Advice needed - Trip to Hume Lake (Sequoia National Park)

[spicy_taco]

Has any California owner done the trip to Hume Lake in the MME? The plan is to camp there for a few days, drive around the park. From what I heard there is absolutely no EV charging infra in or near the park. I would be coming from the Bay Area. The nearest DCFC to the park is in Fresno. FWIW, I have the extended range 23 AWD.

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[RickMachE]

PlugShare knows all.

 

[bdonpwn]

Been there before I had the MME. At quick glance on PlugShare, basically no EV support. I drive into the Sierras a lot though and Hume isn’t that high of elevation (5000’) nor far, so pending how much you plan to drive, I’d just hit 80% in Fresno before heading up. I have a regular drive to my cabin at 8000’ and the main 45-50 miles of uphill is around 2.0 kWh/mi in the summer. Hume’s uphill is about 40 miles. Typically for the downhill return, you’ll use almost no energy. My downhill at one point gains about 3-5%, but hits an even 0% used once I’m at the bottom. Of course, if you’re hauling kayaks or something, take that into consideration.

 

[bbulkow]

I put it into abrp, starting and ending at a charger in fresno. 35 pct up, 15 down, 45kwh round trip (current 70 degree weather). I also have a 23 extended. Doable, start from fresno at 80 pct and you should be back down arond 30. roughly, that's a lot of leeway.

This is where abrp excells....

There are a lot of chargers in fresno, whatever you like. Theres a big 32 stall supercharger at csu resno campus that's not far off route, there are ea and evgo closer to route.

 

[Discwizard70]

Hello,
I actually live in the Fresno area. I have driven to Hume and Sierra National Park many times in my Mach E.
I have the advantage of charging at home, and I did charge to 100 percent the 1st time I went out of caution. I returned with 41 percent, so, since I have just charged to 80 when I go.
The nearest public fast charge is only 3 miles from me, and I am lucky enough to live right off of HWY180. If you go to the Electrify America Station (Kings Canyon Blvd & Clovis Ave) and charge to 85 percent, you should be easily OK to get back there and recharge before you leave the area. I would suggest bringing the Ford mobile charger as an emergency option. I was in a campground area up there, and I saw someone charging their F150 Lightning from the camping hookups, so that could be a last ditch option.
I noticed that the return trip down the hill used waaaaay less charge too, so don't panic when you get there if you don't have 45 percent.
Enjoy your trip sir!

 

[ChrisO]

We have been thinking about going to Sequoia National Park for a while, so this information is quite useful. Thanks guys. We don't have an extended range battery, but it all looks quite doable.

I noticed also that there is a Electrify America with 4 chargers at the Walmart in Selma, so that is about 20 miles closer on the return trip if was really needed.

 

[Discwizard70]

Yes, but if you are going to stop in Selma, use the Tesla Supercharger on Highland and FWY99, way faster, and there are 12 stalls VS only 4 at Wally World. I stop there all the time if I'm in a pinch on 99...my job requires traveling... Plus there is a Taco Bell in the parking lot if you want eat while you wait, then you can fill up your truck with gas.... A different kind of gas!

 

[spicy_taco]

Hello,
I actually live in the Fresno area. I have driven to Hume and Sierra National Park many times in my Mach E.
I have the advantage of charging at home, and I did charge to 100 percent the 1st time I went out of caution. I returned with 41 percent, so, since I have just charged to 80 when I go.
The nearest public fast charge is only 3 miles from me, and I am lucky enough to live right off of HWY180. If you go to the Electrify America Station (Kings Canyon Blvd & Clovis Ave) and charge to 85 percent, you should be easily OK to get back there and recharge before you leave the area. I would suggest bringing the Ford mobile charger as an emergency option. I was in a campground area up there, and I saw someone charging their F150 Lightning from the camping hookups, so that could be a last ditch option.
I noticed that the return trip down the hill used waaaaay less charge too, so don't panic when you get there if you don't have 45 percent.
Enjoy your trip sir!

That makes me feel much better.

The only apprehension I still have is that we would like to drive around to different sites while we are there.

We would camp two nights at Hume Lake. During the stay we would have one day of driving from Hume to General Grant/Sherman/Moro rock then back to Hume. It seems like about a 80 mile round-trip within the park. Not sure if we would have enough charge for that.

 

[Discwizard70]

The mobile charger will save the day then! You can see what camp grounds have power, then hike or eat while you get extra miles.

 

[RickMachE]

That makes me feel much better.

The only apprehension I still have is that we would like to drive around to different sites while we are there.

We would camp two nights at Hume Lake. During the stay we would have one day of driving from Hume to General Grant/Sherman/Moro rock then back to Hume. It seems like about a 80 mile round-trip within the park. Not sure if we would have enough charge for that.

If you only use 45% total, 80 miles more is a non-issue, especially at slower speed.

 

[bbulkow]

Hello,
I actually live in the Fresno area. I have driven to Hume and Sierra National Park many times in my Mach E.
I have the advantage of charging at home, and I did charge to 100 percent the 1st time I went out of caution. I returned with 41 percent, so, since I have just charged to 80 when I go.
The nearest public fast charge is only 3 miles from me, and I am lucky enough to live right off of HWY180. If you go to the Electrify America Station (Kings Canyon Blvd & Clovis Ave) and charge to 85 percent, you should be easily OK to get back there and recharge before you leave the area. I would suggest bringing the Ford mobile charger as an emergency option. I was in a campground area up there, and I saw someone charging their F150 Lightning from the camping hookups, so that could be a last ditch option.
I noticed that the return trip down the hill used waaaaay less charge too, so don't panic when you get there if you don't have 45 percent.
Enjoy your trip sir!

Was your experience with SR or ER battery?

Op has er... My abrp estimates were er....

Important not is not to get freaked about the miles range calculation on the way up!!! You will use 35 pct going up and 15 percent back, according to abrp. Dont fret! It will be true. And warn your copilot! My first trip over the sierras the car got a bit shouty, when it simply isn't accounting for altitude like google maps or abrp does.

Also, if you are concerned about range, remember to manually change your climate settings. Fords auto is very wasteful and may burn an extra 10 percent of your range. That's an extra 25ish miles in a case like this.

 

[Discwizard70]

I have a standard range premium, so an extended range would be even better. I have NOT used climate controls during these trips, as all of the times I have gone the weather was pleasant enough to just open windows or vents.

 

[Discwizard70]

Has any California owner done the trip to Hume Lake in the MME? The plan is to camp there for a few days, drive around the park. From what I heard there is absolutely no EV charging infra in or near the park. I would be coming from the Bay Area. The nearest DCFC to the park is in Fresno. FWIW, I have the extended range 23 AWD.

Curious as to how your trip went? How did you like your MME on those beautiful roads? What about your range? Did you successfully charge when you wanted?
I just hate unfinished stories, lol.

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