[LWT42]

I have nothing but great things to say about Subaru's customer support, so we're pretty loyal, and I think we want an EV as our next car.

Here's the problem:

I commute 2 to 4 times a week from a little mountain town to Downtown LA. It's 160 miles, more or less, and the 220 mile range of the (initial) Solterra versions seems a tiny bit marginal.

The trip inbound is nearly all down hill, 3500 feet in the first 30 miles, nearly 5800 feet at my destination.

Headed home, it's the same 5800 foot climb, with the last 30 miles being a fairly steep climb.

Of course, the last 20 has zero infrastructure, and no cell service.

My 2017 Outback uses two gallons of gas on the way down, three gallons to get home.

For those with EVs, how does an electric compare for a trip like this?

I've seen that DC charging is somewhat slow on the Solterra, but it's not as big a problem if I can make this round trip without charging.

 

[StevenH]

You could run a scenario in A Better Route Planner (ABRP) and select the bZ4X AWD as your vehicle, since the Solterra isn't in the list of vehicles yet. If it looks tight, you could select a bailout station to use on the way back for a quick jolt if necessary.

 

[R P]

The good news with an EV vs an ICE vehicle, is you get regen on the way down.

 

[n6nl]

Since the downhill is right after charging, after you take deliverty, experiment with different levels of regenerative braking and charge limit (percentage) of 90% and 80% and see which one gives you the needed range, while still giving you enough headroom for regenerative braking on that long downhill.

If you charge to 100% at home, there will be little regenerative braking on the downhill and you'll use the friction brakes much more. Wastes money on charging and brake pads/rotors.

 

[StevenH]

If you charge to 100% at home, there will be little regenerative braking on the downhill and you'll use the friction brakes much more. Wastes money on charging and brake pads/rotors.

Unless there's a nice buffer capacity above 100% indicated SoC.

 

[Muskoka_Detour]

Is it 160 one-way or two-way?

If it's 160 two-way you should be okay. I believe the 220 figure is more of a conservative estimate. Since it's in LA - where the temperature is warm, the battery would not be experiencing cold temperature as I would have here. I would find a spot where you can charge while having lunch - even 1/2h would give you a bit of buffer room.

That distance is approximately equivalent to downtown Toronto to Niagara Falls and back; most people in Ontario would consider that's a fairly long drive. However that distance is almost all highway (Gardiner + QEW) and I'm not sure how well that would translate to your situation. If I were to make such a trip in an EV I'm almost certain that I will charge my car at the Falls - regardless of which EV I own.

 

[LWT42]

You could run a scenario in A Better Route Planner (ABRP) and select the bZ4X AWD as your vehicle, since the Solterra isn't in the list of vehicles yet. If it looks tight, you could select a bailout station to use on the way back for a quick jolt if necessary.

This is a good suggestion. I'm not 100% certain if ABRF considers the elevation change, but it tells me I'd need to charge once, only a couple of minutes, but there you go.

I'll experiment.

 

[n6nl]

Try a route that you know is all downhill, then reverse the route and see if it changes the predicted consumption.

 

[LWT42]

If it's 160 two-way you should be okay. I believe the 220 figure is more of a conservative estimate. Since it's in LA - where the temperature is warm, the battery would not be experiencing cold temperature as I would have here. I would find a spot where you can charge while having lunch - even 1/2h would give you a bit of buffer room.

Are you sure about the temperature?

I live at 6,000 feet (call it 1850 meters). On my drive home a couple of weeks ago (in May), the last 5 miles were in snow.

 

[LWT42]

Try a route that you know is all downhill, then reverse the route and see if it changes the predicted consumption.

The uphill drive from Devore, CA to Wrightwood, CA (~30 miles, 2500 to 6000 feet) starts at 90%, arriving at 70%

The downhill drive (same distance, same endpoints) starts at 90% and ends at 89%.

It's really right on the edge with 220 mile range, with probably a short stop to charge somewhere.

 

[Muskoka_Detour]

Are you sure about the temperature?

I live at 6,000 feet (call it 1850 meters). On my drive home a couple of weeks ago (in May), the last 5 miles were in snow.

I've only been to LA once. I was driving from Las Vegas to LA; the entire route was hot as heck and I had to stop by for drinks twice along the route because all of us in the car were thirsty. So that's my impression when you mention LA.

 

[LWT42]

I've only been to LA once. I was driving from Las Vegas to LA; the entire route was hot as heck and I had to stop by for drinks twice along the route because all of us in the car were thirsty. So that's my impression when you mention LA.

As you left LA, you probably drove along the San Gabriel mountains and up Cajon Pass, then across the High Desert, most of which is hot and nearly always dry.

It's not unusual to be below freezing here, and a pleasant 65 degrees 40 miles away.

 

[JayEM]

This is a good suggestion. I'm not 100% certain if ABRF considers the elevation change, but it tells me I'd need to charge once, only a couple of minutes, but there you go.

I'll experiment.

I'm pretty sure ABRP DOES take elevation change into account (not that there's much of that where I live), it also takes wind speed and direction (and temperature) into account. So, WHEN you're planning a specific trip matters to ABRP (as it does in reality).

 

[LWT42]

I'm pretty sure ABRP DOES take elevation change into account (not that there's much of that where I live), it also takes wind speed and direction (and temperature) into account. So, WHEN you're planning a specific trip matters to ABRP (as it does in reality).

It definitely takes elevation into account, or the remaining charge going uphill and the same downhill would be vastly different.

I've also looked at the run from home to DTLA (Southern California Curling Center) a few different times, and the charging time seems to vary -- sometimes not requiring a stop, and other times calling for 5 or 10 minutes. That could easily be wind and weather.

What I've learned from all of this is that the car I want has about 280 miles of range or a little more.

Thanks everyone for your help.