The Blue Ridge Parkway Might Come Again With Higher Charging

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My Go to To The Parkway

Earlier this 12 months, I had the prospect to get out and drive round half of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a scenic highway run by the Nationwide Park Service that runs from Shenandoah Nationwide Park to Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park. Alongside the way in which, it runs close to or on the highest of the Blue Ridge, going by way of the best elements of the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia and North Carolina. It’s an exquisite journey that everybody ought to take at the very least as soon as.

I did a lot of the North Carolina a part of the highway over the course of three days, and it nonetheless felt like I rushed it. I entered the Parkway close to Boone, NC, with a full cost, camped on the Julian Value Campground, spent a part of a day at Grandfather Mountain, acquired a small cost whereas I used to be there, and drove on to Asheville with some battery to spare. This was pretty spectacular, particularly contemplating I used to be towing a trailer.

On day three, I completed the drive from Asheville to Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park. Alongside the way in which, I charged in Asheville, visited the principle customer’s middle, and stopped an quite a few scenic vistas alongside the way in which. However I didn’t have time to cease at all of them and even half of them. At my final charging cease for the day on the finish of the highway, I acquired sufficient cost to cross over the mountains and camp on the opposite aspect of the park.

I noticed a shocking variety of EVs alongside the way in which. Teslas, naturally, had been the most typical sighting, however I frequently noticed Rivians, Ford F-150 Lightnings, different Bolts, and even one other Nissan LEAF (not counting the one Grandfather Mountain owns and costs there). Clearly, the highway is attracting lots of drivers identical to it at all times has, and as folks change their energy supply out, they’re not giving up on going there.

Catastrophe Strikes

A number of months after my rushed journey, I used to be saddened to listen to that Hurricane Helene did lots of harm to the Parkway.

All the size of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia is closed as crews proceed their evaluation of the harm from Hurricane Helene.

Replace⬇️https://t.co/44KeAsU9Om pic.twitter.com/xBaUjHDv76

— Blue Ridge Parkway (@BlueRidgeNPS) October 5, 2024

Not solely did main floods take out elements of the highway completely, like seen within the NPS photograph above, however excessive winds endured nicely inland, devastating bushes and wildlife alongside a few of the highest stretches of the highway.

Take a look at this photograph from the upper elevations of the Blue Ridge Parkway close to Black Balsam, despatched to me by Group Dominator Appalachia @babowling12. Winds doubtless gusted over 130 mph up right here, enhanced by gaps within the terrain and Bernoulli impact over the crests. Bushes shredded pic.twitter.com/CpexI5b6qD

— Reed Timmer, PhD (@ReedTimmerUSA) October 5, 2024

Whereas the elements of the highway in Virginia are open once more, all of this harm implies that the highway is out of fee, with no particular plan to reopen any of it. The harm is just too extreme for any fast fixes to occur.

Clearly, governments in any respect ranges can’t make the Parkway a precedence but. There are such a lot of folks struggling in cities from Georgia to North Carolina and Tennessee who need assistance that they’ll come first (regardless of nonsense on-line claiming that Ukraine or immigrants took the cash). Earlier than constructing once more (higher this time, hopefully), there are nonetheless life security considerations we’re coping with as winter temperatures begin to set in alongside the upper elevations.

However, as soon as a very powerful issues are taken care of, it’s going to make sense to rebuild and hopefully enhance the Parkway together with all the different roads within the area. It’s not a highway folks use to get to work or to hold items, however it’s a highway that brings lots of guests into the world.

If governments might do one thing asinine like constructing a sports activities stadium to assist an space economically get well, doing one thing so simple as enhancing the Parkway’s services whereas parts of it are needing restore shouldn’t be an enormous deal. Nonetheless, questions on how one can actually enhance it whereas not destroying its historic character and really feel should be a part of that course of.

Bettering the Charging Scenario Alongside the NC Sections of the Parkway

For many EVs, navigating the Parkway isn’t an enormous deal. The low speeds, mixed with some charging in close by cities alongside the way in which, make it very a lot attainable. Even pulling a trailer filled with tenting gear with my Bolt EUV was attainable. So, it’s tempting to do what George W. Bush did and name it “Mission Achieved.”

However there are a number of issues that stay to be solved.

First off, there’s the difficulty of needing to depart the Parkway to get a fast cost. This appears like not an enormous deal (aka “First World Issues”), however it type of ruins the expertise. Whereas the Parkway is nearer to city than you suppose in lots of locations, it’s deliberately remoted from city by rows of bushes and different inventive constructing. Even passing by way of Asheville, you may not know that you simply’re on the town apart from the rise in site visitors! Charging stations nearer to the Parkway can be loads higher for preserving the magic alive for longer.

The second challenge is a a lot greater one, and never only a matter of aesthetics or expertise. As extra folks drive EVs, extra quick charging stalls are going to be wanted to maintain everybody transferring as a substitute of sitting in line. However, there’s no place to place large charging stations alongside the Parkway correct with out ruining its character, so it’s going to require spreading issues out extra. Small stations are going to be wanted close to lots of the Parkway’s exits when there’s a enterprise or different website host near it. This might assist preserve the small enterprise character of the place, too!

Lastly, companies close to the Parkway are going to wish many extra Degree 2 charging stations to maintain all the upcoming vacationers in EVs. Locations the place persons are going to spend an hour or two, like museums, eating places, customer facilities, and vacationer sights, are going to wish sooner Degree 2 charging that offers folks extra of a top-up, and I’d advocate offering 48 amps. Locations the place persons are going to remain in a single day, like motels/resorts, tenting areas, and such, will have the ability to get away with solely offering 32 amps or so whereas nonetheless being helpful.

For lower than the price of a sports activities stadium, the North Carolina part of the Blue Ridge Parkway might develop into a LOT simpler for not solely right now’s EV drivers, however tomorrow’s. That is positively one thing that FEMA ought to contemplate because the restoration section begins to emerge within the coming months!

Featured picture (and others) by Jennifer Sensiba.