto about a spare battery. And why can't we have solar panels built into the roof and the hood?

 

[cwerdna]

And why can't we have solar panels built into the roof and the hood?

larger solar panel/solar roof on Leaf thread - My Nissan Leaf Forum

www.mynissanleaf.com

Wonder why no one has come up with a spare battery for the trunk?

Think about the weight, cost and addressable market.

 

[atc98092]

And why can't we have solar panels built into the roof and the hood?

With current solar cell technology, you'd get maybe 4-5 miles per sunny day from such panels. Not worth the expense and weight.

 

[ed5000]

A little late to the show here but we took the exact same trip last August 2021. We did it just for fun to see what long distance driving was really like in our new 2021 Bolt Premier. We left with 80% charge.

Stop 1: After much climbing we topped off in Colfax with a 33.5 kwh charge then onto Reno to spend the night.

Stop 2: The next morning we got up and went charging with an 18.3 kwh charge and headed for home.

Stop 3: There was more climbing from Reno to the top of the Sierra Nevada mountains than we realized and stopped at Colfax again more because Colfax is a really nice little gold mining town with boardwalk, hitching posts, etc. We ended up chatting with some local folks there and ended charging way more that we planned with a 24.0 kwh charge to nearly 80% battery. Not really good when you're you're about to begin a steep mountain decent. Luckily, there was enough battery room to regen down the mountains to help us slow down. We started using battery around Roseville and continued through Sacramento and onto the Bay Area with, as I recall, 3/8 of a "tank" remaining.

It was a successful trip and a lot of fun.

 

[sparksbev]

A little late to the show here but we took the exact same trip last August 2021. We did it just for fun to see what long distance driving was really like in our new 2021 Bolt Premier. We left with 80% charge.

Stop 1: After much climbing we topped off in Colfax with a 33.5 kwh charge then onto Reno to spend the night.

Stop 2: The next morning we got up and went charging with an 18.3 kwh charge and headed for home.

Stop 3: There was more climbing from Reno to the top of the Sierra Nevada mountains than we realized and stopped at Colfax again more because Colfax is a really nice little gold mining town with boardwalk, hitching posts, etc. We ended up chatting with some local folks there and ended charging way more that we planned with a 24.0 kwh charge to nearly 80% battery. Not really good when you're you're about to begin a steep mountain decent. Luckily, there was enough battery room to regen down the mountains to help us slow down. We started using battery around Roseville and continued through Sacramento and onto the Bay Area with, as I recall, 3/8 of a "tank" remaining.

It was a successful trip and a lot of fun.

A little late to the show here but we took the exact same trip last August 2021. We did it just for fun to see what long distance driving was really like in our new 2021 Bolt Premier. We left with 80% charge.

Stop 1: After much climbing we topped off in Colfax with a 33.5 kwh charge then onto Reno to spend the night.

Stop 2: The next morning we got up and went charging with an 18.3 kwh charge and headed for home.

Stop 3: There was more climbing from Reno to the top of the Sierra Nevada mountains than we realized and stopped at Colfax again more because Colfax is a really nice little gold mining town with boardwalk, hitching posts, etc. We ended up chatting with some local folks there and ended charging way more that we planned with a 24.0 kwh charge to nearly 80% battery. Not really good when you're you're about to begin a steep mountain decent. Luckily, there was enough battery room to regen down the mountains to help us slow down. We started using battery around Roseville and continued through Sacramento and onto the Bay Area with, as I recall, 3/8 of a "tank" remaining.

It was a successful trip and a lot of fun.

Thanks! It's nice to have someone confirm the distances. I just had an experience Wednesday, FYI--needed to go to Susanville, CA. I checked and there was a ChargePoint charger at a hotel/casino, but nothing in between. Got there with half a "tank," and went to the charger (which was surrounded by lots of beautiful Tesla chargers). Charger wouldn't work; tried the second plug. No go. Called tech support. Charger itself was out of order. Okay, fine. Made it back to Reno with 17 miles of range left, and a determination to learn how to hook up at RV parks! But my car made it on an 80% charge.