Tesla Supercharger Network in Australia — 10 planned by year's end (update)

Credit: Tesla/EFTM

Tesla is not just an electric car manufacturer, but aims to provide a complete, sustainable, personal transport solution.

Motorists are accustomed to vehicles with a range of hundreds of kilometres & 5 minute refuelling. Selling a typical electric vehicle (EV), with its relatively short range, & slow charging, into such a market, is difficult.

Tesla’s solution to the range problem is more battery capacity than any other manufacturer (60 or 85 kWh 70, 85 or 90 kWh) & a range up to 500km in the Model S. That much battery capacity is expensive, but Tesla has built a car around those kWh, consistent with the price — Consumer Reports (USA) rates the Tesla Model S the best car it has ever tested.

Tesla has demonstrated battery swapping faster than a petrol vehicle can be refilled, but in practice, to date, their “refuelling” solution is a network of Supercharger fast chargers which can recharge a Model S to 50% in 20 minutes. Superchargers are free to use by Tesla vehicles, & owners have taken advantage of this to make coast to coast road trips across the USA, at no fuel cost. A little more mundane: fast chargers supplied to owners, & co-operating hotels, which allow a complete charge overnight.

Introduction of the Model S in Australia was half of the solution. The other half, a Supercharger network, is a work in progress. Maps indicate that Melbourne to Northern NSW will be available by the end of 2015 & north of Brisbane by the end of 2016.


Credit: Tesla/EFTM

http://eftm.com.au/2014/12/tesla-is-go-in-australia-showroom-open-cars-delivered-and-supercharger-network-announced-18309

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