Introduction
A review from my last big road trip of 2022 where I drove north and then west.
Business/Location Name | Marathon - Houghton Lake |
Address | 9252 W Lake City Rd, Houghton Lake, MI |
Network | ChargePoint |
Station Details | 2 Stations (62.5kW/125kW linked) |
Cost | $0.35 per kWh |
The Marathon - Houghton Lake ChargePoint station was the 4th stop on my trip up north. (This station opened in September 2022)
Accessibility
This charging site is along US-127 at exit 194 for M-55/Lake City Road. Less than 0.5 miles to the east, the Marathon is on the north side of the road. The EVSE units are behind the building on the east side. The parking for this site is beyond the paved parking lot of the gas station. Beware of potholes and muddy ground around the units. The wide spacing would allow for relatively easy trailer access.
Amenities
Dining options include: McDonalds, KFC, Subway
Shopping options include: None - Several gas station markets nearby
Car-related services (windshield cleaning, air): Marathon gas station at this location.
Concentration
This is the standard double station layout for ChargePoint. While primarily designed to be pulled up for connection, the area next to these units is wide open allowing you to pull up in any orientation that works best. Note the location of your charging port for how to pull up for the easiest connection. The side placed EVSE doesn’t always make for the best parking spacing for front port vehicles, however, spacing is quite generous at this location. The parking arrangement could allow a vehicle to pull up and charge while pulling a trailer.
Location
On the US-127 corridor between Gaylord and Lansing. This stop is 125 miles north from Lansing, 130 miles from Grand Rapids, and 200 miles from Detroit. From Detroit, this stop would be a stretch to reach for most modern vehicles. Vehicles with bigger batteries and longer ranges will likely charge faster than these units can actually support. With 110 miles to Mackinaw City and just 70 miles to Traverse City, this stop could be an excellent starting point for any destinations in the northern lower peninsula.
Speed
ChargePoint is offering a middle of the pack solution targeted for the early adoption phase. These units can output 125kW or 200A. When not paired, or when both are in use the current limit is 62.5kW or 150A. While this does not match the most powerful units on the market, it will support reasonably fast charging for one vehicle.
Summary
I arrived at the Marathon in Houghton Lake a little after 1pm and at 33% battery with 80 miles estimated range. According to the dash display I had been driving for 4 hours and I was ready for a break. I decided to stop here and do a longer charging session to hopefully make my future stops faster. Looking ahead the next couple of stations had per minute cost, another reason I opted to stay at this site and pay the reasonable per kWh costs.
What I paid for this stop:
Total Cost: $9.97
Total kWh: 28.48 kWh
Time: 28 minutes
Average Charge Speed: 61.03 kW (calculated)
Cost per kWh: $0.35
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