Musk Says Tesla to Triple Charging Stations

By Cynthia Herbert :: 11:49 PM

Elon Musk, CEO of electric automaker Tesla Motors, said this evening that the company plans to triple the number of its supercharger stations across the U.S. by the end of this year.

Tesla’s electric autos have done well in metropolitan areas in California and New York because of the availability of charging stations to replenish the cars’ batteries. The supercharger technology that Tesla has pioneered sharply cuts the amount of time it takes to fully charge one of its vehicles.

The company hopes that its planned supercharging station coverage will allow Tesla owners to make a drive from coast to coast without worrying about how to quickly charge their cars.

Musk make the announcement in an impromptu way, during remarks on stage at the D11 Conference. Tesla Motors had originally planned to reveal the news at an event on Thursday. A map will be provided tomorrow to show the location of supercharging stations that the company plans to place around the U.S.

In addition to the superchargers, Tesla’s cars will be upgraded to make use of information about the location of the chargers. On-board GPS-equipped navigation computers will help route drivers to their destination, calculate the need for recharging, and direct them to supercharging stations as needed on their trip.