Oct 16, 2021
Business Trip to Nanki Kushimoto Part 2
Rescue from a Life-or-Death Situation, and on to the Kii Peninsula
We faced the worst possible accident one can imagine: a battery failure on the highway. However, we were helped by a tow truck and safely arrived at Bay Area Nagashima PA. (I was transported in the passenger seat.)
By this time, it was past 2 PM. While charging at the fourth location, I had a late lunch.
Bay Area Nagashima PA is located in Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture, and it took over 7 hours to finally reach Mie Prefecture.
To avoid repeating the same mistake, we revise the plan to allow for (battery-wise) ample time.
At this point, the final destination, JR Kushimoto Station (Kushimoto Town, Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture), is approximately 240 km away.
We designate three charging points.
① Anou SA (安濃) - approximately 53 km from Bay Area Nagashima PA
② Okuise PA - approximately 45 km from ①
③ Wakayama Nissan Shingu Store - approximately 90 km from ②
While ① to ② is a cautious plan, ② to ③ is a bold distance that lacks caution.
However, there are really few charging spots around here... The number of charging spots in suburban areas is a significant issue in the EV shift.
5th to 7th Charging Spots
We safely arrived at the 5th charging spot, Anou SA.
However, the rain is becoming stronger here...
I forgot to take a photo at the 6th charging location, Okuise PA... At this point, it was past 4 PM and the sun was beginning to set.
And finally, we enter Wakayama Prefecture!!! Just coming this far is overwhelming. The 7th charging spot is the Shingu Store of Wakayama Nissan.
It's the same in the city, but major manufacturers' car dealerships almost always have fast charging spots available. Although it might feel awkward to enter a dealership with a car from another manufacturer, when you tell the staff you need to charge, they are usually very helpful. This time, we proudly park our Nissan at BMW's dealership.
The distance from Shingu City to Kushimoto Town is about 40 km. Compared to the journey so far, it's no great distance.
It was 6 PM at this time.
Arrival at Kushimoto Station
We head from Shingu City via surface roads.
The expressway is set to open fully in 2024, at which point the Kii Peninsula will be connected by highway.
For details, please check here.
Then at 7:30 PM, we finally arrived at Kushimoto Town! This is truly the southernmost station on Honshu.
Summarizing the results since departure:
Total Travel Distance: 576.3 km
Number of Charges: 7 times
Time Taken: About 13 hours
Even just looking at the numbers, it’s a challenging journey, and it’s unlikely that such a reckless trip will occur again in the EV era ahead. It was a truly invaluable experience.
Praying for a safe arrival, we quickly enjoy the local specialty, katsuo chazuke. This place is a gem.
Next time, I will share activities in Nanki Kushimoto.
