Tesla says this is going to become a more common sight in 2017 as it plans to build another 5,000 Supercharging stations.
Tesla’s all charged up about the pending introduction of the Model 3 later this summer and to prove it, apparently, they’re making sure that more Tesla owners than ever will be able to charge up while driving America’s highways and byways.
The EV maker has more than 5,400 Supercharger stations worldwide and plans to nearly double that to 10,000 units by the end of 2017. In North America, the company pledged to increase the number of super chargers by 150%, including adding 1,00 0 Superchargers in California.
“As Tesla prepares for our first mass-market vehicle and continues to increase our Model S and Model X fleet, we’re making charging an even greater priority,” the company noted in its corporate blog.
“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.”
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That’s 39% more Superchargers than CEO Elon Musk promised for 2017 when he unveiled the Model 3. The company will also increase the number of its Destination Chargers located at hotels and restaurants from 9,000 to 15,000 globally.
Tesla is expanding its Supercharger network in the U.S. and around the world.
Several of these new Supercharger stations will be powered by solar panels, have customer centers and enough chargers to handle “several dozen Teslas” at the one time. The company noted that many of its locations will be along busy highways to allow drivers to get around the country easily.
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However, the company also plans to build sites in urban areas to ensure city drivers aren’t left without a place to charge. “Many sites will soon enter construction to open in advance of the summer travel season,” Tesla said in the post. “We’re moving full speed on site selection.”
The move to expand the charger network comes as Tesla is hurtling toward what many analysts and observers consider its most important deadline ever: The Model 3. The EV maker has been consistently late on its delivery schedules, especially for the Model X.
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However, Musk has been adamant in his affirmations that the company will deliver its first-ever mainstream model that is viewed as the key to the company’s long-term success. Musk has reiterated repeatedly that the company will produce 500,000 units by the end of 2018. The company built about 77,000 units last year.