Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) has finally opened its first Supercharger in New York City, but it isn’t where you might expect. Earlier this year it was noted by Edmunds that the luxury EV maker holds meaningful market share in the Manhattan section of New York City, but that isn’t where the new Supercharger station is. It’s actually located in Queens at a travel plaza for JFK Airport, according to Business Insider.
Don’t expect Tesla Superchargers close to home
A spokesperson for Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) told Business Insider that they plan to open their Supercharger stations along main routes in between major cities. As a result, they don’t plan to place their Supercharger stations right in the heart of where the Model S is popular because the stations are aimed more at long distance driving rather than intra-city driving. Model S owners who don’t leave Manhattan probably won’t need a Supercharger station, but those driving through the New York area just might need some place to “fuel up” fast.
Why Tesla located near JFK
The new Supercharger station in New York City is located at 150th Ave. and 147th St. A spokesperson for Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) told Business Insider that the selection of the travel plaza for JFK Airport was unusual because it not only covers a key travel route for drivers, but it also covers JFK Airport itself. The automaker said commercial fleet operators which offer luxury vehicles will be able to quickly charge a Model S sedan and use it to transport airport travelers to and from JFK.
Tesla expands Supercharger network
Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) has remained true to its plans of rapidly expanding its Supercharger network. At this point there are 48 of the stations open in the U.S., and almost half of them are along the West Coast where Tesla’s popularity is at its highest.
The automaker has made it a goal to reduce range anxiety so that drivers feel more comfortable driving across the country in their Model S sedan. The least expensive Model S has a range of 230 miles, so it goes much further than other EVs, but many still remain concerned about being able to travel long distances.
