Incredible machine - we love it! I peeked through the wooden slats and saw the 3 big silver (aluminum?) charger units. Don't know how to tell which unit to which charge dispenser. Are they labeled on the plugins or?? Educate me.
Ribbon cutting Tuesday at 10.
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JackA
Member
It was cold! Seven or eight Model S showed for the event. Tri-Cities, Wenatchee, and Seattle area were represented. Very nice site and the Holiday Inn Express manager told me they were planning to place a J1772 L2 charger on their lot sometime soon. She is hoping to get one or two reservations a year out of this deal. Hopefully the EV community will do much better that her expectations.
Can you make it safely (EVTrip Planner says 222 Range Miles Used, which is possible if I range charge at Ellensburg) to do a round trip to the Tri-Cities from the Ellensburg supercharger and back? Meeting in Richland, with no where to charge, then a quick turnaround... Anyone done the round trip?
I did it using state routes 243/240 so I could go slower and pass the RV park just south of the Vantage bridge if I needed to top off before the climb back to E-burg. But I didn't need it. I made it to Ellensburg with over 20 miles of range, but I drove slowly where there was no traffic (read 45-50) and went 55 up the slope west of Vantage (tucked in behind a truck). I also traveled to Red Mountain, probably 5 miles total distance longer than your route. I was carrying 200 lbs of grapes, though. It was about 60 degrees, no wind to speak of.
Thanks. I'm going to try the 243/240 route as well. Should be good weather, but not looking forward to 55 mph on the I-90 portion... May try to find an L2 in Richland, even if for an hour. 20 mile cushion may come in handy... Not carrying grapes 
, just me. Good thought on the RV park. I have a friend that has a house in Desert Aire, so that may be my fail safe.
, just me. Good thought on the RV park. I have a friend that has a house in Desert Aire, so that may be my fail safe.
PM me if you need a charge. I have helped a few others out before. Several 85's have made it, and yes, use 240/243. Also, if spending the night, there are a couple of hotels with 120 V plugs. There is now a public Blink in Pasco (only 7 KW) at Franklin PUD. I'm working on a couple of other locations and could use some extra help (hint, hint, showing up with a Tesla at the business that I'm pitching the charging station).Thanks. I'm going to try the 243/240 route as well. Should be good weather, but not looking forward to 55 mph on the I-90 portion... May try to find an L2 in Richland, even if for an hour. 20 mile cushion may come in handy... Not carrying grapes
It's doable. Barely. Headwinds hurt! Averaged 450'ish kwh coming out of Richland in a strong headwind. Found a 120v thanks to ReddyLeaf and it gave me the 32 mile cushion I needed to not drive 55 on I-90!
You're welcome! Yes, headwinds are killers (but much easier in a Tesla than a Leaf)!
Charged this weekend, first time just me and no stalls ICEd. I think the cones help a bunch. Coming home, full stalls (none ICEd) and three of them were Tesla employees (2 washington dealer plates and one california mfg plate). Working weekends...hmmmm.
EarlyAdopter
Active Member
The cones are working. I stopped here this morning, Sunday, around 10am, and even though the parking lot was pretty full the Supercharger spots were all open. Nice. No ICE.
Saturday a little after midnight, 3 Teslas were charging after a concert at the Gorge. No ICEing. Though the cones were off to the side when I got there in the afternoon and I placed them in from of the spaces to help insure they would stay open that evening.
I've been thinking about this cone thing and wondering why it is as effective as it seems to be. I think it's because, in general, there is a desire to just park the car and get out. Anything that makes the stalls look like more effort says move along. Having to stop in middle of the lot, get out move the cone, get back in and then park is viewed as a waste of time so they find a spot where they don't have to. Though, when I use the SC, I don't bother moving cones, just drive around them. It's possible that the cones just add one more level of warning to ICErs.
goneskiian
Active Member
Amazing that such a simple little cone, and not even the bright orange one, has such a big impact on people's behavior. Great to hear that more drastic measures weren't needed.
It’s kind of like with remote controls for all kinds of devices. The business saying goes, “You can never go wrong appealing to the laziness of the American public.”
