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 (
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
http://www.smh.com.au/drive/electric-car-company-tesla-plans-16-supercharger-stations-between-melbourne-and-brisbane-20150111-12lw2a.html / travellers car park resides panel solar grid newly constructed car port electric revolution charging stations electric cars petrol bowsers driving longer distances electric cars the way of the future electric vehicle EV new car sales figures demand for electric cars, Australia big infrastructure investment technology American electric car company Tesla 16 high-powered supercharger stations between Melbourne Brisbane 2016 stations Tesla customer travel supercharger network exceeding 140 stations established luxury brands BMW local electric market rollout free electric charging stations build it and they will come Tesla spokesman Heath Walker supercharger network hotel partnerships high powered wall units motles hotels single three phase Darling Hotel in Sydney Marriot Melbourne range anxiety high purchase prices infrastructure charging at home barrier 40 amps of power home house charge overnight up to 500km of range next morning forward thinking Elon Musk design range car charging station free for public use /