Superchargers on I-95 (Virginia, NC)

[Sonny Daze]

For those who travel up and down 95 through Virginia and North Carolina, is there concern that there does not appear to be plans for an additional Supercharger location between Richmond and Lumberton? Looks like they are planning to add more stalls in those two areas, but will Rocky Mount end up being over taxed?

 

[Sherlock]

A front-page article in The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA) published on Oct 14, 2017 contains the following passages: " ...Spotsylvania recently received a proposal to install eight Tesla 'Supercharger' stations at the Wawa across from Cosner's Corner near Interstate 95, a first for the region. Just three Wawas nation-wide have the high-speed Tesla chargers, which resemble gas pumps.." This location is just south of the City of Fredericksburg; and the concept of having charging stations and gas stations together seem very practical.

 

[gnuarm]

Maybe you like gas stations, I'm not crazy about them. I'd typically prefer to charge where I can get good food, although I charged at a Wawa the other night and found something I could eat. In general the large service stations seem to have reasonable interiors and I was surprised to find the staff very friendly.

 

[gnuarm]

BTW, more on topic.... The Wawa was in Chester, VA, a bit south of Richmond which is the last Supercharger until Rocky Mount, NC, about 108 miles. I'd like to see all the 100+ mile gaps filled in with another charger to give options. Too many times I can't make it to the next one, so I can't even get to 200 miles before stopping to charge. Being able to get another hour on the road would greatly improve the utility of having a long range battery. Emporia might be an ok spot.

 

[DarkNightP3D]

Emporia, VA would be a great location for a Supercharger. I drive from Raleigh to VA Beach quite frequently. It’s a stretch making it there in winter with my P3D+ and the Norfolk Supercharger is in the worst part of town. I thought I was going to be carjacked the last time I was there.

 

[GalaxyExplorer]

Agree 95 south of Richmond has big gaps. From my top 5 SC post:


Top Five - all along Southern I-95 to plug three different ~100 mile gaps:

1. Emporia, VA
2. Roanoke Rapids, NC (1+2 can fill the 107 mile gap on I-95 between Chester, VA and Rocky Mount, NC.)
3. Walterboro, SC
4. Hardeeville, SC (3+4 can fill the 108mile gap on I-95 between Santee, SC and Savana, GA. Also helps with Hilton Head traffic)
5. Anything to fill the 98mile gap on I-95 between Savana, GA and Kingsland, GA)

All the existing SC locations on either ends of these 100 miles gaps are either 6 or 8 stall. Crazy these gaps exists since I-95 from the Northeast to Florida is a fairly major road trip route with lots of snowbird, spring break and summer vacation road trippers. And lots of costal destinations in SC and GA.

 

[VinnyS]

It isn't ideal and it isn't cheap but there is an EA station in Emporia if you have a CHAdeMO adapter. What I like most about SC in fueling stations like WAWA or Sheetz is that they are open 24/7. I have charged at SC that were located in malls when there was nothing open which makes it a bit difficult when you REALLY need to use a restroom.

 

[howardnj]

I just found this thread today. I made a list of Tesla Chargers on my first long distance round trip drive to Florida from New Jersey in December. The mileage numbers are from my odometer B setting/ (and or the Waze and Plug Share numbers) that was set to zero prior to starting the drive from Central New Jersey. Your mileage may vary?.
Although I did not use the Cape May Ferry for my first Florida trip I expect to use it for future trips to avoid the heavy Maryland and Washington, DC traffic especially on the return trip. This list was also compiled using the plug Share App for the addresses and zip codes to enter into the Tesla Navigation System to precondition the battery prior to arrival. I also have the CCS 1 adapter and found that some of those stations have a higher kW rating and are cheaper than the Tesla Chargers.

1-Cape May Court House 11 Court House South Dennis Road 08210 In Acme Parking Lot 12 Stations 150kW 119 Miles

2-Lewes, De 17663 Dartmouth Dr. 19958 8 Stations 150 kW 124 Miles

3- Exmore,, Va. 4317 Lankford Hwy 23350 4 Stations 250 kW 234 Miles

4- Fredricksburg, Va. 10060 US 1 22407 8 Stations 150 kW 256 Miles WaWa Station

5- Ashland ,Va. 12341 Washington Hwy 23005 8 Stations 250 kW 290 Miles

6- Glen Allen, Va. 9860 Brook Road 23059 20 Stations 150 kW 296 Miles Creeks Shopping Center

7- Richmond, Va 5231 Brook Road 23227 2 CCS, 1 Tesla 200 kW, 100 kW 308 Miles WaWa

8- Chester, Va 11701 Jefferson Davis Hwy 23331 8 Stations 150 kW 327 Miles WaWa

9- Colonial Heights , Va 15840 Jefferson Davis Hwy 23834 8 Stations 250 kW 331 Miles

10- Petersburg, Va 151 Wagner Road 23805 8 Stations 250 kW 340 Miles

11- Norfolk, Va. 5900 E Virginia Beach Blvd 23502 6 Stations 150kW 296 Miles Route from Cape May Ferry

12- Roanoke Halifax, NC 10401 NC 903 27839 12 Stations 250kW 400 Miles

13- Rocky Mount, NC. 651 N Winstead Ave 27804 8 Stations 150 kW 426 Miles

14- Smithfield,NC 1700 E Market St. 27577 8 Stations 150 kW 468 Miles

15- Benson, NC 100 Water Pl Landing 27504 8 Stations 250 kW 483 Miles

16- Fayetteville, NC 1965 Cedar Creek Rd 28312 16 Stations 150 kW 513 Miles I95 Exit 49

17- Lumberton,NC 5093 Fayetteville Rd. 28358 8 Stations 150 kW 541 Miles I95 Exit 22

18 Florence, SC 3390 N. Williston Rd 29506 16 Stations 250 kW 590 Miles Bucees

19- Florence, SC Magnolia Mall 2701 David H McLeod Blvd 29501 18 Stations 150 kW 601 Miles I95 I20

20- Summerton,SC 500 Buff Blvd 29148 8 Stations 250 kW 653 Miles No Bathrooms at night

21- Santee,SC. 114 Bradford Blvd 29142 6 Stations 150 kW 663 Miles I95 Exit 98 Behind Clark's Inn and Restaurant

22- St George, SC 5982 Jim Bilton Blvd 29477 12 Stations 250 kW 685 Miles

23- Walterboro, SC 2098 Bells Hwy 29488 12 Stations 250 kW 704 Miles

24- Yemassee, SC 647 Kings Hwy 29945 8 Stations 250 kW 729 Miles

25- Hardeeville,SC 16319 Whyte Hardee Blvd 29927 8 Stations 250 kW 756 Miles

26- Enmarket Pooler,Ga. 907 US 80 31322 11 Stations 250 kW 772 Miles

27- Brunswick, Ga. 380 Millennium Blvd 31525 24 Stations 250 kW 836 Miles Behind Courtyard Marriott

28- Kingsland,Ga. 102 Reddick Road 31548 8 Stations 150 kW 870 Miles I95 Exit 3 Behind the Welcome Center

29- Yulee,Fl 20 Homegrown Way 32097 8 Stations 250 kW 883 Miles

30- Phillips Hwy Jacksonville, Fl. 5735 Phillips Hwy 32216 12 Stations 250 kW 910 Miles

31- County Road Jacksonville, Fl. 2220 County Road 210 32259 10 Stations 150 kW 926 Miles I95 Exit 329 Winn Dixie parking lot

32- St Augustine, Fl. 3001 International Golf Pkwy 32092 12 Stations 250 kW 932 Miles World Commerce Pkwy Bucees

33- St Augustine Mall 2700 Fl 16 32092 6 Stations 150 kW 938 Miles I 95 Exit 318 Mall closes 8 PM

34- Palm Coast, Fl 5600 Fl 100 32164 8 Stations 250 kW 972 Miles

35- Daytona Beach, Fl 2330 Gateway N Drive 32117 12 Stations 250 kW 990 Miles Bucees

36- Port Orange, Fl 5302 S Williamson Blvd 32128 6 Stations 150 kW 999 Miles I 95 Exit 256 Sw end of Williamson Blvd

37 – Rockledge Viera, Fl 5410 Murrell Road 32955 12 Stations 250 kW 1062 Miles

38 – Melbourne, Fl 4429 W Eau GaFellsmerellie Blvd 32934 8 Stations 250 kW 1072 Miles

39 - Fellsmere Sebastian Fl 10950 Fellsmere Road 32958 8 Stations 250 kW 1099 Miles West end of parking lot BP Dairy Queen

40 - Vero Beach, Fl 9050 20th St. 32966 8 Stations 250 kW 1108 Miles

41 – Fort Pierce, Fl 5575 Okeechobee Road 34947 8 Stations 250 kW 1126 Miles

42- Port St Lucie, Fl 144 Fl Tpke 34983 16 Stations 250 kW 1135 Mles

43 – Palm Beach Outlets 1791 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd 33401 8 Stations 250 kW 1184 Miles

44- Florida Tpke Service Plaza 94 Florida Turnpike West 33414 8 Stations 250 kW 1186 Miles 4 FPL EV Evolution chargers

Cheers

 

[gnuarm]

It isn't ideal and it isn't cheap but there is an EA station in Emporia if you have a CHAdeMO adapter. What I like most about SC in fueling stations like WAWA or Sheetz is that they are open 24/7. I have charged at SC that were located in malls when there was nothing open which makes it a bit difficult when you REALLY need to use a restroom.

Chademo??!!! I thought they were only 50 kW max? I hate using Tesla Urban chargers, unless I'm stopping for a meal. I wouldn't wish Chademo on anyone. In fact, I think 50 kW chargers should be removed from the list of fast chargers and considered as level 2 charging.

 

[howardnj]

I have charged at SC that were located in malls when there was nothing open which makes it a bit difficult when you REALLY need to use a restroom.

When you travel long distance especially on I95, a piss bottle is a must just like many cab and limo drivers carry. I have experienced long shutdowns due to severe accidents so better to be prepared. I have one like they give out when you are in the hospital that is plastic and has a lid. I just wash it out after its rare use but it does come in handy.

 

[carlos31820]

Chademo??!!! I thought they were only 50 kW max? I hate using Tesla Urban chargers, unless I'm stopping for a meal. I wouldn't wish Chademo on anyone. In fact, I think 50 kW chargers should be removed from the list of fast chargers and considered as level 2 charging.

That post was from 2020. Before we had CCS adapters available.

 

[gnuarm]

That post was from 2020. Before we had CCS adapters available.

That doesn't make Chademo any more functional. I can't imagine charging at 50 kW. That's the better part of two hours if I need a bunch of charge. I don't think 50 kW chargers should qualify as level 3. It rather makes the charger level metric rather pointless.

 

[wws]

That doesn't make Chademo any more functional. I can't imagine charging at 50 kW. That's the better part of two hours if I need a bunch of charge. I don't think 50 kW chargers should qualify as level 3. It rather makes the charger level metric rather pointless.

For CCS-enabled cars, the CCS adapter is a no brainer. Otherwise, if you were traveling through a rural area and your choice was CHAdeMO or L2, which would you choose?

 

[Rocky_H]

For CCS-enabled cars, the CCS adapter is a no brainer. Otherwise, if you were traveling through a rural area and your choice was CHAdeMO or L2, which would you choose?

That's also a no brainer. Most L2 is about 6 kW. From a CHAdeMO, you get about 46-48 kW. It's about 8 times faster! I've done some traveling in Oregon on the coastal 101 highway using just CHAdeMO, before they built Superchargers there, and it was OK. That would have been pretty intolerable on just L2.

 

[gnuarm]

For CCS-enabled cars, the CCS adapter is a no brainer. Otherwise, if you were traveling through a rural area and your choice was CHAdeMO or L2, which would you choose?

For me it's not a real decision. I plan my trips and have access to Superchargers. Why would I want to use either level 2 or Chademo? Are you thinking Chademo is more available than Superchargers?

 

[wws]

... Are you thinking Chademo is more available than Superchargers?

In some cases, yes. For one example, take US 50 across Nevada. I've done it when RV parks with L2 charging via 14-50s were the only option. Now one can use CCS and CHAdeMO. A Supercharger is supposed to be installed in Ely sometime soon. But that will still leave over two hundred miles to the next Supercharger (S Lake Tahoe).

 

[pipestem]

Still a bunch of big ole gaps out there.

 

[howardnj]

Still a bunch of big ole gaps out there.
View attachment 918039

Many Red states in the west are opposed to EV's. The oil and gas lobby provides those representatives with lots of campaign contributions.

 

[gnuarm]

You have to wonder when the oil companies will finally figure out that they can't stop progress. It's much better to be a part of it. Electric cars are happening and continue to gain momentum. You have to be pretty stupid to think you can do anything to stop it.

BTW, oil and gas companies have nothing to do with where Tesla puts Superchargers. Tesla is not a government program.

The gaps are because Tesla puts the charging stops where people need to charge. But I've come to realize, there must be other considerations. In VA, Rt 26 is a busy highway. They had a charger near Gainsville at Rts 15 and 66. The next one was at Charlottesville. I have a place where I would turn off the highway at Culpeper, right about in the middle. Culpeper is a perfect spot for a charger. The city is bigger than the other whistle stops along the route and has five arteries connecting.

Instead, the next Supercharger was installed at Madison, about 30 miles from the Charlottesville charger. Then they added another one just six miles from the Charlottesville charger. Finally, they put one in Opal, just 18 miles from the Gainsville charger. Why nothing in Culpeper???

Looking at the map around Winston-Salem to Raleigh, NC, they have no less than 14 Superchargers along 125 miles of roadway. That's less than 10 miles per charger. They don't have that sort of density along heavily traveled highways like Rt 95!

So clearly, density of use is not the only determinant of location.

They don't put Superchargers in the middle of nowhere, like Ely, NV. Oh, wait! They have one planned, right smack in the middle of nowhere! lol I can't find a path between major cities that would pass through Ely. Do you think Tesla takes bribes to install Superchargers?

 

[wws]

They don't put Superchargers in the middle of nowhere, like Ely, NV. Oh, wait! They have one planned, right smack in the middle of nowhere! lol I can't find a path between major cities that would pass through Ely. Do you think Tesla takes bribes to install Superchargers?

It is a long ways from I-95, but Ely is at the intersection of US 50 ("the Loneliest Road"), US 93, and US 6. US 50, from Ely westwards, is actually part of a very historic route between SLC and California. It largely follows old wagon trails, the Pony Express, the Overland Stage Coach trail, and the Lincoln Highway (the first transcontinental auto route across the U.S.). From Ely, early LH motorists would either head west towards Carson City and San Francisco, or head southwest towards Los Angeles (todays US 6) or if you were a Mormon, Las Vegas (todays US 93).

In the 1920s, Utah decided it wanted to keep motorists heading to Los Angeles in Utah as long as possible - rather than letting them go to Ely. Helped keep tourist business in-state. So they improved the roads between SLC and Las Vegas, more or less along todays I-15. For westbound traffic towards San Francisco, they built the road across the Great Salt Lake to Wendover, and eventually bypassed Ely with the "Victory Highway"/todays I-80.

If you have the time and are a history buff, a trip along US 50 is fun. You can even get a "Loneliest Road" passport, get it stamped along the way, then send in the card in the back. You'll receive a pin and an "I Survived" certificate suitable for framing. (Loneliest Road | Loneliest Road in America, Nevada's Highway 50)