SAE combo chargers on I-5 between Portland and Seattle

[lastmarx]

Planning drive in my new 2015 EV with SAEcombo fast charge from Portland to Seattle. Find only 2 such chargers (Fife and Renton) on the way. Where should I plan stopping at level 2 chargers before Fife when leaving Portland with almost full battery and driving below 60?

Thanks to anyone who has done it and knows how!

 

[cwerdna]

Although I don't have an answer for you, I'd check Plugshare and be sure to have plenty of backups. Anything that you want to use (DC FC and L2s) could be broken, ICEd, blocked, not work for you, etc.

 

[nikwax]

I'd like to know as well. I'd love to be able to drive to Bellingham, but the lack of SAE DCFC between Portland and Seattle is a real hinderance. Centralia and Castle Rock look promising for level 2 charging.

 

[Nashco]

Unfortunately, it's still slim pickin' south of Fife to Portland for combo chargers. Castle Rock has a Level 2 (next to the Chademo plug) that is about 90 miles from the Fife charger. If you're really nice to the car (tire pressure up, windows closed, hvac off, etc.), you can make that, but it's a slow charge so you'll have to be patient.

There's a decent pizza place about a block away and a grocery store there. That should help to pass the time, but it's a small town that gets quiet at odd hours so plan accordingly.

Things will be better soon, but that's about as good as it gets today! Good luck, and make sure to use Plugshare to check the latest status updates and to make paying easier at Castle Rock's Aerovironment charger.

Bryce

 

[lastmarx]

Thanks to you all. I guess I stop first at Castle Rock and charge up again in Centralia before the fast charge at a BMW dealer in Fife. Hope there're all working.

 

[nikwax]

please let us know how it goes.


I talked to a woman who does the trip in a Leaf, she takes the back roads and keeps her speed down, which helps with the milage. Of course, they also have ChaDeMo chargers available.

 

[oregonsparky]

I have looked at making the drive quite a bit.... I thought about taking the car up to show my 83 year old father.

I thought about breaking it up this way.

Top off at the country cafe on i5 near ridgefield. Figured to have breakfast while it charges back up to full.

Distance from country cafe to centralia is about sixty miles.
.
Stop for a free charge at Santa Lucia coffee company in centralia. From this location you will need about 40 miles of range to make it to the dc fast charger in fife....

Jeff

 

[NORTON]

What's great about pioneering threads like this one is;

Someday we will look back at these and chuckle,, hopefully !

DCFC is a game changer. All we need is some infrastructure...

 

[nikwax]

There's a MacMenamin's in Centralia that is very interesting if you need a longer stop.