Bay Area to Tahoe on a single charge in winter?

[blacklab]

I’ve read that people are doing it but was wondering if anyone makes it around d 200mi up the mountains in Winter snowy conditions with all-terrain tires (necessary under those conditions)? I have a quad, large battery running ‘21s with all-terrain and it feels very unlikely. I have an opportunity to move to a max battery tr-motor or dual motor and might do it if I can make the Tahoe run without stopping.

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[PaythePiper]

All I know is from Phx to Showlow AZ, there’s a climb to about 6400ft. And from 100% to drive 160 miles, it ate 270 miles worth of range. Using the nav and ABRP they were almost 30% off.

 

[Mathme]

I have a Quad R1T with 20" Pirelli's and there's no way.

I've driven to South Lake Tahoe via Hwy 80 & 50 numerous times in both summer and winter and there's no way to get up there without a charge stop from where I am. I typically leave my house in the Palo Alto area with 85% SoC and get into Placerville with 25-35%. Recharge up to 80% and then get into South Lake with about 30-40% remaining. From Placerville to South Lake is only about 65 miles but there's about 6,000 feet of elevation and some of it is multiple miles of 6% grade. There really isn't any where to charge in the last 30 miles.

I haven't done the drive to North lake but the elevation gain is about the same and it's a faster road.

My recommendation is to plan for a stop in the Sacramento area and don't stress over it.

 

[mikehmb]

It'll depend entirely on your driving style and what your destination is. I've done it, so I know it's possible, but it's also a lot less stressful (esp if you end up getting stuck sitting in traffic and running the heater) to just grab a charge in the foothills or in Sac.

If I'm going to Kirkwood, I'll stop and grab food in Jackson and charge at the Tesla SC. If SLT, then there's a new RAN in Placerville (or use the one in Sac next to REI). If Truckee / North Lake, you've got tons of options along I80.

Note that I am related to people with bladders the size of thimbles so a pee-stop is an inevitability, so grabbing a charge isn't a problem at all.

 

[SSteveEV]

Knowing that route, I'd say there is no chance. But if you are driving 55 instead of 70 maybe you'd have a shot.
Best I could manage was about 210 miles using 95% of my large pack with minimal elevation gain in the Midwest. But it was 18* and my cabin averaged 45*.
Also found my snow tires to be roughly the same efficiency if not a hair better than my OE 20" AT

 

[blacklab]

Yeah, large battery won’t cut it. I’m wondering if the max will. Rivian advertises around 80mi more with that battery

 

[aaronboy86]

Went up over the President’s Day weekend with my quad R1S on 22s from Oakland but had to stop at Danville to drop off the dog first. Used conserve mode all the way until it got snowy and I thought about going all the way to Truckee, when I got to Auburn with 49%. But I saw a bunch of traffic on the GPS and didn’t want to risk it with 2 kids in the car. I think it would’ve been close but ultimately could’ve made it

 

[NC-Rivian]

I’ve read that people are doing it but was wondering if anyone makes it around d 200mi up the mountains in Winter snowy conditions with all-terrain tires (necessary under those conditions)? I have a quad, large battery running ‘21s with all-terrain and it feels very unlikely. I have an opportunity to move to a max battery tr-motor or dual motor and might do it if I can make the Tahoe run without stopping.

Plan for the splash and dash in Sacramento. Better to stop and not need it then do not stop and then need it.

 

[RandomMcRandomFace]

I do a 170 mile trip to VT up only about 2500 feet; 2/3 is highway. In 0 degrees I have about 20% left. That assumes 70 on the highway. So I would say no to may be barely. That’s gen 1 quad with stock 20s.

 

[Franksmartin]

I do a 170 mile trip to VT up only about 2500 feet; 2/3 is highway. In 0 degrees I have about 20% left. That assumes 70 on the highway. So I would say no to may be barely. That’s gen 1 quad with stock 20s.

The SF to Tahoe drive is definitely warmer on average though.

 

[DH0]

We drive to Kirkwood regularly with a gen 2 max pack dual motor. It's about 180 miles. With skis on a rack and driving the way I drive (fast not efficienct) it takes ~60% charge to get to Jackson, and another 35–40% to get to Kirkwood. Confident I could make it in one charge driving slowly but that would take longer than adding a quick charging stop and leave us at the resort with no range to get back down.

 

[Clif4rd]

I drive from San Rafael to Truckee (160 miles)regularly in our gen 2 dual max R1T with Nokian R5 SUV winter tires and arrive with around 25-30% (100mikes) of remaining range. I have stopped twice in Roseville to charge up when there was chain controls and high risk of stops and slowdowns due to big rig dysfunction on 80. On one of those where the last hour of driving stretched to over 2, I would have made it with the original full charge.

 

[ElGuano]

We drive to Kirkwood regularly with a gen 2 max pack dual motor. It's about 180 miles. With skis on a rack and driving the way I drive (fast not efficienct) it takes ~60% charge to get to Jackson, and another 35–40% to get to Kirkwood. Confident I could make it in one charge driving slowly but that would take longer than adding a quick charging stop and leave us at the resort with no range to get back down.

I think from Truckee you only need about 20-30 miles on the dash to make it all the way to Sacramento (or maybe Rocklin, I forget) . I've never actually tried it, that's just how much range the trip back seems to eat up, as it's mostly downhill/flat.

 

[Clif4rd]

There is an excellent Tesla SC in Roseville on Harding Blvd with 16 stalls that doesn’t require an adapter. Adjacent ace hardware with restroom makes killing 20 minute stop easy.

 

[Seano]

Gen 2 dual motor max from So Bay to Truckee in late Dec : left with 100% - used 44% to get to Sac RAN Charger (137mi)... charged for 15 min and used 44% from RAN charger to Truckee (99mi). Haka R5 snow tires on 20's (not AT) and temps in mid 30's foothills up. In theory, could make it - and with the tesla charger in Soda Springs, probably not a huge risk anymore?

Another trip mid Feb, same wheels/tires & maybe a little colder: used 45% from So Bay to Sac; charged 55-73% (16min) and got to Truckee with 29% (again using 44% up the hill).

Tempted to try it, but with wife, kid & dog in the car haven't pushed it yet.

I would think a Gen 1 quad from SF is damn close to making it - but prob need to do the bulk of the drive in Conserve.

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