First Road Trip

[noddy@teamterm]

Our first road trip. Darwin to Cairns.
In all it took 6 days using AC charging from Darwin to Mount Isa, and DCFC from Mount Isa to Cairns.
Our M3RWD was loaded with a Tent just in case, a space saver spare just in case, and a UMC with 10 amp, 15amp and 32amp 5 pin 3 phase plugs. Although the 10amp plug never got used, the 3 phase @ 7Kw did most of the work.

About to head back, and planning on 5 days. On the return we will also have a 16 amp 3 phase EVSE so we can charge at 11Kw.

Charging Stops
Pine Creek Pub - 7Kw. 5 Smilies for this place. . We like this place and stop every time.
Mataranka Homestead - 7Kw. 4 Smilies. . Would usually give 5 but the springs were closed that day so couldn't go for a swim
Larrimah - (2 - 5Kw) and an overnight stay. 4 Smilies . Power issues are explained in Plugshare, otherwise lovely couple and an eclectic stop.
Daley Waters - 7Kw 5 Smilies Did not have enough time to check the place out properly so plan to overnight on the way back
Elliott - 6Kw 3 Smilies . Very helpful but nowhere to hide from the 40+ degree heat while charging for a couple of hours.
3 Ways Waramunga - 7Kw. 1 Smiley. We overnighted to charge back to 100%. Charged $1.80 per Kw. With the room overnight dearest stop so far.
Barkly Homestead - 3Kw. 4 Smilies . Only 15amp caravan plug so another overnight, but facilities is are a real oasis. Will be overnighting again on the way back.
RACQ Camooweal - (2 - 7Kw) 4 Smilies . UMC overheated in the 40+ degree heat and car reduced charge rate. 2 hour stop turned into 5. Kudos to Dave for his assistance.
MT Isa - 50Kw 4 Smilies Chargefox and overnight at local motel.
Cloncurry - 50Kw 4 Smilies Chargefox
Julia Creek - 50Kw 5 Smilies Chargefox. The extra smiley due to the station showing offline up until the day before we arrived
Hughenden - 50Kw 4 Smilies Chargefox. Got to admit do like this DC fast charging
Charter Towers - 50Kw 4 Smilies Chargefox. Walked across the road and stayed at motel overnight
Townsville (Cluden) - 50Kw. 5 Smilies . Evie. This is a bloody petrol station with best facilities I have seen including a lounge area.
Cardwell - 50Kw. 4 Smilies . Chargefox. Who ever thought that you would have to queue for a charger. A new first for us
Innisfail - 50Kw 4 Smilies . Chargefox. Again another short queue but only 10 minutes.
Finally Cairns.

Been here for a little over a week and start the return trip tomorrow.

 

[noddy@teamterm]

Larrimah

Daley Waters

Barkly Highway

 

[Taxy]

Great trip and good write up! Did you have a pie at Larrimah?

 

[paulp]

$1.80 per kwh…thats a lot!

 

[dronus]

Great trip and good write up! Did you have a pie at Larrimah?

Just watched that on Netflix!!

 

[Taxy]

Just watched that on Netflix!!

I’ve just started. Interesting folk!

 

[RareEarth]

$1.80 per kwh…thats a lot!

$2.00 / kWh at Balladonia WA, even if you stay the night.

 

[noddy@teamterm]

Great trip and good write up! Did you have a pie at Larrimah?

Yes. Had them before. They also knocked up a pretty good pizza this time.

 

[locksmack]

a UMC with 10 amp, 15amp and 32amp 5 pin 3 phase plugs. Although the 10amp plug never got used, the 3 phase @ 7Kw did most of the work.

'3 phase @ 7kw' is not a typical charge rate. You sure it wasn't 7kw on single phase (32amp)?

 

[cafz]

'3 phase @ 7kw' is not a typical charge rate. You sure it wasn't 7kw on single phase (32amp)?

They were talking about using a 5 pin plug to connect the UMC to a 3-phase 32A outlet, but since the UMC is only a single phase device it is charging at 32A single phase.

 

[Quickst]

Thanks for great trip report

But If I may be cynical - what's with the super clean car in the photos? How did the car stay so clean?

 

[paulp]

Thanks for great trip report

But If I may be cynical - what's with the super clean car in the photos? How did the car stay so clean?

Maybe they washed it?

 

[JaxonDM]

You surely had a great time! Good trip!

 

[Quickst]

Maybe they washed it?

Thats what Im wondering

Last thing I would do is ask for water to wash a car in effectively outback Australia

 

[noddy@teamterm]

Thanks for great trip report

But If I may be cynical - what's with the super clean car in the photos? How did the car stay so clean?

Don't look to close, it is pretty grubby, but it doesn't show up as bad as it does on the white cars. It did get washed when we got to Cairns. Tonight in Cloncurry one of the locals walking past while charging pointed out "Needs a wash".

 

[noddy@teamterm]

New DCFC in Richmond on Chargefox. First to use it and checkin on Plugshare. Certainly breaks up the leg between Hughenden & Julia Creek. Richmond is a nice stop.

Oh and after giving it a bath in Cairns.

 

[noddy@teamterm]

Well you live and learn. Our first fail of the trip. Left Camooweal for Barkly Homestead with 86%. Car showed 17% remaining, ABRP 15% remaining on arrival travelling @ 100Kph. Headwinds!!!. 60Klm in it became obvious that our consumption over 10, 25 & 50Klm between 196 & 205Kw per Klm was going to be marginal. We had dropped to 80Kph and the consumption graph was dipping below distance remaining. 42 Degrees outside, it just didn't seem worth it.

Aircon off might have made the difference, but safer to return and charge to full over night. A 30% buffer should be enough. To be fair even for ICE vehicles there are plenty of signs along the Barkly warning "Headwinds increase fuel consumption".

Now for a cold beer and to work out how 2 of us are going to sleep in the single bed. Only hotel/motel/caravan cabin available in town tonight. Must be Wednesday.

 

[Blue heaven]

Thats what Im wondering

Last thing I would do is ask for water to wash a car in effectively outback Australi

Well you live and learn. Our first fail of the trip. Left Camooweal for Barkly Homestead with 86%. Car showed 17% remaining, ABRP 15% remaining on arrival travelling @ 100Kph. Headwinds!!!. 60Klm in it became obvious that our consumption over 10, 25 & 50Klm between 196 & 205Kw per Klm was going to be marginal. We had dropped to 80Kph and the consumption graph was dipping below distance remaining. 42 Degrees outside, it just didn't seem worth it.

Aircon off might have made the difference, but safer to return and charge to full over night. A 30% buffer should be enough. To be fair even for ICE vehicles there are plenty of signs along the Barkly warning "Headwinds increase fuel consumption".

Now for a cold beer and to work out how 2 of us are going to sleep in the single bed. Only hotel/motel/caravan cabin available in town tonight. Must be Wednesday.

Better to be safe than in a real pickle in an Isolated part of Australia. I do believe that the QLD RAC agent in Camooweal which kindly provides the 3 phase charging has spent many a day rescuing petrol and diesel vehicles that have run out of fuel due to headwinds on that section of road.

 

[Quickst]

We had dropped to 80Kph

Definitely agree with turning back, but if someone has gone past the point of no return I wonder what difference 60kmh would have made?

With significant headwinds say of 20kmh, would 100kmh cause an apparent wind resistance similar to a 120kmh road speed

 

[Vostok]

Headwinds!!!. 60Klm in it became obvious that our consumption over 10, 25 & 50Klm between 196 & 205Kw per Klm was going to be marginal.

Yep, strong headwinds really have an impact so you need to be alert. I experienced that driving from Lightning Ridge to Dubbo last year - efficiency at 110 km/h blew out to 184 Wh/km. But the distance is only 370 km so no concerns we wouldn’t get there.