Tesla unveils super-fast Supercharger network

Tesla has unveiled the first phase of a new charging network that will allow owners of its EVs to take long trips without inconvenience or range anxiety.

The company says its new Supercharger technology, rated at 100kW, has sufficient power to give a near-flat Model S battery three hours of driving in around 30 minutes, an interval it dubs “the convenience inflection point for travellers at a highway rest stop.”

The aim is to provide an all-electric answer to range anxiety and stiffen competition against partially petrol-powered extended-range plug-ins such as GM’s Volt.

“Most people who begin a road trip at 9.00am would normally stop by noon to have lunch, refresh and pick up a coffee or soda for the road, all of which takes about 30 minutes,” it says in its statement. And with the company looking to boost power output to 120kW, charging times will drop from that.

The initial Supercharger network takes in half a dozen charge stations in California. But plans are for a rapid rollout of the network along high-traffic routes across the country, coast to coast, border to border, “…enabling fast, purely electric travel from Vancouver to San Diego, Miami to Montreal and Los Angeles to New York.”

The company says it also plans to roll out networks across Europe and Asia Pacific in the second half of 2013.

This includes Australia, if the company’s local arm has its way.

Asked about the technology’s arrival Down Under, Tesla Motors Australia spokesman Jay McCormack told motoring.com.au the company is looking to the latter half of next year.

“We’ve scheduled the local launch of the Model S for Q3 2013, so it’d be good to be able to offer buyers Supercharger access as part of the deal.”

Developed by Tesla in-house, the technology has several added attractions, both for consumers and the company. It emerged not from a clean-sheet design but from existing charging technologies already in use in the Model S, making for quick, easy and cost-effective development and rollout.

Not to mention timely, given the word of rising doubt among stakeholders about the battery-powered car’s viability, reflected by sluggish sales across the sector.

It also derives virtually all its energy from solar sources, particularly from carport cells feeding into the grid. Tesla says this network of units provides the network with sufficient energy to ensure “almost zero marginal energy cost after installation”. The result for Model S owners is indefinite free long-distance travel.

By the company’s calculations, the Supercharger system is capable of absorbing and converting more energy from the sun than its Model S customer fleet will consume on such journeys. The catch here is that the freebies come to an end at home in the city.

This, the company says, can be overcome by installing even a small solar panel at home, which will allow owners to use their car the same way in urban environments.

And there’s one other catch they don’t mention: base 40kWh Model S buyers need not apply.

To buy into the Supercharger network, you have to go upspec, to the 60kWh power-pack (starting at $US59,900 - a $10K premium over the base model), or the top-shelf 85kWh variant (priced from $69,900).

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site…