Trip Report: San Francisco to North Lake Tahoe

[Flying ace]

Today, I drove up to Tahoe (Olympic Village) for a ski weekend. Loaded the car with gear and kids. 140 total miles.

Charge planner has me stopping 160 miles into the journey at an EA regardless of starting the SoC of 85%-100%, so I elected to start at 85%. Got blazing fast speeds at the station and averaged 200kw speeds 25%-81%, in and out in less than 20 minutes.

Efficiency was 1.8 miles/KWh, tire pressure set to 41/45 (max for a loaded wagon) on all seasons.

Most interesting part of the drive was seeing this Macan EV is from Porsche North America, with GPS testing equipment. Driver also gave me a thumbs up. Also in his caravan are 2 cars from VAG, an A4-sized E-Tron and a Q5 sized E-Tron (all debadged)


Love this car!

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[Flying ace]

At the top of the mountain, i arrived at a 29% charge. In lieu of charging on the way home I decided to top off immediately as the EA station here tend to get very busy during day time. (Passed on hotel valet only charging)

Charged 30%-88% in 26 minutes, average speed was only 110kw. I didn't notice how slow the charging was bc I met and chatted with an EA employee. He has the ability to reset the charger manually by opening the cabinet, how convenient.

He also showed me pictures of the next generation EA chargers to be installed this summer. He said they'll be 400 kw capable, and currently 2 are on trial/testing in the Fresno area.

 

[VOLT4GE]

You sure took a circuitous route from Montana to Tahoe. ?

 

[CDT]

Today, I drove up to Tahoe (Olympic Village) for a ski weekend. Loaded the car with gear and kids. 140 total miles.

Charge planner has me stopping 160 miles into the journey at an EA regardless of starting the SoC of 85%-100%, so I elected to start at 85%. Got blazing fast speeds at the station and averaged 200kw speeds 25%-81%, in and out in less than 20 minutes.

Efficiency was 1.8 miles/KWh, tire pressure set to 41/45 (max for a loaded wagon) on all seasons.

Most interesting part of the drive was seeing this Macan EV is from Porsche North America, with GPS testing equipment. Driver also gave me a thumbs up. Also in his caravan are 2 cars from VAG, an A4-sized E-Tron and a Q5 sized E-Tron (all debadged)


Love this car!

I just did the same trip on Friday. The best charging speed I was able to get was 180 kW. Just wondering where how you were able to get that speed and if you preconditioned the battery?
I did a route planner to the station where I charged, but it never seemed to charge a particularly high rate.
I have a 2025 CT 4S and was pretty happy with the efficiency. Granted it was just me and my snowboard equipment. I also have been driving EV’s for a long time and tend to drive pretty mellow in order to increase efficiency.

 

[Flying ace]

You sure took a circuitous route from Montana to Tahoe. ?

"Base to base gondola express"

 

[Flying ace]

I just did the same trip on Friday. The best charging speed I was able to get was 180 kW. Just wondering where how you were able to get that speed and if you preconditioned the battery?
I did a route planner to the station where I charged, but it never seemed to charge a particularly high rate.
I have a 2025 CT 4S and was pretty happy with the efficiency. Granted it was just me and my snowboard equipment. I also have been driving EV’s for a long time and tend to drive pretty mellow in order to increase efficiency.

My fastest DCFC (260 kw) was Motel 6 at Auburn. The slower one (110 kw despite preconditioning) was Truckee.

 

[TaycanRe]

I just did the same trip on Friday. The best charging speed I was able to get was 180 kW. Just wondering where how you were able to get that speed and if you preconditioned the battery?
I did a route planner to the station where I charged, but it never seemed to charge a particularly high rate.
I have a 2025 CT 4S and was pretty happy with the efficiency. Granted it was just me and my snowboard equipment. I also have been driving EV’s for a long time and tend to drive pretty mellow in order to increase efficiency.

Hi! Could you share your efficiency figures for comparison? I’ve got a 25 Turbo CT, and I’m not too happy with its efficiency (I previously had a 20 Turbo saloon). Thanks!

 

[CDT]

Hi! Could you share your efficiency figures for comparison? I’ve got a 25 Turbo CT, and I’m not too happy with its efficiency (I previously had a 20 Turbo saloon). Thanks!

194 miles each direction. On the way up the to the mountains I averaged 2.7 miles/kWh and on the way home 4.2 miles/kWh. Average speeds of 53 and 58 mph.
I was trying to get decent range so I was keeping it at around 70 mph through Sacramento and 65 or so mph in the mountains. The traffic on the way home definitely allowed me to get better results.
I have the 21” wheels with all season tires so I am happy with this efficiency.

 

[refazi]

Would you do this trip with snow falling on the road or that's more for a CT?

 

[ejcintr]

At the top of the mountain, i arrived at a 29% charge. In lieu of charging on the way home I decided to top off immediately as the EA station here tend to get very busy during day time. (Passed on hotel valet only charging)

Charged 30%-88% in 26 minutes, average speed was only 110kw. I didn't notice how slow the charging was bc I met and chatted with an EA employee. He has the ability to reset the charger manually by opening the cabinet, how convenient.

He also showed me pictures of the next generation EA chargers to be installed this summer. He said they'll be 400 kw capable, and currently 2 are on trial/testing in the Fresno area.

One high speed charger that is nearby, that most people don't know about, and if the EA is not available (e.g. all chargers are filled or broken) is an EVRANGE charging station in the Northstar Castle Peak parking lot.... https://www.plugshare.com/location/362975. - Not a lot of people know about it so its almost always drive in and charge- but you do have to pay..

 

[Flying ace]

Would you do this trip with snow falling on the road or that's more for a CT?

100% I'm comfortable driving in up to 6 inches of fresh snow. i actually have a winter set that I was able to assemble cheaply, but bc it hasn't snowed since Jan 3, all the roads were dry and clear, and I elected to just use my current all-seasons

 

[Flying ace]

One high speed charger that is nearby, that most people don't know about, and if the EA is not available (e.g. all chargers are filled or broken) is an EVRANGE charging station in the Northstar Castle Peak parking lot.... https://www.plugshare.com/location/362975. - Not a lot of people know about it so its almost always drive in and charge- but you do have to pay..

Yeah I'm aware of this one. A bit on the expensive side.

 

[CDT]

100% I'm comfortable driving in up to 6 inches of fresh snow. i actually have a winter set that I was able to assemble cheaply, but bc it hasn't snowed since Jan 3, all the roads were dry and clear, and I elected to just use my current all-seasons

I’m thinking of getting a set of wheels with winter tires on them. I might just go for the 19” wheels with a winter tire. I think that would probably give the best range.
But like you, I’ve been holding off because it hasn’t snowed and doesn’t look like it’s going to anytime soon.

 

[Jonathan S.]

^ I just run 20” all year with Michelin CrossClimate2. Combined with the bit of extra height from the CT, copes well even with occasional unplowed snow.

 

[Flying ace]

I’m thinking of getting a set of wheels with winter tires on them. I might just go for the 19” wheels with a winter tire. I think that would probably give the best range.
But like you, I’ve been holding off because it hasn’t snowed and doesn’t look like it’s going to anytime soon.

Double check wheel sizing re: brakes. IIRC, PCCBs and PSCBs requires the 20/21 inch wheel for clearance

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