Tesla Unveils Plans to Create Full-Service Roadside Convenience Stops
You wouldn’t normally associate a car company with the restaurant industry. But that’s what happened this past September. Members of the restaurant industry met in Anaheim, CA for their annual FSTEC convention. At the convention, Tesla Chief Technology Officer JB Straubel talked to the crowd about future plans involving the luxury electronic car company and its expansion into the restaurant industry (of sorts). More precisely, Tesla unveiled its plans to create full-service roadside convenience stops that include their charging stations.
Tesla Charging Station/Convenience Stops
We won’t be seeing full-on restaurants with the luxury car company’s name on it. However, higher electronic car sales nationwide translate to the need for more charging stations. In fact, 100% electric car sales rose 86% during the first half of 2017. The Model S leads the pack. It takes approximately 30 minutes for an electronic car to charge. What do you do while you wait? Creating a full-service convenience stop out of a Tesla charging station allows customers to grab a bite to eat, shop and freshen up while their car charges up.
You’ve probably seen Tesla charging stations at casinos and regular rest stops on your travels. As a Tesla owner myself, I’m happy to report a dozen official Tesla charging stations in the Reno-Sparks area alone. More than 80 electronic car charging stations exist within a 30 mile radius of Reno as well. Apps like PlugShare, OpenCharge Map and ChargePoint help you locate charging stations near you. Or, you can plan a multi-day road trip by visiting the SolvingEV website to locate stops along the way.
What Does This Announcement Mean for Tesla Owners?
Our travel options just expanded with this news. And, once these stations are built, charging times won’t seem so tedious. While your car charges, walk in, use the restroom, grab a cup of coffee, pick up some snacks and get back on the road. Eventually, the company wants to partner up with several different restaurants to create charging station convenience stops all over the country. Next summer’s road trip looks better already!
