Hit the Road, and Charge!

TIncreasing numbers of electric vehicles are on the road, and a not uncommon sight in parking lots now are stalls with electric charging stations.

One of the earliest to mainstream electric cars as a prestige ride is Tesla, and its drivers have a lot of charging solutions. In addition to being able to use nearly all public charging stations — EVgo, ChargePoint, etc. — with the provided adapter, they can find dozens of destination chargers across the state at hotels, restaurants, golf clubs and other public establishments. (The converse is not possible, however; other vehicles are not able to use Tesla chargers.) This allows Tesla owners to recharge their car in just a few hours while they enjoy the given activity.

Tesla also offers a fast-charging solution: supercharging. Built along major highway routes to facilitate long-distance travel, and now, expanding into dense, urban areas like Manhattan, Brooklyn, Chicago, and Phoenix, supercharging is the world’s most powerful fast-charging network.

Superchargers can charge at a maximum charge rate of 250kW, or 1,000 miles-per-hour of charge, replenishing up to 75 miles of range in five minutes. In Arizona, there are more than 180 supercharger stalls at 20 locations (see map at tesla.com/findus); globally, there are more than 1,600 stations and 14,000 stalls.

Tesla’s footprint in Arizona includes two retail showrooms and three service centers. It recently expanded its presence in Scottsdale, decreasing wait times for service appointments and repairs by moving its service center from an 11,500-square-foot space to 40,000 square feet.