We just completed a 3,500.2 mile, 10 day mostly Supercharged trip from Minneapolis to Lolo Hot Springs, Montana, on to Coeur d’Alene and back. We used alternative charging for side trips once in Rosalia Washington south of Spokane at a relative's farm, once in the tiny logging town St Maries Idaho and once each way in Gillette Wyoming where there is a 244 mile gap between Rapid City, SD and Sheridan Wyoming. We learned a lot.
1. We mainly programmed the Nav to go only to the next Supercharger. When we programmed multiple Supers Nav tells you that you can proceed but it's usually NOT enough charge -- I don't trust it and met other owners on the trip with the same experience. The software doesn't know your payload, head wind or exterior temp.
2. On the Energy screen we used the trip tab to monitor final remaining % at the next Supercharger, alternatively free up the big screen and tap the bottom of the left sidebar in the nav screen to show the same projected remaining %. The trip tab on the energy screen is a comforting way to know how you will end up. Just slow down if it starts to fall too far. Naturally the closer you get to the next charger, the more you can allow it to fall by speeding up. It’s helpful but not essential to compare the car’s grey projected line and your green/yellow line.
3. Depending on speed, outside temp, elevation change and headwind, the Trip Tab projected percentage fluctuates up and down. I usually started out too fast and had to slow down until the % oscillates up and down about 1-2% point range, then I feel I've hit the sweet spot for that leg aiming for 10% of charge remaining at the arrival to next charger.
4. I usually open the Energy/consumption graph in my right hand screen next to the speedometer to monitor Watt hours/mile, just to get a sense if the wind has changed, exterior temp has increased, or there is a subtle elevation increase – like a westerly crossing of S Dakota
5. We were forced to reduce speed in South Dakota & Montana even though the limit is 80 and 75. The temp was as high as 104 with 35 mi head winds, so we frustratingly had to drop down to 60-65 to keep our final range within 10% at the end of a leg. Tough to have those big diesel pickups roar pass us, but necessary for peace of mind.
6. Normally one won't have to resort to Level 1, 110 volt, 12 amp charging, but if staying somewhere overnight at the end of a side trip in the sticks, it’s a real lifesaver, at least a mental lifesaver. Don’t dismiss level 1 – it works well.
7. Use PlugShare to specifically locate Superchargers which may be hiding behind a restaurant or in a motel parking lot – More info than the Tesla Nav screen
8. Use Allstays Camp & RV smartphone app to locate and call ahead to RV Parks when there is no Supercharger – like Gillette Wyoming. The cowgirl manager at the Crazy Woman RV Camp sees about 3 Teslas a week. Very happy to let us use a NEMA 14-50 for 1.5 hours. She asked for $20 and I gave it to her even though I knew power is $.0875/KW in that area. Better to pay extra and keep everyone happy.
9. Patronize destination chargers if available when you need to stay overnight. The hotel/motel management welcomes you with open arms and may even have cones up to protect the spot if they know you are coming. Mention that you have a Tesla in Booking.com’s comments section when making the reservation.
10. Don’t totally rely on the Nav system. Between Billings and Sheridan it tried to turn us around and send us back to Billings for a couple of hours. We finally hit the “remove all charging stations” button to shut it up. Your gut will tell you what is right after a few charging experiences.
11. When you start Supercharging, make sure the port continues to flash green, then double check inside on the big screen. If you think of it, post your results in PlugShare with a photo and comment. By staying around a couple of minutes you know all is going well. At a private 30Amp Gillette Hospital charger we popped a breaker mid charge and lost about an hour before we realized what happened.
12. Always check your Tesla phone app to see that you are continuing to charge and all is well --- while you are having the latte in the air conditioned shopping mall next door. You will generally find that you can leave earlier than expected.
13. Don’t get creative and hope to use 220V alternative charging like at a welding shop in a small Idaho town. The 220V welder outlets are totally different from anything we know to work for cars.
14. Charge often, probably as often as possible. We wondered why the Superior Montana charger was so close to other Superchargers, well after a long 6% grade that really saps the battery, we understood. Always safe to have more charge – more relaxing that way.
15. Certainly use EVTripPlanner to lay the trip out, but the in-car nav and the Energy/Trip % tab is really all that you need on a Supercharged route.
16. Yellowstone gets 3million visits a year but has no chargers, leave the car and take bus tour, you get no door dings and the bus driver has to fight for a parking spot.
17. Details: Get the yellow NEMA 14-50R to TT-30P RV Plug Adapter 30amp adapter from www.evseadapters.com Use a hiking pole support to keep long adapter & Tesla plug cord from pulling out of the 30 amp receptacle. The Tesla 30amp adapter seems to be for 220v 30amp dryer, not rv park.
18. We had great fun each choosing a song on Slacker that we had not heard for years, or months in the case of our HS age son. Very interesting to learn more about our family’s musical tastes.
If you are tired of sitting in the car, bring foldable chairs from REI to use at supercharger for a short stay – generally no place to sit other than the curb.
By the way, St. Maries, Idaho is the home of Tom Mueller the guy that designed SpaceX’s first rocket engines.
Yes, we did drive around the block to just barely get over the 3,500 mile mark.
1. We mainly programmed the Nav to go only to the next Supercharger. When we programmed multiple Supers Nav tells you that you can proceed but it's usually NOT enough charge -- I don't trust it and met other owners on the trip with the same experience. The software doesn't know your payload, head wind or exterior temp.
2. On the Energy screen we used the trip tab to monitor final remaining % at the next Supercharger, alternatively free up the big screen and tap the bottom of the left sidebar in the nav screen to show the same projected remaining %. The trip tab on the energy screen is a comforting way to know how you will end up. Just slow down if it starts to fall too far. Naturally the closer you get to the next charger, the more you can allow it to fall by speeding up. It’s helpful but not essential to compare the car’s grey projected line and your green/yellow line.
3. Depending on speed, outside temp, elevation change and headwind, the Trip Tab projected percentage fluctuates up and down. I usually started out too fast and had to slow down until the % oscillates up and down about 1-2% point range, then I feel I've hit the sweet spot for that leg aiming for 10% of charge remaining at the arrival to next charger.
4. I usually open the Energy/consumption graph in my right hand screen next to the speedometer to monitor Watt hours/mile, just to get a sense if the wind has changed, exterior temp has increased, or there is a subtle elevation increase – like a westerly crossing of S Dakota
5. We were forced to reduce speed in South Dakota & Montana even though the limit is 80 and 75. The temp was as high as 104 with 35 mi head winds, so we frustratingly had to drop down to 60-65 to keep our final range within 10% at the end of a leg. Tough to have those big diesel pickups roar pass us, but necessary for peace of mind.
6. Normally one won't have to resort to Level 1, 110 volt, 12 amp charging, but if staying somewhere overnight at the end of a side trip in the sticks, it’s a real lifesaver, at least a mental lifesaver. Don’t dismiss level 1 – it works well.
7. Use PlugShare to specifically locate Superchargers which may be hiding behind a restaurant or in a motel parking lot – More info than the Tesla Nav screen
8. Use Allstays Camp & RV smartphone app to locate and call ahead to RV Parks when there is no Supercharger – like Gillette Wyoming. The cowgirl manager at the Crazy Woman RV Camp sees about 3 Teslas a week. Very happy to let us use a NEMA 14-50 for 1.5 hours. She asked for $20 and I gave it to her even though I knew power is $.0875/KW in that area. Better to pay extra and keep everyone happy.
9. Patronize destination chargers if available when you need to stay overnight. The hotel/motel management welcomes you with open arms and may even have cones up to protect the spot if they know you are coming. Mention that you have a Tesla in Booking.com’s comments section when making the reservation.
10. Don’t totally rely on the Nav system. Between Billings and Sheridan it tried to turn us around and send us back to Billings for a couple of hours. We finally hit the “remove all charging stations” button to shut it up. Your gut will tell you what is right after a few charging experiences.
11. When you start Supercharging, make sure the port continues to flash green, then double check inside on the big screen. If you think of it, post your results in PlugShare with a photo and comment. By staying around a couple of minutes you know all is going well. At a private 30Amp Gillette Hospital charger we popped a breaker mid charge and lost about an hour before we realized what happened.
12. Always check your Tesla phone app to see that you are continuing to charge and all is well --- while you are having the latte in the air conditioned shopping mall next door. You will generally find that you can leave earlier than expected.
13. Don’t get creative and hope to use 220V alternative charging like at a welding shop in a small Idaho town. The 220V welder outlets are totally different from anything we know to work for cars.
14. Charge often, probably as often as possible. We wondered why the Superior Montana charger was so close to other Superchargers, well after a long 6% grade that really saps the battery, we understood. Always safe to have more charge – more relaxing that way.
15. Certainly use EVTripPlanner to lay the trip out, but the in-car nav and the Energy/Trip % tab is really all that you need on a Supercharged route.
16. Yellowstone gets 3million visits a year but has no chargers, leave the car and take bus tour, you get no door dings and the bus driver has to fight for a parking spot.
17. Details: Get the yellow NEMA 14-50R to TT-30P RV Plug Adapter 30amp adapter from www.evseadapters.com Use a hiking pole support to keep long adapter & Tesla plug cord from pulling out of the 30 amp receptacle. The Tesla 30amp adapter seems to be for 220v 30amp dryer, not rv park.
18. We had great fun each choosing a song on Slacker that we had not heard for years, or months in the case of our HS age son. Very interesting to learn more about our family’s musical tastes.
If you are tired of sitting in the car, bring foldable chairs from REI to use at supercharger for a short stay – generally no place to sit other than the curb.
By the way, St. Maries, Idaho is the home of Tom Mueller the guy that designed SpaceX’s first rocket engines.
Yes, we did drive around the block to just barely get over the 3,500 mile mark.
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