Tesla Supercharger global network to double by 2018
Electric vehicle (EV) company Tesla has announced plans to double its charging network by the end of this year, in the lead-up to the launch of its smallest and most affordable offering, the Model 3.
Since 2012, Tesla has built 842 stations with over 5400 Superchargers and more than 9000 Destination Charging connectors, and plans to double that to more than 10,000 chargers by the end of 2017.
North America will see an increase of 150 per cent, with California alone receiving more than 1000 new Superchargers.
The company says it will build larger sites along its busiest travel routes to accommodate the charging of several dozen Tesla vehicles simultaneously, while numerous sites will be built further off highways to allow owners to charge quickly when needed while making charging ubiquitous in urban areas.
From the pair of renderings provided with Tesla’s release, it appears the company envisions these new Supercharger sites similar to conventional fuel stations and parking lots, which will give owners more convenient and more plentiful access to fast charging sites for their EVs.
Australia
Tesla is gradually rolling out Supercharging stations across Australia, with the current network already connecting Melbourne and the Gold Coast.
Numerous upcoming sites have already been nominated, including a route between Melbourne and Adelaide, the Gold Coast and Brisbane, while Perth is also set to get its first Supercharger station very soon.
Above: Tesla Model 3
Meanwhile, Tesla also has more than 260 ‘Destination Chargers’ across the country – covering every region except the Northern Territory – which are located at hotels, resorts, restaurants and shopping centres which are similar to the wall connectors provided to owners for their homes.
While not as quick as Superchargers, these units are for longer-period charging – such as for a few hours during lunch or for an overnight stay.
You can view the map of charging sites here.
MORE: Tesla news, reviews, comparisons and video
MORE: Electric vehicle news coverage