Long SF-VA trip with 87xx ft climb I-80

Yep, I've driven up Mt. Evans with mine. Starting in HV mode at the top I was able to drive a little over 60 miles using only gravitational potential energy (in other words on the way down it recovered enough energy to charge from empty to around 80%, then since the drive back to Denver is mostly downhill I was able to drive a long way on that 80%. Of course it used a lot of gas to get up to the top).

At 14,000 feet there's about 42% less air than at sea level, so naturally aspirated engines make about 42% less power. Last time I was at Pike's Peak I saw several "test mule" cars in camo. I see test mule cars in summit county all the time, and there's a cold weather test facility at the bottom of Berthoud pass.

 

If you haven't left yet and still have time for this gadget to get shipped to you, buy it for piece of mind...

I'm still in the middle of an almost 1400 mile round trip & I have found this "Real Time" TPMS gauge very valuable to have.

www.amazon.com/Jansite-Monitoring-Universal-Waterproof-Temperature/dp/B07TSXXZJM/ref=pd_sbs_263_9?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07TSXXZJM&pd_rd_r=e22a252e-e42e-4ab7-b06f-cedc0c0cae0c&pd_rd_w=SKYxw&pd_rd_wg=IoQsC&pf_rd_p=d66372fe-68a6-48a3-90ec-41d7f64212be&pf_rd_r=D4SCQBPSBYPJXEVEYC91&psc=1&refRID=D4SCQBPSBYPJXEVEYC91



Rob43

 

I am not sure timing of the trip, but I always hit weather (often winter weather) in the mountains between Pittsburgh and DC. Usually this time of year OK but certainly by Nov it is hit and miss, usually get hit one way or the other.

 

I just got this which allows me to check all cars...not real time though except when you take the reading. But I get the TPMS ID code, batt condition, and other stuff. Guess we gotta be TPMS experts now.

 

Get a temporary spare! You can not depend on fixing a flat with a plug.

 

We can't test that much, there is no such grade mountain grade highway in North America.

75 mph at 6% for 20 minutes means nearly 8000 feet of climb. While there are climbs that high, they are not high speed freeways. 80 mph for 30 minutes means well over 12,000 feet of climb, simply no such thing.

 

Donner summit is 7100 feet above Roseville.

7100 feet climb in 75 miles is an average slope of 1.8%, not 6%.

Now if you are planning to travel that 75 miles in just 20-30 minutes , then we can talk ...

 

For reference, here is my best shot at drawing a 6% slope line on the above chart of I-80 elevation vs distance:



Yes, certain short sections do have nearly 6% slopes. But these sections are short, and interspersed by 'rest breaks' on much shallower slopes.

 

FWIW the elevation of Roseville is 164 ft above sea level. We are right at the edge of the Sierra foothills.

 

I-80? Make this a real trip to remember and take US-50 across Nevada!

 

And even though this is labeled "The Loneliest Highway in America", you can take even lonelier side trips, such as #722 from about Middlegate to Austin. When we took this alternate route on our first Highway 50 pass, we saw just 3 cars go by on the entire 722 section, while we took a scenic stop for a picnic lunch. And ironically, the 3 were traveling in a tight cluster, one leader with 2 tailgaters.

Don't miss the visible fault scarps from the major 1954 Dixie Valley earthquake, and the Great Basin National Park near the Utah border.

 

Two things I would recommend.
Charge mode works better for me under 40 mph.
When I'm on long trips I keep the car in HV with a full charge. The pack never seems to discharge much, 10% at most and usually charges back up to full automatically.
In HV mode I look for low 70's mpg on long trips.

How ever you choose to drive your Prime I wish you a safe enjoyable trip.