I'm going 277-279 miles from just north of DC to Raleigh, NC. I have several promising options in Raleigh--Tesla Service Center 10-15 minutes away (I know, call ahead), North Hills mall 5 minutes away (2 free chargers), a Chargepoint charger downtown, and it looks like some other Raleigh city public chargers downtown. (I hope not to have to go downtown, though!) If nothing else, I'll borrow my parents' car and leave the car at the mall or some other public charger overnight. ;-) This won't impress my parents, but I'm fine with that.
But even with a range charge, we should charge on the way down, and Richmond's almost halfway there. 277 seems too borderline, and I don't want to arrive empty and spend all weekend at the mall, charging, anyway. ;-) Here's what I've found, but I'm interested in hearing from anyone who's used any of these or has other suggestions, especially in or South of Richmond. I'll be charging on the way down on Friday (I know, why didn't I post earlier this week?), hopefully mid-day or early PM, and coming back Sunday (who knows when).
1. The Omni Hotel's Tesla-installed quasi-high-powered charger (70 amps, but not a HPWC) is only for people staying overnight (I asked). ;-(
2. The Science Museum (aimed at kids, but that's okay) has a couple of Chargepoint chargers, but in case they're in use or broken, I need backups. Plus I read elsewhere I'd only charge 15 miles per hour!
3. Then there are Ford, Chevy, and Nissan dealers and Enterprise rent-a-car, which I know I should call ahead to make sure any of them would let me use them. Also it sounds like people have had pretty inconsistent experience with places like this so I don't want to rely on them, and I don't know how powerful their chargers are (any better than the Science Museum?)
4. There's a KOA that someone at the TM forums used and it sounds like they may have 50 amp service; it's north of Richmond, but I guess that's okay...just not sure, what do you do while charging at KOA during the day? I mean it's a campground so I guess I have to hunt a deer to eat or something? (Kidding, but sorry, I'm a city boy.) ;-)
5. Oh and get this, Chargepoint lists a (non-Chargepoint) Museum of Transportation in downtown Richmond, but that's actually in Roanoke--nowhere near Richmond. I wonder where Chargepoint gets their non-Chargepoint data from!
Thoughts? I'd originally thought the Science Museum was most promising, but as slow as it is, the I'm glad I finally looked at the KOA--it seems like a better bet. Though I doubt my other half will be impressed...I wish there were superchargers somewhere between here and Raleigh.
Any other recommendations in or around Richmond? For example, anyone charged at Heritage Chevrolet or Priority Nissan in Chester and if so, were they cool with it and how powerful was the charger? Any first-hand public charging experience at all (especially on a trip) in or south of Richmond???
The other thing I'm not sure of is...how much should I top off on the way down/back? In theory if it's 50/240, I'd get back 30 miles per hour. Given the 277-mile trip, would 30 extra be enough? 60?
I'm a bit nervous--first time trip and all. ;-) I think I'll cross-post on Tesla's forums as well.
But even with a range charge, we should charge on the way down, and Richmond's almost halfway there. 277 seems too borderline, and I don't want to arrive empty and spend all weekend at the mall, charging, anyway. ;-) Here's what I've found, but I'm interested in hearing from anyone who's used any of these or has other suggestions, especially in or South of Richmond. I'll be charging on the way down on Friday (I know, why didn't I post earlier this week?), hopefully mid-day or early PM, and coming back Sunday (who knows when).
1. The Omni Hotel's Tesla-installed quasi-high-powered charger (70 amps, but not a HPWC) is only for people staying overnight (I asked). ;-(
2. The Science Museum (aimed at kids, but that's okay) has a couple of Chargepoint chargers, but in case they're in use or broken, I need backups. Plus I read elsewhere I'd only charge 15 miles per hour!
3. Then there are Ford, Chevy, and Nissan dealers and Enterprise rent-a-car, which I know I should call ahead to make sure any of them would let me use them. Also it sounds like people have had pretty inconsistent experience with places like this so I don't want to rely on them, and I don't know how powerful their chargers are (any better than the Science Museum?)
4. There's a KOA that someone at the TM forums used and it sounds like they may have 50 amp service; it's north of Richmond, but I guess that's okay...just not sure, what do you do while charging at KOA during the day? I mean it's a campground so I guess I have to hunt a deer to eat or something? (Kidding, but sorry, I'm a city boy.) ;-)
5. Oh and get this, Chargepoint lists a (non-Chargepoint) Museum of Transportation in downtown Richmond, but that's actually in Roanoke--nowhere near Richmond. I wonder where Chargepoint gets their non-Chargepoint data from!
Thoughts? I'd originally thought the Science Museum was most promising, but as slow as it is, the I'm glad I finally looked at the KOA--it seems like a better bet. Though I doubt my other half will be impressed...I wish there were superchargers somewhere between here and Raleigh.
Any other recommendations in or around Richmond? For example, anyone charged at Heritage Chevrolet or Priority Nissan in Chester and if so, were they cool with it and how powerful was the charger? Any first-hand public charging experience at all (especially on a trip) in or south of Richmond???
The other thing I'm not sure of is...how much should I top off on the way down/back? In theory if it's 50/240, I'd get back 30 miles per hour. Given the 277-mile trip, would 30 extra be enough? 60?
I'm a bit nervous--first time trip and all. ;-) I think I'll cross-post on Tesla's forums as well.