Tucson, AZ to Playa Palomas, Sonora, Mexico

[electricRaptor]

Last year I did a trip to see what it would be like heading into Mexico with limited charging infrastructure. It’s not a big distance, but I chose the safest/highest SOC route, to get to Playa Encanto. There’s an L2 charger at the resort there, so it was the safest bet.

The route I took:
- Started in Tucson, AZ
- RAN fast charger in Gila Bend, AZ (to ~290 miles)
- Arrived to Playa Encanto with ~100 miles

Okay, so, the real test of range is the drive from Tucson to our family house about an hour south of Playa Encanto to Playa Palomas (7 homes). It’s about 7km north of the ~30 home development near Santo Tomas. From my home in Tucson through the zero-charging-infrastructure desert and equally nil charging in Sonora, Mexico, it’s 282 miles point to point. Driving the speed limit in conserve mode (with a 2500ft overall elevation drop), the nav estimated arrival with 62 miles. On Friday I set out (with my father in his car in case I needed rescue). I arrived with 29 miles ? (photo was 30 mins into charging). I bought an L2 ChargePoint charger juicing to 48 amps, so I knew I’d be able to charge upon arrival overnight (currently using the portable charger with a NEMA 14-50 plug with 34 amps as seen in the photo). This was the first time I’d try such a distance without charging available.

Everything was great and went without a hiccup, although the arrival range made me nervous (headwind, temperature, etc could easily drop that lower to a critical point). From now on I’ll spend the extra 45 mins to drive I-10 to I-8, stop and charge at the Gila Bend RAN, then comfortable arrive in AP mode with 85 miles.

That said, it’s a dream to be down here with the truck. Aired down tires to 18psi each and left in soft sand mode, the truck is a monster in sand. We drove the 7km down the beach to Santo Tomas last night to have dinner at the little restaurant there, then back with my Diode Dynamics SS3 Max aux lights to brighten the pitch black beach. Attached photos of the fun!

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[redjays]

Braver than I am, the one time I took my folks down in their X3, we got pulled over and had to pay about $160. Not sure if it was the nice car or what. Never had a problem in any other vehicle and maybe it was just our luck that one time..

 

[COdogman]

Wow, what a spot! Looks like it was worth the risk!

 

[electricRaptor]

Braver than I am, the one time I took my folks down in their X3, we got pulled over and had to pay about $160. Not sure if it was the nice car or what. Never had a problem in any other vehicle and maybe it was just our luck that one time..

It does help I speak Spanish whenever that happens, which is pretty rare lately. We’ve been going down for about 15 years and have had to pay off local cops maybe a total of $160 in that time.

It’s also good to keep in mind the local speed limit in Sonoyta, 25mph max! That’s where they getcha. We’ve driven BMWs, Mercs, etc down and just in that section of town keep it the speed limit. Once the highway starts, 180mph cruise control to the beach is in effect (or 112mph in our Rivvies).

 

[electricRaptor]

Wow, what a spot! Looks like it was worth the risk!

Indubitably! By the way here’s the mileage when thrashing it in sand mode for a while… ??

 

[EV_IV]

Indubitably! By the way here’s the mileage when thrashing it in sand mode for a while… ??

Wow about 40 miles of range on a large pack ?

 

[electricRaptor]

Wow about 40 miles of range on a large pack ?

? just enough to get in trouble…

 

[R.I.P.]

Stop in & see me next time. I have charging.

 

[CharonPDX]

It does help I speak Spanish whenever that happens, which is pretty rare lately. We’ve been going down for about 15 years and have had to pay off local cops maybe a total of $160 in that time.

It’s also good to keep in mind the local speed limit in Sonoyta, 25mph max! That’s where they getcha. We’ve driven BMWs, Mercs, etc down and just in that section of town keep it the speed limit. Once the highway starts, 180mph cruise control to the beach is in effect (or 112mph in our Rivvies).

Yep. When we went to Puerto Peñasco last year, we made sure to drive *EXACTLY* the speed limit. No giving the locals any excuses at all.

We did AZ-86 through the Tohono O'odham across from the South side of Tucson and made it in one go, rather than going up and over I-8 and using RAN. Made it to our hotel no problem. Using that route, I was getting nearly 4 mi/kWh - on a Quad with offroad tires.

 

[Joules Burn]

It does help I speak Spanish whenever that happens, which is pretty rare lately. We’ve been going down for about 15 years and have had to pay off local cops maybe a total of $160 in that time.

It’s also good to keep in mind the local speed limit in Sonoyta, 25mph max! That’s where they getcha. We’ve driven BMWs, Mercs, etc down and just in that section of town keep it the speed limit. Once the highway starts, 180mph cruise control to the beach is in effect (or 112mph in our Rivvies).

I was at the coast near Rosarito around thirty years ago with a BMW 3.0 CS. Sitting on the sand watching the waves and “Eric Estrada” (who had studied English at Oxford) informed me I was in violation “open container”. Miles from anywhere. $20.

Since they are now in competition with the cartels, I'll stay North.

 

[SwampNut]

What's the border crossing like these days?

I used to live in Tucson and had an office on the border in Nogales. I'd run over to see clients in Mexico 2-3 days per week. I have a story about forgetting my SKS in the trunk of my car and going down....

 

[redjays]

It does help I speak Spanish whenever that happens, which is pretty rare lately. We’ve been going down for about 15 years and have had to pay off local cops maybe a total of $160 in that time.

It’s also good to keep in mind the local speed limit in Sonoyta, 25mph max! That’s where they getcha. We’ve driven BMWs, Mercs, etc down and just in that section of town keep it the speed limit. Once the highway starts, 180mph cruise control to the beach is in effect (or 112mph in our Rivvies).

Indeed, I think my step-dad was speeding through Sonoyta and they got us around where the red cross donation people set up before you hit the highway. My Step dad is also fluent in Spanish so super glad for that because my wife and I don't speak spanish at all lol

 

[electricRaptor]

Stop in & see me next time. I have charging.

Ooo definitely! I haven’t been down to San Carlos since college. I’ll let you know when I do go down!

 

[electricRaptor]

Yep. When we went to Puerto Peñasco last year, we made sure to drive *EXACTLY* the speed limit. No giving the locals any excuses at all.

We did AZ-86 through the Tohono O'odham across from the South side of Tucson and made it in one go, rather than going up and over I-8 and using RAN. Made it to our hotel no problem. Using that route, I was getting nearly 4 mi/kWh - on a Quad with offroad tires.

Yeah, it’s the trap for Americans going down to Rocky Point haha.

I think if I had the 21” road tires, I’d be fine making it in one go. It’s tough going slower and hoping there aren’t any wind speeds to increase range loss. Maybe I’ll upgrade to the 400 mile R1 eventually… that said, the house we go to is about another hour south of Rocky Point, approximately 55 miles of roadway, then 10 miles of dirt roads. Sometimes they’re littered with mud so that can be a “drag”

 

[electricRaptor]

What's the border crossing like these days?

I used to live in Tucson and had an office on the border in Nogales. I'd run over to see clients in Mexico 2-3 days per week. I have a story about forgetting my SKS in the trunk of my car and going down....

Hah! Yeah I make it a point to double check I’m leaving my EDC at home before setting off…

We go through Lukeville/Sonoita, which is WAY faster than Noggie. The wait time yesterday was 1 car in front of me… maybe 75 seconds? Nogales can be a real shit show sometimes.

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