Long distance driving

Left Huntsville AL, 9 AM Monday and arrived at Las Vegas 7:45 PM. Distance 1,888 miles, 525 kWh, with an overnight stay in Albuquerque at a motel with free breakfast and EV charging. Autopilot did the driving while I supervised. Part of a 'timeshare promotional', I may visit my west coast relatives as well as my Arizona brothers. Took the direct route I-40 (aka., Route 66 parallel.)

I'll take the Southern route on the way back and visit the widow of my high school, best friend. More details to follow and will of course answer questions.

Bob Wilson

 

Staying at a Hilton motel in Manassas triggered a cold-call offer for three free nights at different locations for a 'time share' sales pitch. I chose Las Vegas to combine visiting my Arizona brothers, west coast relatives, and driving my 2019 Tesla Model 3:

• 16 - Supercharger sessions to Las Vegas
• $166.31 - Supercharger costs
• 1,888 miles - $0.088 per mile, $8.80 per 100 miles
• $332.62 - total

In contrast, the the cheapest flight, next month, Huntsville to Vegas with car rental:

• $207 - airline fare, round trip, $0 return
  • no refund
  • no changes
  • no sight seeing
• $30 - checked baggage
• $32 - Huntsville parking
• $381 - Rental car in Las Vegas
• $650 - total

Driving took 42 hours but I sat in the front, first class seating, watching AutoPilot do all the work. The front window view was immense with a 20 minute break every 2-3 hours. Meals were terrific. For example, Oklahoma has 'Chicken Fried Steak' which is real steak coated and fried up versus the mystery meat patties called 'Country Fried Steak' in Dixie. Driving is slower but cheaper, more flexibility, more enjoyable, and less stressful than flying.

My last full day, I decided to tour the SuperChargers but only made it to 3 of 9:

1. Las Vegas Linq High Roller - did not even try to stop due to busy traffic, additional parking fee, and 'it looked tacky.' I'd read about it but seeing deflated any interest in stopping.
2. Sahara Ave - actually on the Tesla Service Center property ... what a lovey store with remarkably helpful staff. For example, I need two parts for my Tesla and the sales staff, not having many self-maintenance walk-ins, found the part numbers that I need when I get home. Worth a visit if only as an example of what every other Tesla Service Center should aspire. BTW, there are three Tesla Service Centers in Las Vegas.
3. Bridger Ave - so good, it was my last stop. Less than half a mile from Fremont, it is covered by a building, free parking, and time-of-day metering. It was so good, I decided to return to the casinos as I came to Las Vegas to gamble and this SuperCharger perfectly compliments 'Old Town', the comfortable Las Vegas casinos.

The Hilton sales pitch was for a discount hotel package ... pay a monthly fee and get discounts or free motel stays at their list of ideal vacation spots. Gambling is my fun time but they have nothing in Tunica or Vicksburg MS, the nearest ones to Huntsville. They have reasonable coverage of Gulf coast and New Orleans but did not show Lake Charles LA. I liked their staff but the time pressure kept us from 'chatting'. Once they realized I was not a good prospect, things ended friendly but quickly.

If you want an affordable motel for a couple of days, call Hilton Grand Vacations, and find out what properties they give their presentation. Yes, they claim it is a
'one time' offer but for warned is for armed. They charged me ~$200 for three nights in Las Vegas. When I asked about getting a motel with electric car charging, they moved me from old, seedy Tropicana to newer, seedy Trump International Hotel.

Trump Hotel has valet only parking but their staff is barely Tesla literate. For example, 'valet mode' confused them as they insisted on having my key-card. Be sure and have a PIN to drive turned on! Worse, they are not very good about charging my Tesla ... not good at ALL! Self-parking at free L2 chargers works great because you can make sure everything works. Valet staff is less committed and you have to bribe tip them for it.

I still have a return trip and at 4 AM my last night, I am typing this note without knowing whether I'll try to visit West coast relatives. But for sure, I'm headed to Arizona to visit my three brothers and their families. Then I'll take the southern route back and visit the widow of my best (only) friend in high school. This flexibility would be unaffordable with commercial flights, car rentals, and motel expenses.

Bob Wilson

 

I use PlugShare and it does:

1. Filter on J1772 and Tesla L2.
2. Pointer survey to find them.
3. Read reviews.

Bob Wilson

 

The Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times.”

BEVs are not for everyone nor PHEV nor any modern transportation. I am OK with ignorance as coming here is how we fight our own and help others. I’m less patient with those unlike us who come ‘with an axe to grind.’

We’ll battery is about charged up and breakfast paid with half in a box to go. Time to ‘make miles’ and watch over the car do the driving.

Bob Wilson

 

My recent Odyssey:

• Huntsville AL; Las Vegas NV; Los Angeles; Tempe AZ, Safford AZ, and; Huntsville AL
• March 8 - 19
• 4,562 miles
• 1,279 kWh

A "time share" pitch in Las Vegas turned out to be a motel 'discount' plan. Pay ~$170 monthly to get discounted or sometimes 'free' lodging at a vacation resort. The older salesman implied these were great places to meet women, I'm a widower. Still, I like to gamble and except for the Gulf coast, not so much. They got me out pretty quickly as I was not going to buy into their discount plan. Regardless, I paid them ~$250 or three nights at Las Vegas Trump Hotel, and a $100 certificate at another Hilton property.

I got to visit my Aunt Jane, brothers George, Charles, and Will, and stay in a Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. To Las Vegas, 1,888 miles costing $166 of SuperCharger fees. The longest, single drive segment ~1,300 miles took 30 hours. Tesla cross country driving consists of:

• drive 1.5 to 2.5 hours
• stop at fast food or mini-market for biology break and snack
• 20 minutes charging for next segment
  • snack
  • walk
  • cat nap
• Autopilot does the driving while I supervise

I'm home and after catching up on sleep, I'm happy to be home.

Bob Wilson