Tesla Motors to expand Model S electric car 'Supercharger' network


Tesla Motors is planning to open more quick-charge locations along its ‘Supercharger’ network in various locations over the next three to four months. The Supercharger network is meant to allow Tesla Motors Model S drivers to obtain rapid recharges every 100 to 200 miles.

One of the features associated with the 2013 Tesla Model S all-electric luxury sport sedan is the dedicated Supercharger network of DC quick-charge locations.

Since the first stations went live last September, there have been only eight locations in California and the Northeast Corridor.

Now Tesla Motors is planning to open more locations.

in the company’s latest blog post, George Blankenship, Tesla’s vice president of worldwide sales and ownership experience, said that the network will grow–and soon.

“We will be adding Supercharger coverage in many areas over the next three to four months,” he writes, “installing our first Superchargers in the Pacific Northwest, Texas, Illinois, and Florida with additional coverage in the Northeast and California.

“We’re also expanding existing locations like Harris Ranch, where we’re adding five more Superchargers in the next month.”

Rumor would have it that one of the Pacific Northwest locations is planned for the town of Blaine, Washington, where there’s a Canadian border crossing.

The Supercharger network is meant to allow Model S drivers to obtain rapid recharges–to 80 percent of battery capacity in half an hour or so–every 100 to 200 miles as needed for longer journeys than theircars’ rated ranges.

The Tesla Model S with the largest 85-kWh battery has an EPA-rated range of 265 miles, and the model with the 60-kWh pack is rated at 208 miles.

Those ranges are likely more optimistic than owners will see if they travel at prevailing Interstate highway speeds of 70 to 80 mph, however.

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