The Honda EV+ is the first production Electric Car which seats four, has a reasonable range, and is fun to drive.

Seal Beach Depart 9:30 PM (Monday, June 22)	Mile 0 elev. 80 ft.	90% charge	Day 1 (Mon., 6/22) Go to day: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 The side mirrors are attached rigidly to the frame, and the drivers' side mirror broke. We received word from the dealer that the replacement mirror would not be received in time for the trip. We drop off the loaner car (a gnarly Nissan) and pick up the EV+ at the dealer. EV+ only has 9 bars when picked up at 6:00 PM. Seems the lot persons were sitting in the car with radio and AC blasting during the hot day. Not going to leave the car for long periods at CM Honda any more. Patch together the broken mirror with duct tape and re-charge the EV+. By 9 PM, the car began the "conditioning" cycle, indicating a complete charge. We pack the car with loads of food, sleeping bags, books, camera supplies, reading material, and our three personal bodies (Will, Fred and Randy). We finally leave at 9:45 PM, but the car has only charged to 9 bars! This means we cannot go directly to Santa Barbara.
Arrive 10:20 PM Santa Monica Depart 1:30 AM (Tuesday, June 23)	This leg 37 (Cum 37) elev 100	Start charge 11:00 PM at 56% End charge 1:30 AM at 89%	Drive a cautious 55-60 on freeways to Santa Monica with reasonable economy. We were hoping that PCH (Hwy 1) would be cleared of a major slide by the time we got there, but on the way traffic sign info states that PCH is still closed. This is important because we do not have time to detour up Topanga Canyon if we're going to arrive by midnight. The detour requires higher speed freeway driving and adds at least 15 miles to the trip. We drive directly to the Santa Monica solar EV charging station (which works even without sun). This charge station has outlets which require plug adapters. All is well until I go to my power cord box, but I forgot the the necessary adapter! The situation turns almost to panic: road closure, low charge, no way to charge, and hosts in Santa Barbara who wish to sleep sometime this night. In an act of faith, we decide to go on looking around the "People's Republic of Santa Monica" for a compatible charge station. Several befuddled answers from parking garage attendants later, we finally find a garage with the right charge connector (Santa Monica Place garage, first floor, as indicated in Edison EV charge directory, even free parking!). This is a great area to visit by day, but now it's not very lively. What will the next stop be? Thousand Oaks city hall, Ventura RV park, Santa Barbara? We finally confirm arrangements for the next stop: 4 AM arrival at the latest, we estimate. We then walk around to find any open café's, visiting the virtual café until the 1AM closing time (great lounge couches for a nap). At 1:30 AM, with the EV+ again at 90% charge, we finally depart.
Arrive: 4:00 AM (Tues., 6/23)) Santa Barbara (Isla Vista) Depart: 11:00 AM	104 miles (Cum. 141 ) elev 0	Start charge 4:30 AM at 3% End charge 10:30 AM at 95%	At Topanga canyon there are "Hwy 1 road closed" signs, but we decide to ask the officer if we can go through (they've been letting residents go through the mud slide area). Not a chance! So we go back to Topanga, and take it to the 101, an extra 15 miles at least, plus windy canyon driving and higher speeds on the 101 Freeway. With conservative speeds on the deserted hwy, we get reasonable economy up through Westlake Village. As we go through Thousand Oaks, the economy improves (to about 12 miles per bar), and the charge is at 60%. Economy improves noticeably as we descend into Camarillo. We regain the 6th bar, losing it only several miles later. Proceeding slowly, we arrive in Santa Barbara with 15%, just as the odometer rolls over to 20,000 Miles! Isla Vista is beyond SB, and this trip was about 10 miles father than we expected. We slow down a little more, we'd rather drive slower and not run out of power. We make it to our destination: the New York Hero Sandwich place with just under 5% charge showing (slow speeds help improve the economy up to 16 miles per bar!). Our host is waiting to greet us outside. Alas, there is no "220" plug inside, so we pull out the special Circuit breaker panel adapter kit! 30 minutes later, we've got ourselves a temporary 220 plug. At 4:30 AM we head to our host's apartment for a little sleep.
Arrive: 1:10 PM (still Tues., 6/23) Santa Maria Depart: 5:00 PM	70 miles (Cum. 211) elev 500	Start charge 1:20 PM at 32% End charge 4:30 PM at 73%	Day 2 (Tues., 6/23) Go to day: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 We sleep in and accept a late start. Back at the New York Hero sandwich place, the car has finsihed charging to 10 bars. We take pictures and buy rolls and bagels. Our first stop of the day is about 70 miles up at Santa Maria Ford. I had been referred to them as a possible charging stop by an EV test driver. I had made arrangements in advance with Joe (the service department manager), who was happy to help us. Santa Maria is easy to find, right off the 101. They have friendly sales and an excellent service department, with dozens of clean bays. Fortunately, next to the Ford dealer is an Edwards Cinema. We decide to see "The Truman Show" at Edwards while the car charges.
Arrive: 5:30 PM San Luis Obispo Depart: 6:15 PM	35 miles (Cum. 246) elev 1000	No Chargers found	We are grateful for the assistance of Manager Joe at Santa Maria Ford. Unfortunately, Santa Maria Ford does not have a web site to link to: would they like us to make one for them? Just say the word! We drive north to San Luis Obispo, attempting to find their charging stations, in case we need them on the way home. Unfortunately, we could not locate either of the chargers that were listed on the web.
Arrive: 8:00 PM Cambria/San Simeon Depart: 7:30 AM next morning, Wed., 6/24	41 (Cum. 287) elev 200	Start charge 8:15 PM at 3% End Charge appx. 4:00 AM (6/24) at 100%	Even without charging in San Luis Obispo, we still have plenty of power left to drive to our next stop in Cambria. When we get there, we miss the turn and drive into town. Cambria seems like an idyllic small town. After getting directions, we head back to find the home of Ben and Barbara. They live in a beautiful place overlooking the ocean and the nearby coastal forests. Again, we arrive perfectly with just about 5% charge showing. We prepare dinner at Cambria, and spend the night in their beautiful guest apartment downstairs. We decide to make an early start today, leaving at about 7:30.
Arrive: 10:45 AM (wed. 6/24) Big Sur Depart: 2:00 PM	77 (Cum. 364) elev 700	Start charge 11:00 PM at 38% End charge 1:45 PM at 75%	Day 3 (Wed., 6/24). Go to day: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Unfortunately, we had been unable to secure a charging stop for the next 140 mile stretch in advance along the 1. We stop briefly in the Lucia restaurant, at a gallery, and at an RV park on our way into Big Sur. None have convenient 220 volt outlets for charging. But our luck improves when we arrive at the Big Sur River Inn. We talk to one of the employees outside, who is very enthusiastic and introduces us to their full-time service technician, Greg. Tool box in hand, Greg helps set up a temporary outlet for charging. We head inside for Brunch. The location has great views overlooking the creek. In addition to the restaurant, the River Inn also includes a gift shop and a motel. Again, no web site to link to. Would they like one? We thank them for the great attitude!
Arrive: 3:30 PM Monterey area Depart: 5:45 PM	48 (Cum. 412)	Start charge 4:00 PM at 35% End charge 5:45 PM at 62%	Our next stop is at Moss landing, between Monterey, Salinas, and Santa Cruz. As we pull near, we ask for directions to the Moss Landing Marine Laboratory. It is fairly easy to find. They don't appear to have any administrative offices, so we explain that we have an EV and we need a charge. Everyone is enthusiastic. We look around, and finally find some 220-volt outlets that will work. We aren't sure of the exact distance to our next destination North of Santa Cruz, but we figure it's better to have extra charge.
Arrive: 6:30 PM Ben Lomond Depart: 9:00 PM	35 (447)	Start charge 6:30 PM at 28% End charge 9:00 PM at 65%	Ben Lomond is a small town in the hills above Santa Cruz. Sara T., a friend from Cal Poly, greets us in front of the home just after we arrive. There is still plenty of charge remaining. We plug in and have dinner. Afterward, I make a couple of calls to check our final charge stop for the night. Unfortunately, it's getting late and I decide to spend the night at Stanford instead of trying to make it to San Francisco.
Arrive:11:30 PM (wed. 6/24) Stanford Depart: 7:00 AM (thurs. 6/25)	46 (493)	Start charge 11:30 PM at 28% End charge 7:00 AM at 100%	We arrive at the dorm and call Randy's friend, who is studying. There is an 220 volt outlet near the parking area. We spend the night at the dorm.
Arrive 9 AM Alameda/Calstart Depart 11:30 AM	49 (542)	Start charge 9AM at 57% End charge 11:30 AM at 90%	Day 4 (Thurs., 6/25). Go to day: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 We make an early start because this is a big day. Randy stays at Stanford to do some work. Our first stop is the Calstart ("An advanced transportation consortium") facility in Alameda, an island in the Bay. There are only a few roads connecting it to Oakland. With only one extra loop, we make it into Alameda on time (9 AM). We find that Calstart occupies one of the old hangers at the former Alameda Naval Air Station. We meet briefly with the Calstart Director as he pulls up to the charging station next to us in his very small, neat, four passenger Neighborhood Electric Vehicle ("NEV") designed originally for India. We meet with Larry of Zebra Motors, which is developing a ground-up electric car drawing from the now-defunct Tropica. Zebra has several proof-of-concept cars arrayed. The Zebra design is a convertible, corvette-looking, two-seater. Larry has ambitious production and marketing plans for his simple, low-cost car. Next we meet with Claire Bell, Bob Reese, and Adrienne of Green Motorworks. Green Motors is the smallish but goodish EV conversion, repair, and promotion company, with good mechanics and facilities also in Burbank. Bob Reese is happy to see the EV+, and asks us if we can return Friday to offer a special test drive to Clint Eastwood who will be filming in an adjacent hanger and who is interested in aquiring an EV. No website for Green Motors yet either...
Arrive 2:30 PM UC Davis Depart 6 PM	81 (623)	Start charge 2:30 PM at 25% End charge 6PM at 72%	Our second stop is at the University of California at Davis, where we have a tour scheduled with the Institute of Transportation Studies. Somehow, the charging station map from the Web is completely inaccurate, directing us to the wrong side of Davis. Finally, we find the charging station. Alas, it uses unusual 220 plugs! The available 120 charge is mostly useless, and we have a long drive ahead of us. Fortunately we meet Andy B., who also has an EV+, at the Institute. He comes to the rescue and offers to let us charge at his home. While the car is charging, we visit Labs. In the Hybrid Vehicle Lab, students were working on two very neat-looking hybrids made from highly modified new Ford Taurus cars. The fuel economy rating is expected to be more than double the original new car rating. These cars use drive systems similar to the Toyota Prius. The EV lab had electrical testing equipment and an array of batteries. On the way out, we encounter Joni R., yet another EV+ driver. She is the very enthusiastic sales person at Sacramento Honda who, word has it, has been setting EV+ sales records! We also visit the Fuel Cell Lab. No website for Sacramento Honda either.
Arrive 9:15 PM Tracy Depart 7:30 AM (Next day, Fri., 6/26)	86 (709)	Start charge 9:15 PM at -2% End charge 7:30 AM at 100%	We plan to stay in Tracy, a friendly town far to the South at the junction of the 5 and the 580 in California's great Central Valley and close to the Altamont Wind Farm. Leaving from UCD with just a little more than 70% charge, the drive turned out to be 86 miles, mostly against very strong cross winds. Slower speed can greatly improve economy on our EV+. After re-calculating the distance, I realized that I'd have to drive at about 48 mph. Since we could not find any good routes on local streets, we were forced to take I-5. Fortunately, the trip was uneventful, and we arrived in Tracy with reserve to spare, despite the difficult conditions and the low-charge start. If we had been able to get more charge in Davis, the EV actually would have had plenty of charge left. Or, if there were fast chargers...! We spend the night at the home of Asha W., a researcher at NASA who I'd met recently.
Morning of 6/26 Drive around Tracy Depart 12:45 PM (early afternoon)	10 (719)	Start charge 10AM at 91% End charge 12PM at 100%	Day 5 (Friday, 6/26). Go to day: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Looking over our plans, we realize that we will not be able to drive up to Santa Rosa and Bolinas because of the chance for the Clint Eastwood demo, which we do not want to miss. After breakfast, Dr. W.'s wife does some errands in the EV+. EVs are perfect for driving around town gathering groceries and shopping, and the 10 mile loop is easily covered without even using up the first bar (10% of the original charge).
Arrive 2:10 PM San Francisco Depart 2:40 PM	65 (784)	Start charge 2:15 at 36% End charge 2:40 PM at 42%	San Francisco Honda has a convenient if unlikely location at the corner of Van Ness and Market Streets. We stop by for a quick charge and a snack at a nearby deli.
Arrive 3:20 PM Alameda/Calstart Depart 5:30 PM	25 (809)	Start charge 4:PM at 25% End charge 7:30 at 75%	Back at Calstart, we wash and clean the car. EVs need all the good publicity they can get. Clint Eastwood arrives just before 5 P.M. He first test drives an older Toyota RAV-4 EV brought in by Green Motors. Behind the wheel of the EV+, Clint naturally tests acceleration and handling, then asks about the range. He seems impressed, and comments about how practical the car is. That is the same reaction of almost everyone who gets to drive an EV+. Clint told me he had also tested the EV1, and liked the acceleration, but was concerned about its range and small size. Let's hope Green Motors can set Clint Eastwood up with one of these EVs! Clare Bell (of Green Motors) related to us a little of her experience building EVs for races, a facet of EVs not widely known.
Arrive 8:30 PM Palo Alto Depart 8:45 AM (next day, Sat. 6/27)	130 (849)	Start charge 9PM at 10% End charge 5AM at 100%	No luck trying to reach contacts in Palo Alto by phone, Otmar E. of start-up Electric Vehicle Components Limited, where we had hoped to stay. So we set off for Palo Alto anyway, having to pick up Randy before going to San Jose, our back-up stop. In Palo Alto, I make a wrong turn on the way to pick up Randy, into a cul-de-sac. Several techie-types are standing near the end of the street around a parked car. I ask one of them for directions. He seems puzzled by the street names I'm looking for, but asks about the car. He explains that he works at a small start-up company that makes EV components, located just around the block, and invites us over. Holy coincidence, Batman! It dawns on me that we'd just bumped into Otmar and EVCL! Otmar's EVCL makes the amazing "Godzilla" motor controller, which is rated for up to 400 KW, or about 500 horsepower, and is working on other economical products. After we plug in, Randy comes over. We are happy to be able to stay in Palo Alto, particularly with these EV buffs, rather than San Jose..
Arrive 10:15 AM Hollister Depart 5PM	67 (916)	Start charge 10:30 AM at 38% End charge 2:30 PM at 90%	Day 6 (Saturday, 6/27). Go to day: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 We plug the car in and visit the Sparrow plant at Corbin's. Corbin has been in business for years as the leading maker of custom after-market motorcycle seats. The Sparrow is a unique low cost, one-passenger EV which is just beginning its initial production run. The business plan for the Sparrow seems ambitious, but also realistic. The Sparrow has just been released in Northern California.
Arrive 8PM Paso Robles Depart 8:15 AM (next day, Sun. 6/28)	110 (1026)	Start charge 9PM at 5% End charge 6AM at 100%	This long, uphill drive was somewhat challenging, as it turned out to be 110 miles and we started with only 90% charge. Because we were taking two less-travelled county highways for the first half of the drive, it was easy to drive conservatively (slowly). After King City, more than half way, it was clear that the rest of the drive would be easy, so we drove with traffic at 65-75 mph on Hwy. 101. We arrived with plenty of charge remaining. At Paso Robles, we stayed with Dr. Bob T. and his wife. Dr. T. is a retired Professor of Agriculture from Cal Poly Pomona. Their home is right off the 101, with a small orchard. Setting up the charger connection was relatively easy.
Arrive 11AM Buelton Depart 3:15	101 (1127)	Start charge 11:30 at 17% End charge 3:15 at 75%	Day 7 (Sunday, 6/28). Go to day: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 With conservative driving, we thought we might be able to make it all the way to Santa Barbara, about 135 miles. When we arrived in Santa Maria, it became apparent that it might be better to get a booster charge. We arranged a charge via cell-phone with Kevin of the Buelton RV Park (Buelton is just North of Santa Barbara). We paid the nominal day rate instead of the overnight charge, thanks to Kevin. Buelton's RV Park is very neat and is close to Solvang, so there is a lot to do. On weekdays, there's even a shuttle from Buelton to Solvang. We had lunch, took a swim in the pool, and went for a short hike.
Arrive 4:15 PM Santa Barbara Depart 7:30 PM	35 (1162)	Start charge 4:30 PM at 47% End charge 7:15 PM at 86%	With the charge mostly replenished, we stop at Goleta at the home of a friend from High School. Unfortunately, there were no "220" outlets, and the panel is a non-standard type. So we resort to the last chance: knocking on doors to ask for a plug. At the first house, no answer, but at the second home, the owners were cooperative and let us use their very convenient 220 volt plug. We went for a late lunch with my UCSB friend, returning to thank our gracious charging hosts before departing. With the first-generation charger on the EV+, the charging rate is slow for long distance trips. On this 1300 mile trip, it was clear that fast driving comes at the cost of much longer charging times and more frequent stops.
Arrive 9:20 PM LA/Universal Studios Depart 12:10 AM	100 (1262)	Start charge 9:30 PM at 5% End charge 12AM at 40%	We decide that by driving a little slower we could make it all the way to Universal City for a charge, instead of the slightly more rustic Thousand Oaks Civic Center. The Universal City Walk has an excellent charging station set up with the best parking in the garage, right in front of the valet area, and Electric Vehicles can park for free. We stayed for a movie while the car charged.
Arrive 1:10 AM Monday morning, June 29, 1998 Seal Beach	41 (1303)	Arrive with 11%	On the last stretch home, the car got surprisingly good economy, and we arrived back in Seal Beach with power to spare and 1303 miles on the trip counter: a record for one week of EV driving, with no vehicle problems, and having successfully completed the trip with a lot of fun times, new contacts, and great experiences. Go to day: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7