Drivers of the high-dollar all-electric vehicle known as Tesla may be making their way across Iowa more often, now that some super-fast charging stations are available.
Hy-Vee stores in West Des Moines, Coralville, and Davenport have installed the new Superchargers in their parking lots to benefit Tesla drivers only.
Tesla spokesman Will Nicholas says it will speed up long-distance Midwestern travel. “So our cars can come in here at no cost…and charge up to 170 miles in 20 minutes, which depletes the amount of wait time you’d have to incur when charging on a road trip,” Nicholas said.
More superchargers will soon be available along Interstate 80 across the border in Illinois and Nebraska. Nicholas says it will make owning one of the $70,000 vehicles more practical.
When people make a significant purchase like this they want to be able to use their car 12 months a year, for all purposes, and this enables that long-distance travel Midwestern customers expect and now can enjoy,” Nicholas said. He estimates, currently, there may be as many as a couple of hundred Tesla owners in Iowa.
Nicholas added, by the end of next year, the company hopes to sell a $35,000 model of the car.
(Thanks to Joyce Russell, Iowa Public Radio)