Perth to Adelaide revisited

[Blue heaven]

Of course if anyone wants to cross Australia quickly and safely the best option is a commercial aircraft, but then then again there are some who claim electric cars are no good for Australia unless they can cross the Nullarbor in 3 days during summer with the aircon working hard, the fact is 80% of Australians live in large coastal cities that are perfectly suited for EVs and most Australians would have very little interest in driving across the Nullarbor at a fast pace.
As far as we know the first electric vehicle crossing Australia was a converted MG in 2011, a fair bit of generator use and I guess a hard slog, Mystery Steve followed up in late 2015 using only 15amp and a lot of hypermiling between power supplies, MDK and Technophile covered Perth to Brisbane and return in May 2016 using mostly 3 phase but occasionly got stuck on 15amp, Jeff the Walker headed West in a Nissan Leaf that took a huge amount of patience, finally Richard Mcs groundbreaking anti clockwise adventure in Tessie involved a mixed bag of 3 phase and 15amp ( desperation charging).
Since that time the Australian electric vehicle association (AEVA) and the Tesla owners club Australia (TOCA) have teamed up to fill as many locations between Perth and Adelaide with the bare minimum of a 32amp 3 phase outlet, generating capacity has never been the problem, its been lack of safe operating power outlets and a lack of knowledge on how an EV can charge.
Now those outlets have all been sent out and apparenty installed its time to take a drive and test them out. The biggest gap between 3 phase is about 225kms, are they wired in correcty for EV charging? its time to find out, the fallback is the trusty 15amp.
Day one photos to follow when the internet reception allows.

 

[Attica04]

Sounds like an awesome trip. Can't wait for updates

 

[RichardMcN]

Of course if anyone wants to cross Australia quickly and safely the best option is a commercial aircraft, but then then again there are some who claim electric cars are no good for Australia unless they can cross the Nullarbor in 3 days during summer with the aircon working hard, the fact is 80% of Australians live in large coastal cities that are perfectly suited for EVs and most Australians would have very little interest in driving across the Nullarbor at a fast pace.
As far as we know the first electric vehicle crossing Australia was a converted MG in 2011, a fair bit of generator use and I guess a hard slog, Mystery Steve followed up in late 2015 using only 15amp and a lot of hypermiling between power supplies, MDK and Technophile covered Perth to Brisbane and return in May 2016 using mostly 3 phase but occasionly got stuck on 15amp, Jeff the Walker headed West in a Nissan Leaf that took a huge amount of patience, finally Richard Mcs groundbreaking anti clockwise adventure in Tessie involved a mixed bag of 3 phase and 15amp ( desperation charging).
Since that time the Australian electric vehicle association (AEVA) and the Tesla owners club Australia (TOCA) have teamed up to fill as many locations between Perth and Adelaide with the bare minimum of a 32amp 3 phase outlet, generating capacity has never been the problem, its been lack of safe operating power outlets and a lack of knowledge on how an EV can charge.
Now those outlets have all been sent out and apparenty installed its time to take a drive and test them out. The biggest gap between 3 phase is about 225kms, are they wired in correcty for EV charging? its time to find out, the fallback is the trusty 15amp.
Day one photos to follow when the internet reception allows.

Hooray @Blue heaven ! ! We want more and more people doing these trips !

Note that @Blue heaven is responsible for most of the sites on the West Coast of WA and quite a few in the south !

 

[wilsilly]

Of course if anyone wants to cross Australia quickly and safely the best option is a commercial aircraft, but then then again there are some who claim electric cars are no good for Australia unless they can cross the Nullarbor in 3 days during summer with the aircon working hard, the fact is 80% of Australians live in large coastal cities that are perfectly suited for EVs and most Australians would have very little interest in driving across the Nullarbor at a fast pace.
As far as we know the first electric vehicle crossing Australia was a converted MG in 2011, a fair bit of generator use and I guess a hard slog, Mystery Steve followed up in late 2015 using only 15amp and a lot of hypermiling between power supplies, MDK and Technophile covered Perth to Brisbane and return in May 2016 using mostly 3 phase but occasionly got stuck on 15amp, Jeff the Walker headed West in a Nissan Leaf that took a huge amount of patience, finally Richard Mcs groundbreaking anti clockwise adventure in Tessie involved a mixed bag of 3 phase and 15amp ( desperation charging).
Since that time the Australian electric vehicle association (AEVA) and the Tesla owners club Australia (TOCA) have teamed up to fill as many locations between Perth and Adelaide with the bare minimum of a 32amp 3 phase outlet, generating capacity has never been the problem, its been lack of safe operating power outlets and a lack of knowledge on how an EV can charge.
Now those outlets have all been sent out and apparenty installed its time to take a drive and test them out. The biggest gap between 3 phase is about 225kms, are they wired in correcty for EV charging? its time to find out, the fallback is the trusty 15amp.
Day one photos to follow when the internet reception allows.

Good on you @Blue heaven I will be watching your updates closely as I am planning to drive the big loop around Oz in my MS75 starting from near Gladstone, Queensland early March next year 2018.
Your work to date is fantastic and vital for drivers like me.
We are going south via Canberra, Ballarat, Adelaide, Kalgoorlie, Albany, Perth, Broome, Darwin, Tennant Creek, Mt Isa, Longreach and then home. Probably take about 3.5 months. Charge on!

 

[Blue heaven]

There are a number of routes from Perth to Norseman, this trip we headed through Williams, Lake Grace, Ravensthorpe and up to a little community called Grass patch, all charging was Tesla destination chargers.

Although Esperance has 4 Tesla HPWCs we took a scenic detour up towards Norseman.

 

[Blue heaven]

All traffic heading East on to Eyre highway funnels through Norseman, there's a nice lookout spot while charging if for those that donr mind a 25 minute walk.

Cocklebiddy roadhouse has a variety of rescued wildlife.

After 2 years and 3 months a small milestone was set.

 

[wilsilly]

All traffic heading East on to Eyre highway funnels through Norseman, there's a nice lookout spot while charging if for those that donr mind a 25 minute walk.View attachment 263834 Cocklebiddy roadhouse has a variety of rescued wildlife.View attachment 263669 After 2 years and 3 months a small milestone was set.View attachment 263668

Great photos thanks. Interested in your reaching 100,000 km and congratulations on that total!! Wondering how long tyres have lasted with all your travels, if you have had more than one new set and what brand you found best thanks @Blue heaven

 

[Blue heaven]

Great photos thanks. Interested in your reaching 100,000 km and congratulations on that total!! Wondering how long tyres have lasted with all your travels, if you have had more than one new set and what brand you found best thanks @Blue heaven

First set of Michelins 19 inch covered 62,000kms, some still had 3mm remaining, second set of Michelins tracking for 70,000kms, a lot of straight line driving not much suburban cornering, I'm also fussy with keeping correct tyre pressures.

 

[wilsilly]

First set of Michelins 19 inch covered 62,000kms, some still had 3mm remaining, second set of Michelins tracking for 70,000kms, a lot of straight line driving not much suburban cornering, I'm also fussy with keeping correct tyre pressures.

Thanks @Blue heaven and very good advice re tyre pressures. Much appreciated.

 

[Blue heaven]

One hour after sunrise 300kms from the Border.

Mundrabilla roadhouse is one of the better stops, 386 solar panels, 183kwh of batteries, accommodation, food and friendly staff, plus a 330 metre par 4.

border village check point, the rain hasn't since.

 

[Blue heaven]

Persistant rain for the past 1200kms has limited photo ops.
The Standpipe motel in Port Augusta is conveniently located at the T-junction of the Eyre highway and Stuart highway.

Picked up a hitchhiker in Port Augusta, it started building a web between the mirror and dashboard.

Some sort of wind farm and battery that the media keeps talking about.

 

[Blue heaven]

The first DC fast charger since leaving home, 2960kms on 3 phase only.

 

[eclectricdave]

Where that Adelaide?

 

[RichardMcN]

The first DC fast charger since leaving home, 2960kms on 3 phase only.View attachment 264043

I hear that you are no longer a UMC purist and now have dual chargers @Blue heaven . Is that right? What EVSE are you using?

 

[Blue heaven]

Where that Adelaide?

Cold, windy, overcast Adelaide, can't wait for Summer to arrive.

 

[baillies]

Any supercharger sleds still at Hornsdale? Wonder where they went?

 

[Blue heaven]

Any supercharger sleds still at Hornsdale? Wonder where they went?

I didn't see any, Elon took it home I guess.

 

[Blue heaven]

Por

I hear that you are no longer a UMC purist and now have dual chargers @Blue heaven . Is that right? What EVSE are you using?

Portable HPWC, out of 12 charges until Port Augusta we only used it 3 times, 4 places had fixed 22kw HPWCs, 3 times I used the 16amp UMC overnight as it's quicker to set up.

 

[Blue heaven]

Managed to get lost in the hills south-west of Adelaide, ended up in Hahndorf having a few local brews, good result in the end.

Stayed overnight in Murray Bridge.

Despite a Supercharger being a 3 minute drive away Mr Mick's cellar and kitchen has a pair of 22kw destination chargers and is a great place for lunch.

 

[lennier]

What sort of range impact did you see from the constant rain @Blue heaven? I found it pretty significant (unsurprisingly) when it poured all the way from Melbourne to Sydney a couple of years back.