Winter roadtrip - Santa Fe to Boulder and back

[dtbaker61]

with a car FULL of stuff, and 2 bikes on the back... moving my daughter to Boulder.

I headed into the storm.... which got pretty bad between Las Vegas and Raton pass.

grabbed a charge in Wagon Mound... most expensive of the trip ($.63/kWhr)

had some interesting conversations at charge stations.... and the 'wrap of the trip' was a Kia. check this one out; the owner is a rabid Broncos fan by the way.

one slow (50kw) charge.... probably because the coolant was leaking. didn't notice until after I got started unfortunately and other dispensers were full anyway. I did call it into EA; they can put a 'flag' pop-up on screen until they get a tech there.

super important note before travel is to get all possible station apps on your phone before travel! I found out the hard way that CircleK has their own app, and the chargers do not have card readers! It can be a PIA to set up an app in the field; my cc bank put a hold on the card when I was trying to set up the payment since I was calling it in from an unknown location. It took an extra 20-30 minutes to get thru to my bank, lift the card lock, fund the account, and get the charge started.

grabbed my last charge on the way home in wagon mound again.... did the math the minimize charge at $.63/kWhr..... charged to 95%

.... ....and made it home! A little thinner margin than intended. Notes for winter driving EVs on road trips:
1. allow -10% miles/kwhr for cabin heat.
2. -5% for bike rack
3. -5% for road conditions and 75-80mph versus normal mixed suburban use...

which brings my average to 2.2 miles/kwhr for the trip. I'd suggest planning miles between charges using 2 miles/kWhr in the winter and maybe 2.5 in the summer, and trying to use #kwhr you have from 20%-80%. So, since I have SR battery = 70 kwhr * 60% * 2.2 mi/kwhr = 92 miles 'safe target range' between charges in winter on roadtrips for mach-e SR battery. Any more than that, and you should charge to more than 80% to be safe.

Also, very helpful to have an ODB2 reader and CarScanner app to see actual kWhr remaining to match against distance to next charge..... it can help make the decision to slow down or reduce cabin heat if range is getting tight.

 

[dbsb3233]

Looked like some white-knuckle driving around Wagon Mound. We've yet to hit any real snowy roads like that on any of our road trips (37k miles now), but it's inevitable in this part of the country. (I probably just jinxed myself for our next drive to Vegas in 3 weeks.)

We did the I-25 drive in October to go down to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (same day as the eclipse). We just got a hotel in Santa Fe at a "normal" price instead of paying the 2x inflated Fiesta week prices. From there we drove down to Carlsbad Caverns, Phoenix, Sedona, Grand Canyon, and on to Vegas.

We usually just stick to EA on I-25. Where did you do the Circle-K charge?

 

[Nikos]

with a car FULL of stuff, and 2 bikes on the back... moving my daughter to Boulder.

I headed into the storm.... which got pretty bad between Las Vegas and Raton pass.

grabbed a charge in Wagon Mound... most expensive of the trip ($.63/kWhr)

had some interesting conversations at charge stations.... and the 'wrap of the trip' was a Kia. check this one out; the owner is a rabid Broncos fan by the way.

one slow (50kw) charge.... probably because the coolant was leaking. didn't notice until after I got started unfortunately and other dispensers were full anyway. I did call it into EA; they can put a 'flag' pop-up on screen until they get a tech there.

super important note before travel is to get all possible station apps on your phone before travel! I found out the hard way that CircleK has their own app, and the chargers do not have card readers! It can be a PIA to set up an app in the field; my cc bank put a hold on the card when I was trying to set up the payment since I was calling it in from an unknown location. It took an extra 20-30 minutes to get thru to my bank, lift the card lock, fund the account, and get the charge started.

grabbed my last charge on the way home in wagon mound again.... did the math the minimize charge at $.63/kWhr..... charged to 95%

.... ....and made it home! A little thinner margin than intended. Notes for winter driving EVs on road trips:
1. allow -10% miles/kwhr for cabin heat.
2. -5% for bike rack
3. -5% for road conditions and 75-80mph versus normal mixed suburban use...

which brings my average to 2.2 miles/kwhr for the trip. I'd suggest planning miles between charges using 2 miles/kWhr in the winter and maybe 2.5 in the summer, and trying to use #kwhr you have from 20%-80%. So, since I have SR battery = 70 kwhr * 60% * 2.2 mi/kwhr = 92 miles 'safe target range' between charges in winter on roadtrips for mach-e SR battery. Any more than that, and you should charge to more than 80% to be safe.

Also, very helpful to have an ODB2 reader and CarScanner app to see actual kWhr remaining to match against distance to next charge..... it can help make the decision to slow down or reduce cabin heat if range is getting tight.

Another interesting trip story from a forum member. I read all of them. Interesting to read the different approaches and planning that goes in to travel to different parts of our country. Even with a SR battery, you made it work. Planned for the unexpected and still able to complete your trip.
I have posted couple reviews of my travels with my MME and my Lightning in the SE region. Interesting to read posts of other members in other parts of North America, the planning they use, and the tools that they employ.
Did you install the hitch receiver yourself or it was a shop installation?
I will look into the OBD reader and the CarScanner app.
Another interesting tool to use when the vehicle's range estimates don't make sense the first 10 min of every travel leg of your trip.
Most of the folks only think of the things they would do when they get to their destination, not how they get there. Use of the gray matter of our brains is optional for many folks.
Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[Nikos]

with a car FULL of stuff, and 2 bikes on the back... moving my daughter to Boulder.

I headed into the storm.... which got pretty bad between Las Vegas and Raton pass.

grabbed a charge in Wagon Mound... most expensive of the trip ($.63/kWhr)

had some interesting conversations at charge stations.... and the 'wrap of the trip' was a Kia. check this one out; the owner is a rabid Broncos fan by the way.

one slow (50kw) charge.... probably because the coolant was leaking. didn't notice until after I got started unfortunately and other dispensers were full anyway. I did call it into EA; they can put a 'flag' pop-up on screen until they get a tech there.

super important note before travel is to get all possible station apps on your phone before travel! I found out the hard way that CircleK has their own app, and the chargers do not have card readers! It can be a PIA to set up an app in the field; my cc bank put a hold on the card when I was trying to set up the payment since I was calling it in from an unknown location. It took an extra 20-30 minutes to get thru to my bank, lift the card lock, fund the account, and get the charge started.

grabbed my last charge on the way home in wagon mound again.... did the math the minimize charge at $.63/kWhr..... charged to 95%

.... ....and made it home! A little thinner margin than intended. Notes for winter driving EVs on road trips:
1. allow -10% miles/kwhr for cabin heat.
2. -5% for bike rack
3. -5% for road conditions and 75-80mph versus normal mixed suburban use...

which brings my average to 2.2 miles/kwhr for the trip. I'd suggest planning miles between charges using 2 miles/kWhr in the winter and maybe 2.5 in the summer, and trying to use #kwhr you have from 20%-80%. So, since I have SR battery = 70 kwhr * 60% * 2.2 mi/kwhr = 92 miles 'safe target range' between charges in winter on roadtrips for mach-e SR battery. Any more than that, and you should charge to more than 80% to be safe.

Also, very helpful to have an ODB2 reader and CarScanner app to see actual kWhr remaining to match against distance to next charge..... it can help make the decision to slow down or reduce cabin heat if range is getting tight.

What Car Scanner app did you use.
Is there one specifically for EVs?

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I go a few mph below the speed limit (or below traffic speed, when traffic is faster) while doing road trips. We see between 2.9 and 3.7 miles/kWh for most highway trips, about 2.7-3.3 for cold, snowy/rainy trips on flatter ground and about 2.5-3.1 coming back up the mountain on cold, snowy/rainy trips, sometimes as low as 2.2 if I'm in a hurry or if it's especially windy.

I see you estimated a loss of about 5% due to your bicycles. I have the hitch and rack but haven't had time to install. I think for most of our trips that would include the rack and bicycles, a 5% loss wouldn't be a worry.

This is great information. Thanks!

 

[dbsb3233]

I go a few mph below the speed limit (or below traffic speed, when traffic is faster) while doing road trips. We see between 2.9 and 3.7 miles/kWh for most highway trips, about 2.7-3.3 for cold, snowy/rainy trips on flatter ground and about 2.5-3.1 coming back up the mountain on cold, snowy/rainy trips, sometimes as low as 2.2 if I'm in a hurry or if it's especially windy.

I see you estimated a loss of about 5% due to your bicycles. I have the hitch and rack but haven't had time to install. I think for most of our trips that would include the rack and bicycles, a 5% loss wouldn't be a worry.

This is great information. Thanks!

In our AWD ER we've averaged 2.8 MPK, most commonly between Denver-Vegas where half the miles are at 80 MPH in Utah. Worst we got was 2.4 in the winter where temps dropped below 20F thru Colorado. But that was only one trip out of 20. All the others were between 2.7-3.0, even in 40F temps. And probably 2/3rds of the trips came out right on 2.8, even the one across 9 states down to the Gulf Coast. That's with 2 people, luggage, and various crap in the back seat.

Now that we're at 50k miles, I expect we might start seeing minor degradation in the battery/range. But so far nothing noticeable. Maybe a couple of %, if that.

 

[jeffMachE]

Having taken 5 trips to Las Vegas from Denver area, lowest I've averaged was just over 2 mi/kWh on a winter trip with 50 mph headwinds, temps in the single digits and blizzard like conditions. Spring/summer, I get 3.3 going there and about 2.8 coming home. My rule of thumb in the winter is I have 150 max range between charging on my 4ex.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

In our AWD ER we've averaged 2.8 MPK, most commonly between Denver-Vegas where half the miles are at 80 MPH in Utah. Worst we got was 2.4 in the winter where temps dropped below 20F thru Colorado. But that was only one trip out of 20. All the others were between 2.7-3.0, even in 40F temps. And probably 2/3rds of the trips came out right on 2.8, even the one across 9 states down to the Gulf Coast. That's with 2 people, luggage, and various crap in the back seat.

Now that we're at 50k miles, I expect we might start seeing minor degradation in the battery/range. But so far nothing noticeable. Maybe a couple of %, if that.

Nearly all of my trips start and end at 7000 ft. The vast majority of our 31,000 miles are highway miles down off the mountain and then back up it. We're averaging 3.3 mpk, lifetime. It's the combination of uphill, cold, windy trips that really dig into our efficiency.

 

[dbsb3233]

What Car Scanner app did you use.
Is there one specifically for EVs?

A lot of us use the app that actually goes by the name Car Scanner (developer OvZ). It has a profile specific for the Mach-E when you configure it.

 

[dtbaker61]

Did you install the hitch receiver yourself or it was a shop installation?

self installed torklift. I think I was one of the first.....
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/diy-install-torklift-hitch-for-bike-rack-etc.5714/

I will look into the OBD reader and the CarScanner app.
Another interesting tool to use when the vehicle's range estimates

I highly recommend.... you can build a custom 'dashboard' to display on your phone real-time that shows power output/regen in kW, remaining energy in kWhr.... which is really what you want to keep track of changing conditions mid trip to be sure you get to the next stop. It's sort of like a Rally chronometer of energy.

https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...display-all-phone-apps-like-carscanner.20913/

 

[dtbaker61]

Looked like some white-knuckle driving around Wagon Mound.

Las Vegas to Raton was 'sketchy', but I gotta say that the MME with Vredestein wintrac pros was probably the most solid snow car I've ever had. I grew up in NW Mass, and then 25 years in Denver/boulder area with lots of ski trips in the land of snow, ice, and mountains, so I've spent a lot of time driving in winter.

We usually just stick to EA on I-25. Where did you do the Circle-K charge?

my charge stops on return trips were:
- boulder
- ev connect - phillips 66 in castle pines
- circleK colorado city
- ea - walmart in trinidad
- ea - conoco in wagon mound

 

[Nikos]

self installed torklift. I think I was one of the first.....
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/diy-install-torklift-hitch-for-bike-rack-etc.5714/




I highly recommend.... you can build a custom 'dashboard' to display on your phone real-time that shows power output/regen in kW, remaining energy in kWhr.... which is really what you want to keep track of changing conditions mid trip to be sure you get to the next stop. It's sort of like a Rally chronometer of energy.

https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...display-all-phone-apps-like-carscanner.20913/

I did order and installed my hitch receiver from TorkLift (stainless steel receiver), as soon as it was available.
Nice to know many others use the same TorkLift kit on their MME.
Thanks for the OBD2, CarScanner info.

 

[dtbaker61]

I go a few mph below the speed limit (or below traffic speed, when traffic is faster) while doing road trips. We see between 2.9 and 3.7 miles/kWh for most highway trips, about 2.7-3.3 for cold, snowy/rainy trips on flatter ground and about 2.5-3.1 coming back up the mountain on cold, snowy/rainy trips, sometimes as low as 2.2 if I'm in a hurry or if it's especially windy.

I see you estimated a loss of about 5% due to your bicycles. I have the hitch and rack but haven't had time to install. I think for most of our trips that would include the rack and bicycles, a 5% loss wouldn't be a worry.

This is great information. Thanks!

the trip up between las vegas (NM) and Raton, speeds were low because of conditions, but rolling resistance must have been WAY up with snow/slush on road, wind, and cabin heat ate 10-12%.

I drive posted speed, or 5-10 over on highway.... which definitely is a range penalty, but I like to keep up w fast lane traffic just from travel time perspective as long as range permits. Going for the overall shortest trip time.

trip average was 2.2 miles/kWhr santa fe to Boulder, and 2.3 on return trip.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I drive posted speed, or 5-10 over on highway.... which definitely is a range penalty, but I like to keep up w fast lane traffic just from travel time perspective as long as range permits. Going for the overall shortest trip time.

I keep playing with the time-optimization problem that includes highway speeds, number of stops, and length of stops vs my own patience. I think, for me, it'll always be an imperfect analysis.

I'm doing a 2,000 mile round-trip caravan with a friend who will be driving an ICE. It'll be an interesting reality check for me and will be nice to get a gauge from them about driving speed/stop length/etc for longer road trips.

 

[dtbaker61]

I keep playing with the time-optimization problem that includes highway speeds, number of stops, and length of stops vs my own patience. I think, for me, it'll always be an imperfect analysis.

I'm doing a 2,000 mile round-trip caravan with a friend who will be driving an ICE. It'll be an interesting reality check for me and will be nice to get a gauge from them about driving speed/stop length/etc for longer road trips.

I'd say that trip planning has to be pretty fluid around changing conditions and charger availability..... in northern NM, the trip HAS to be planned around available chargers, especially if you get off I-25 there just aren't many, and almost no level 3 yet.

The distance between means that sometimes I had to sit thru the charger slowdown at 80%.... knowing that I needed 95% to make it from wagon mound to santa fe in winter conditions. Thats where I kept an eye on CarScanner display of remaining kWhr, slowed down, and reduced cabin heat.... knowing distance remaining and kwhr remaining, and avg real consumption was 2.2 allowed on the fly adjustment.

I had best results using ABRP for initial plan targeting 20%-80%, and overiding consumption to 2.2 mi/kwhr.

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