Trip report: Huntsville AL; Coffeyville KS; Richardson TX, and; home

Part 3 of 3

	date	location	GPS miles	Total mi	Tier 1 min	Cost 1	Tier 2 min	Cost 2	Batt Cost	Segment Cost	Total Cost
1	05/10 16:10	Coffeyville KS	0	0						$0.00	$0.00
2	05/10 18:16	Springfield MO	135	135	54	$5.94	14	$3.08		$9.02	$9.02
3	05/11 00:36	Little Rock AR	216	351	23	$2.76	17	$4.08		$6.84	$15.86
4	05/11 04:15	Memphis TN	137	488	2	$0.26	15	$3.75		$4.01	$19.87
5	05/11 06:34	Tupelo MS	115	603	12	$1.44	16	$3.68		$5.12	$24.99
6	05/11 10:30	Huntsville AL	144	747					$5.50	$5.50	$30.49

• GPS - Google Map distances City to City, does not include meal and bathroom breaks
• battery reserve - gross measured at EVSE into car

Trip meter total:

	Mi	kWh	Wh/mi
1	762.9	175	220

• Total miles including meals and bathroom breaks

Lessons Learned

• Reserve miles 20-30 miles - using the trip planner, I would charge the battery to expected distance plus 20-30 miles. During the drive if the reserve miles dropped to ~10 miles, reduce speed.

Bob Wilson

 

Basic Autopilot

In a rush, I left my electric razor and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine at home. In a world of disposables, the razor was easily fixed (Barbasol still tastes crappy) but a CPAP is not an off the shelf item. Used to treat sleep apnea, it ensures my sleep is not interrupted by short airway blockages. Then my wife spent seven days in the hospital.

Easily confused by strangers, my presence anchors her in a safer reality to avoid more aggressive restraints. But her 24 hour care requires my sleeping in that abomination called a 'reclining chair.' It has two positions, seat parallel to floor or raised ~20 degree back. There is an extendable leg lift but the seat-to-back angle is fixed. Reclined, it is like sleeping in a bucket with the legs and knees above the rim. To mitigate, I filled the seat-to-back hole with spare sheets, blankets, and a pillow filler so I can 'cat nap' and be available to help the staff. My wife was discharged after IV antibiotics reduced the hand swelling and pain. So I took a nap at my Mom's home, packed the car, and we were off to home in Huntsville.

'Micro sleep' is a thing that my narcoleptic wife (and late aunt) suffered. Involuntarily, the victim goes to sleep for 2-5 seconds with no warning and the most effective treatment is uninterrupted sleep. After seven days cat napping in a bucket chair and one post release nap, I was primed.

Tesla's Autopilot has dynamic cruise control and automatic emergency braking to avoid running into things. The optical and ultrasonic sensor based, lane steering keeps the car from darting into a ditch or into on-coming traffic. It was on the leg to Decatur there were at least five micro sleep events that I was aware of and Autopilot kept us safe. I stopped in Decatur for a pee, stretch, and coffee break before driving the last 20 miles home.

Micro sleeps are involuntary and detected only when the individual recognizes having woken up. When driving, it becomes either a head-on collision or single car accident. Autopilot gives them a chance to survive.

Home again, I have my CPAP sleeping aid, my wife has her dogs, and me in familiar settings. Life has returned to what passes for normal ... but it is life thanks to Tesla's Autopilot.

Bob Wilson

 

BIG CHARGE vs SEGMENTS

In Memphis, navigation showed 205 miles to reach home giving two approaches:

• direct - charge to 235 miles, this allows the direct route but we have to sit on the charger longer in the relatively slow, taper zone. SuperCharger time appears to be ~70 minutes but I need to repeat my benchmark.
• Tupelo to home - for 115 miles and charger there for 144 miles home. Although the charger times are cumulatively shorter, this does not make up for the extra miles. Just fully charge and go home.

Bob Wilson

 

One of the interesting aspects was finding a planned recharging station at Ozark AR shutdown. My remaining, 30 mile range could reach Fort Smith but it was exactly that far away. Thanks to the clerk, I added 10 miles in two hours of 120 VAC charging, a reserve. There we charged at an RV park where we got a 'freebie' for 150 miles in 5 hours and a nap.

We are used to seeing gas stations for our gas and hybrid cars. Switching to power outlets, RV parks, various J1772, and SuperChargers becomes easy. Fortunately, RVs have led the way to on-the-road, power outlets.

Bob Wilson

 

An interesting side effect of sharing my Autopilot experience:

• teslamotorsclub - initial responses were hostile to what happened. In effect, populated by pricks.
• teslaownersonline - initial responses were technically curious. It appears to be populated by somewhat technically skilled.
• priuschat - I am trying NOT to be the 'mule and horse' offspring who tries to lure happy Prius owners away from their excellent rides. Rather my goal is to give insights to where technology has gone beyond what we used to have.

Bob Wilson

 

How to handle driving to the battery range:

If the extra range in the battery falls below 10 mi, drive slower and reach the destination. The Springfield-to-Little Rock segment required driving a little slower . . . at night on a two lane road in the rain and fog.

Bob Wilson

 

I have one and it too was safely home with the CPAP. . . <sigh>

Bob Wilson