Gotta Start Somewhere...
Having many accessible fast-charging stations is a prerequisite to a wider adoption of electric cars. Most EV owners will charge their cars in their garage most of the time, but if you need to drive a longer distance, it's important to know that you'll be able to find a charging station (even better if it's high-amperage). So it's good news that SolarCity, a company backed by Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, along with Rabobank, has announced that it is building a corridor of solar-powered fast-charging stations along Highway 101 between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
So far 4 stations have been installed in Salinas, Atascadero, Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo. A 5th one will be built in Goleta in mid October.
SolarCity writes: "Allowing drivers to plug in and charge up at multiple locations along well traveled corridors will dramatically increase the convenience and practicality of the growing number of EVs on American roads. Rabobank branches are positioned all along the high-traffic Highway 101 corridor, close to shops, restaurants and other commercial centers in Northern and Southern California, making them ideal locations for charging stations."
The charging stations are 240V/70 amps. They can recharge a Tesla Roadster in about 3.5 hours (though that's for a full charge -- if you only need to charge a few dozen miles to get back home where you can plug overnight, you could do it more quickly).
This is in addition to the more than 100 home solar charging stations that SolarCity has already installed for Tesla Roadster owners.
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
SolarCity Announces Sun-Powered EV Fast-Charging Stations in California
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