Tesla Superchargers to Connect NY With LA Within Six Months

Making EVs more practical is one of the biggest challenges still facing the electric-vehicle market, and Tesla is once again expanding its network of fast-charging Supercharger stations.

Tesla plans on tripling the number of free-to-use Supercharger stations by the end of the month, and within two years, Tesla Model S owners will be able to travel from New York to Los Angeles using nothing but Superchargers. There are currently only nine active Superchargers, but the brand will have over 100 by 2015, as seen by the map shown above.

Within a month, Superchargers will be added to link Vancouver to Portland, Austin to Dallas, and Illinois to Colorado. Within six months, California will receive more stations, along with Texas, Florida and the Midwest. More importantly, in that time Model S owners will be able to drive from New York to Los Angeles relying exclusively on Superchargers.

In Canada, Ottawa will be linked to Montreal. Tesla says that one year from now, the Supercharger network will cover almost the entire population of the U.S. and Canada, and within two years, 98 percent of the population will be covered.

A half-hour stop off at a Supercharger will fill an 85 kWh battery pack with 150-miles worth of range, though Tesla is working on new tech that will allow the Model S to replenish three hours of drive-time in just over 20 minutes of charging.

Each Supercharger is placed close to some kind of attraction or restaurant to try and keep those 20-30 minute stops from being too boring, as a trip across the country will still require several stops.

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