Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) has announced a major expansion of its supercharger network. The company plans to extend its network nationwide, according to a statement posted on its website. This is an important step for the company because the lack of superchargers may be one of the two main reasons holding some Americans back from adopting the new technology (with price being the other reason).
Superchargers are able to charge Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s Model S sedans by up to 50 percent in just 20 minutes. That’s about 10 times faster than the average public charging station. It also makes it easy for Model S owners to drive approximately three hours, stop for 20 or 30 minutes to charge the vehicle and have a meal and then get right back on the road.
The EV automaker opened its first superchargers in Nevada and California and along a stretch between Boston and Washington, D.C. Since the construction of those superchargers, the company said it has enabled about 1 million miles of driving.
The Plan For Tesla Motors’ Nationwide Rollout
By the end of June, Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) said it would triple the amount of supercharger stations which exist in the U.S. That includes adding more stations in California and also in the Northeast. The automaker is also planning to expand into Illinois, Colorado, Texas and the Northwest.
Over six months, the automaker’s supercharging stations are expected to be connecting the majority of the major metropolitan areas in both the U.S. and Canada so that Model S owners can drive from New York to Los Angeles stopping only to charge at Tesla’s supercharger stations.
Within a year, Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) said it’s planning for its supercharger network to cover the continent and reach “almost the entire population of the U.S. and Canada.”
“The expansion of the network will mean that Model S drivers can take the ultimate road trip—whether that’s LA to New York, Vancouver to San Diego or Montreal to Miami—without spending a cent on fuel,” the company said in its statement.
Tesla’s Improved Supercharger Technology
The automaker also said it is improving the technology of its supercharger so that the amount of time required to charge the Model S is cut in half. Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) said the new tech is undergoing beta testing and will be rolled out completely to customers this summer. The upgraded superchargers will provide three hours of drive time on a 20-minute charge.
