Auto giant Tesla recently announced its plan to bring its Supercharger network to downtown areas and city centers by rolling out mini versions designed for cities. The new charging devices that are aimed at allowing Tesla owners to charge their vehicles in urban areas will be first introduced in Chicago and Boston.
Revealing its plan of action in a blog post, the company said, “As part of our commitment to making Tesla ownership easy for everyone, including those without immediate access to home or workplace charging, we are expanding our Supercharger network into city centers, starting with downtown Chicago and Boston.”
Apart from installing Supercharger stations along popular routes and highways, the company has also paved way for ‘Destination Charging’ connectors at resorts, hotels, restaurants etc, with a view to facilitating longer drives. The installation of mini Superchargers at malls, supermarkets, and other busy areas is a step further in that direction. The company statement also said, “Supercharger stations in urban areas will be installed in convenient locations, including supermarkets, shopping centers, and downtown districts, so it’s easy for customers to charge their car in the time it takes to grocery shop or run errands. Superchargers in urban areas have a new post design that occupies less space and is easier to install, making them ideal for dense, highly populated areas.”
The Mini Superchargers
While these chargers will be priced on par with the current Superchargers available in the market, they will work on a different principle altogether. These will be packed with 72 kilowatts of dedicated power to charge a single car to avoid sluggish charging speeds even if multiple cars are connected at once. These mini Superchargers will be able to deliver a charging time of 45-50 minutes, almost the same as offered by the 145 kilowatts Superchargers at the existing stations. The existent chargers distribute power between two adjacent cars, getting them up to 80 percent charge in 40 minutes.
Going Greener
Staying true to its motto of going as green as possible, Tesla is designing some of its new Supercharger stations and units to be powered by solar panels. Many new charging sites are also being developed ahead of the upcoming summer travel season. Diversifying charging options is also crucial for the company at this point as it gears up for its first line-up of mass-market vehicles Model S and Model X. “It is extremely important to us and our mission that charging is convenient, abundant, and reliable for all owners, current and future. In 2017, we’ll be doubling the Tesla charging network, expanding existing sites so drivers never wait to charge, and broadening our charging locations within city centers,” the company stated.
Tesla has come a long way since CEO Elon Musk first made an announcement regarding transforming highways into ‘electric superhighways’ in 2012. Today, the company has more than 5,400 Superchargers and over 9,000 Destination Charging connectors. It is now focusing on bringing its charging capabilities further into the urban areas.
1 Comment
I wonder: in cities people tend to park for work; all day. While commendable, I see them blocked all day unless preventive steps are taken. A towing company can cruise every 90 minutes. Those exceeding 90 minutes, towed. But Tesla will not do that. After 90 minutes charge $1 per minute, after 3 hours charge $5 per minute. $60 an hour should deter most. $300 an hour should take care of the rest. But something must be decided. What about non Tesla cars blocking these units. These chargers must be have Reserved Parking Tesla Only While Charging Subject to Tow signs. A phone number of the towing company must be listed so reports can be made!