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I-5 is the most common route between the Bay Area and Los Angeles, but combo chargers are scarce along it, so I end up taking SR-99 or US-101 on these trips. (There are plenty of Tesla chargers on I-5.)

I would love to hear theories about why combo chargers are so scarce on this popular route.

 

[BoltFan]

Eric Way (YouTuber "NewsCoulomb" https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJqgqWqKmdkIuBZa7JK5KSw) has posted a recent video on a new site EA is putting up. He also has some good videos called "Plug-side chats" on You Tube where he discusses this very issue. It's baffling to say the least but historically it seems that Hwy 99 was built out first and now that EA is involved, I-5 South from Sacramento is getting better slowly but surely. I-5 North of Sacramento is still mostly Chargepoint with some notable EA sites either in the works or "coming soon". Coming soon on Plugshare really means ... coming sometime in a year or so. hth

 

[SparkE]

It doesn't really matter why, does it? The important thing is that (FINALLY!) the C.E.C. chargers for north-south travel funded back in early 2016 are getting installed. So far, most of them seem to be ChargePoint - EVgo, EV Connect, and Recargo seem to still have their heads up their buts.

EA has started work on quite a few of the "intercity" sites, but not too many are completed yet in CA (one near I-5 / I-505 junction, a few near Sac on I-5, and one near Patterson a bit away from I-5).

Hopefully by May 2020, most of the CP sites on I-5 will be open, and most of the EA sites will be up as well (and actually working - that would be a nice change).

 

[SparkE]

Also, ALL combo chargers are pretty much scarce everywhere in CA outside of dense urban centers (SF Bay Area, L.A./San Diego). There are very, very few sites that have 4 or more units co-located (most of those are EA sites), and not that many sites that have 2 or more, really. The newer sites (installed in the past year) have generally been multi-unit installs, but sometimes only 2 units.

At least the new CEC-funded ChargePoint sites on I-5 south of Sacramento are multi-unit installs, generally three 50kW units. I-5 is drivable between L.A. and the SF Bay Area now. L.A. basin over the grapevine to Coalinga, (you may want to take a short detour to Bakersfield if you didn't leave with a full battery) then to Gustine or to Salinas for the South Bay (the 6-unit Recargo site) OR up I-5 to Gustine OR Patterson, then up to I-580 to head W thru Livermore/Pleasanton and the plethora of DCFCs in that area to head to the East Bay.

It will be even easier when the CP site at Lebec opens up, on the central valley side of the grapevine.

 

[One1whaoo.]

If you think DCFC is scarce on I-5 in CA, take a look at Washington between Seattle and Portland.
Not only are they rare, but almost all are old slow Chargepoint and EVGO units, and almost half of those shown are "coming soon", like Christmas.

 

[cwerdna]

Not sure. Ages ago, I suggested more DC FCs (CHAdeMO) at the time along I-5 (http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=109125#p109125) and I got responses (below) that they should go on 99 and 101 instead. Perhaps the "powers that be" had the same thinking?

L3 Charging ? - Page 8 - My Nissan Leaf Forum

www.mynissanleaf.com

L3 Charging ? - Page 10 - My Nissan Leaf Forum

www.mynissanleaf.com

 

[SparkE]

If one looks at the CEC-funded sites, there are sites on I-5, CA-99 and US-101. There are fewer sites on I-5 between Buttonwillow (~Bakersfield) and Tracy than there are on either 99 or 101, however there ARE (well, will be once they are all installed) 5 sites over that ~200 mile stretch (and 2 more on I-5 further south, between Buttonwillow and Lebec).

That being said, there are more towns and thus more PEOPLE living along US-101 and CA-99 than along I-5, so DCFC sites along those routes service not just long-distance drivers, but also the locals" (or people driving only 100 miles each way, or living without available home charging). However, FIVE charging sites over 200 miles should be sufficient for travel up/down I-5. (And that's just the CEC sites - that doesn't count the EA sites or the CalTrans 30-30 sites.)

 

[SparkE]

If you think DCFC is scarce on I-5 in CA, take a look at Washington between Seattle and Portland.
Not only are they rare, but almost all are old slow Chargepoint and EVGO units, and almost half of those shown are "coming soon", like Christmas.

There are 5 CCS plugs in Vancouver (EA), 3 CCS plugs in Kelso (EA), 5 CC plugs in Lacey (EA), 2 CCS plugs in Tacoma (EA), and 2 CCS plugs in Renton (EA). Those are the "already open" ones, that doesn't count the EA sites that are to open later, or EVgo or Greenlots sites. That seems plenty to cover 150-160 miles. True, there's pretty much nothing between Olympia and Kelso, so you do have to plan for that 70 miles stretch.