Supercharger gaps

[Vic_F]

One of the key gaps in the northwest is between NV/CA and Boise/SE Washington along highway 95. Please help fill the gaps and email the supercharger team at [email protected]

Here is what I sent regarding the eastern Oregon gap:

"Please help fill a serious 255 mile gap from Winnemucca Nevada to Boise Idaho. Alternative routes add four plus hours and hundreds of miles out of the way. This is a rapidly growing route with the Boise area being one of the fastest growing areas in the country. California is one of the primary sources of new residents to the Boise area. Many of us are Tesla owners and without a Supercharger somewhere along the Highway 95 corridor it makes it impossible to traverse this route with any Tesla other than the longest range models, (100D LR Model 3). Even with those models it is a stretch in all but the best weather due to the large elevation changes along the route.

For the last few years, some have traversed the route using a single Level 2 charger at the Say When restaurant and casino in McDermitt Nevada. This requires an extra 2 hours due to the slow charging and the need to charge to 100% before attempting the route.

Even a single portable 2 stall Supercharger would suffice for a period of time. Tesla has the contact information for the property owner at Say When from the Destination Charging program which due to installation costs, could not be accomplished. Members of the Tesla Motors Club forum have contacted the owner and verified he is willing to provide property space. There is also a grocery store in McDermitt or a Cafe in Rome Oregon that might be willing if for some reason the Say When in McDermitt NV can not be done.

While I understand there are capacity issues in some highly populated areas, this Supercharger gap disables many owners from using their cars to travel between some parts of Washington and Idaho from traveling to Reno and all of California and as such should receive some priority."

 

[Rocky_H]

without a Supercharger somewhere along the Highway 95 corridor it makes it impossible to traverse this route with any Tesla other than the longest range models [...] For the last few years, some have traversed the route using a single Level 2 charger

So...what you're saying is that you were being dishonest and it's not impossible. This is why exaggeration doesn't serve you well when you are trying to convince someone of something.

That is really good, though, to mention that there is already agreement and cooperation from a hosting site for a Supercharger.

 

[Vic_F]

So...what you're saying is that you were being dishonest and it's not impossible. This is why exaggeration doesn't serve you well when you are trying to convince someone of something.

That is really good, though, to mention that there is already agreement and cooperation from a hosting site for a Supercharger.

The intent was not to deceive but to point out that on Superchargers alone it is nearly impossible with lower range models unless the weather is good. Tesla's website trip planner will not route via Hwy 95 with a 75D or less.

I am hoping that others will email Tesla with their own desire to fill this gap; and others.

 

[Rocky_H]

The intent was not to deceive but to point out that on Superchargers alone it is nearly impossible with lower range models unless the weather is good.

So that's when you describe it as something like "cumbersome and slow", rather than "impossible". I know someone who has done that route northward (downhill) in a P85 with no charging stop at all. And I have done it in my S85 southward (uphill), with only a 1 hour lunch stop for some charging that didn't feel too bothersome. And I could only get 40A from that. Others with the 48A chargers would have it even easier.

Tesla's website trip planner will not route via Hwy 95 with a 75D or less.

Right, Tesla's official routing tools will not rely on any third party charging resources that they don't have control of and can't vouch for as to their availability. This route is obviously not Supercharger-covered and is certainly inconvenient, but I'm just recommending being a bit more realistic and accurate in describing it.

 

[Blu Zap]

Op, thanks for posting this topic. I am planning a trip from NorCal to the Northwest in late June. This will include the stretch you describe southbound between Boise and Winnemucca. Plugshare directed me to the Sey When casino in McDermott, NV. I have a P85+, so will need to stop. It looks like that is the choice. I hope their food is okay. I will call ahead.
It would be great to have a destination charger there. A SuperCharger would be a dream! But this harkens back to when I first got the Tesla in 2014 and SuperChargers were far and few between anywhere.
Meanwhile, I am figuring out the stretch of Highway 95 in Idaho I am planning to take. Coeur d'Alene to Boise. Plugshare has shown me a few level 2s along that route. Anyone here done that stretch?

 

[webbbcam]

Meanwhile, I am figuring out the stretch of Highway 95 in Idaho I am planning to take. Coeur d'Alene to Boise. Plugshare has shown me a few level 2s along that route. Anyone here done that stretch?

You can do this stretch but only with a long level 2 charge in Grangeville, ID (destination charger at the Super 8).
If you need to get there in one day, going through OR and SE Washington (I-90, US-395, I-82, and finally I-84) gets you superchargers all the way BUT at the cost of 85 more miles.

We really need a central ID level 3 charger.

Pleeeease Elon!

 

[Rocky_H]

This will include the stretch you describe southbound between Boise and Winnemucca. Plugshare directed me to the Sey When casino in McDermott, NV. I have a P85+, so will need to stop. It looks like that is the choice. I hope their food is okay. I will call ahead.

I have done that route going south in an S85. I was taking it easy to conserve some energy and it was in a pretty mild time of the year, so I wasn't needing to run heat or A/C most of the drive. My stop there for lunch took about exactly one hour, which wasn't bad. And that was one hour, pulling 40A because I only have the single charger. The station I think supplies 70A if you can take more. I had lunch and used their wi-fi, and then get a latte to go, since they do have an espresso machine at the bar. Food is regular diner kind of stuff, sort of like Denny's--take that how you will. Some people don't like that, but I think it's pretty good. I got a philly steak sandwich and fries.

It would be great to have a destination charger there.

I don't really see how that matters; that's mainly just a brand name of a program, but doesn't have anything to do with charging speed. Some of the official Destination Charging (TM) places are 40A circuits or less. This Clipper Creek J1772 station at the Say When Casino is I think 70A, so it's better than a lot of the Destination Charging ones.

You can do this stretch but only with a long level 2 charge in Grangeville, ID (destination charger at the Super 8).
If you need to get there in one day, going through OR and SE Washington (I-90, US-395, I-82, and finally I-84) gets you superchargers all the way BUT at the cost of 85 more miles.

We really need a central ID level 3 charger.

That is on my list of adventures I want to do. I have read that the highway 12 drive across Idaho is one of the most scenic in the country, so I was planning to go up to Grangeville for overnight and then drive across to Missoula.
The other thing that's a little touchy about this highway 55/95 route is that it's two lane roads through the mountains. For instance, highway 55 happens to be closed right now because of a huge mudslide. That usually wouldn't happen with the longer Interstate route.
Rock slide closes Idaho 55 route to McCall, Cascade | Idaho Statesman

 

[webbbcam]

The other thing that's a little touchy about this highway 55/95 route is that it's two lane roads through the mountains. For instance, highway 55 happens to be closed right now because of a huge mudslide. That usually wouldn't happen with the longer Interstate route.

ID-55 gets closed every few years because of rains and spring runoff but usually only for a brief time. The biggest problem is the traffic between Boise and McCall on the weekend and on holidays. Never travel North on this road Friday afternoon or South Sunday afternoon unless you like following enormous RV's going 25 mph in a 55 zone with no way to pass. Any other time is actually fun, just watch out for the weekend warriors going to McCall/Cascade for the weekend.

 

[PLUS EV]

You can do this stretch but only with a long level 2 charge in Grangeville, ID (destination charger at the Super 8).
If you need to get there in one day, going through OR and SE Washington (I-90, US-395, I-82, and finally I-84) gets you superchargers all the way BUT at the cost of 85 more miles.

We really need a central ID level 3 charger.

Pleeeease Elon!

It's actually a few minutes faster to go through Tri-Cities (at least right now according to Google Maps). But yes, due to the lower mileage, and therefore less charging time, it would be faster to go straight up US95 if there were superchargers along that route.

 

[PLUS EV]

I don't really see how that matters; that's mainly just a brand name of a program, but doesn't have anything to do with charging speed. Some of the official Destination Charging (TM) places are 40A circuits or less. This Clipper Creek J1772 station at the Say When Casino is I think 70A, so it's better than a lot of the Destination Charging ones.

Well the destination chargers are exclusive to Tesla so it makes it less likely that the station will be in use by another EV when you arrive. Believe it or not, the one time I used the Clipper Creek at the Say When, a Leaf or Bolt or something was unplugging right as I pulled in.

 

[webbbcam]

It's actually a few minutes faster to go through Tri-Cities (at least right now according to Google Maps).

US-95 and ID-55 are much more twisty driving fun! And quicker depending on how fast you drive.

 

[Vic_F]

There are now 2 stations at Say When thanks to the generosity of Bowers Wealth Managementand the former generosity of Tim Hastrup.

 

[Rocky_H]

I love those sponsored plaques. That's cool.

 

[ijohn83]

The Say When casino is closed and out of business! The chargers are no longer operational! Heading back to Winnemucca!

 

[PLUS EV]

The Say When casino is closed and out of business! The chargers are no longer operational! Heading back to Winnemucca!

Supercharger - Burns, OR (or Hines, OR)

According to that post, there is a GreenLots Chademo in McDermitt. No idea if you have the adapter or what car you are driving. If you don't have the adapter and your car has a range under 300 Rated Miles, then you probably need to go back to Winnemucca, then Elko-Twin Falls-Boise (assuming you are attempting to go to Boise). You might be able to skip Twin Falls depending on your range.

Also, it doesn't look like they are closed permanently, just haven't reopened after the pandemic shutdown. I know Nevada casinos were allowed to reopen with severe limitations on June 4th, but they might have decided it wasn't profitable to reopen yet under those limitations.

 

[Chlebeck]

Supercharger - Burns, OR (or Hines, OR)

According to that post, there is a GreenLots Chademo in McDermitt. No idea if you have the adapter or what car you are driving. If you don't have the adapter and your car has a range under 300 Rated Miles, then you probably need to go back to Winnemucca, then Elko-Twin Falls-Boise (assuming you are attempting to go to Boise). You might be able to skip Twin Falls depending on your range.

Also, it doesn't look like they are closed permanently, just haven't reopened after the pandemic shutdown. I know Nevada casinos were allowed to reopen with severe limitations on June 4th, but they might have decided it wasn't profitable to reopen yet under those limitations.

I stopped through this past weekend. Sign on the Say When says closed permanently. Clipper chargers are out back, but cooked up and not operational.

 

[Blu Zap]

I stopped through this past weekend. Sign on the Say When says closed permanently. Clipper chargers are out back, but cooked up and not operational.

Wow, so sorry to hear about their closure. No surprise in our times. But hey, they were my saving grace when I did the leg from Boise to Winnemucca in my MS P85+. Southbound, we just made it. We had a great experience with lunch and a little gambling while we charged up at 15kW. Sorry to hear about their closing.

 

[Rocky_H]

Well, I did just discover yesterday from poking around Plugshare that there is another Level 2 option on this route again. A few years ago, the Sunnyridge RV park in Jordan Valley had closed. But I see that it's back on Plugshare now, apparently reopened, with a couple of Plugshare checkins in July. There are better options if you have the CHAdeMO adapter, but at least that is some L2 for people who don't have it.

 

[Brave Ulysses]

Why is it so difficult to get a destination charger or two along routes like this? I thought Tesla covered the install cost. Seems like a no brainer for a small town hotel or even a gas station to attract people with decent income levels In general to stop for an hour or two or longer. I would expect destination chargers to be everywhere by now but they seem to have stalled out.

 

[Rocky_H]

Why is it so difficult to get a destination charger or two along routes like this?

Sign on the Say When says closed permanently.

Question and answer. There used to be something, but now it's closed.

I thought Tesla covered the install cost. Seems like a no brainer for a small town hotel or even a gas station to attract people with decent income levels In general to stop for an hour or two or longer. I would expect destination chargers to be everywhere by now but they seem to have stalled out.

OK, so now addressing this more fully:
1. Try to find anything along this route that could even remotely be considered a "Destination (TM)". Jordan Valley has 175 people. McDermitt, NV has 513 people. And those are the "big cities" on this route. There is close to nothing along here. Say When was helpful in agreeing to put these up, but in case you hadn't noticed, this year has killed a lot of small businesses.

2. Tesla ended the "Desination Charging" program a couple of years ago, so they just don't really do that anymore.

3. Greenlots stepped up and put in DC fast charging in two places along this route, so that's really good. There are CCS and CHAdeMO available. Can't really fault them for not putting in a Tesla proprietary handle, but I do wonder why they didn't also put a J1772 station alongside. Most of their installations have that, but not these for some reason.

There were a couple of us that were talking with the owners of Rome Station restaurant along this route. It's like a gas station and diner. They were kind of curious and maybe open to letting their property be used for putting in a charging station of some kind, but not really all that motivated about it, not seeing it as a very significant need.