Tesla To Discontinue Unlimited Use Of Superchargers
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Tesla Motors plans to stop offering unlimited use of its cross-continent network of high-speed EV superchargers to anyone who buys one of its vehicles after January 1, 2017. The system, which currently includes 734 chargers worldwide, most in the U.S. and Canada, allows motorists to travel long distances without range anxiety. Until now, they have been open to any Tesla owner at no charge. The battery carmaker hasn’t said what it will now charge new buyers but claims it will "cost less than the price of filling up a comparable gas car."
Tesla had already signaled it would not include free charging for buyers of the Model 3, which is expected to go into production during the second half of 2017. The company says it now has more than 300,000 advance registrations on the books. And to help ensure it meets the aggressive production ramp-up outlined by CEO Elon Musk last March, Tesla now intends to buy Grohmann Engineering, a German firm that develops automated manufacturing systems for batteries.
Tesla has long struggled to boost its manufacturing operations. It is just now approaching a rate of 2,000 vehicles a week after falling well below its target earlier this year due to problems with the Model X battery sport-utility vehicle.
But the real test will come with next year’s Model 3 roll-out. At a preview of the new electric sedan on March 31, Musk said the goal would be to produce 500,000 battery vehicle in 2018, a massive increase that has generated plenty of skepticism among investors and analysts. Tesla has so far missed both launch dates and production targets on all of its earlier models.
Getting ready for the roll-out of the Model 3 has strained Tesla’s budget, though Musk recently told financial analysts that the company does not expect to have to raise additional capital this year. But there is general consensus that Tesla is reining in spending where possible. And one area now appears to be in the operation of its Supercharger network.
Going forward, Tesla says new buyers will get 1,000 miles of credits to use at the Superchargers. It declined to comment regarding how much additional miles will cost.
Tesla had already signaled it would not include free charging for buyers of the Model 3, which is expected to go into production during the second half of 2017. The company says it now has more than 300,000 advance registrations on the books. And to help ensure it meets the aggressive production ramp-up outlined by CEO Elon Musk last March, Tesla now intends to buy Grohmann Engineering, a German firm that develops automated manufacturing systems for batteries.
Tesla has long struggled to boost its manufacturing operations. It is just now approaching a rate of 2,000 vehicles a week after falling well below its target earlier this year due to problems with the Model X battery sport-utility vehicle.
But the real test will come with next year’s Model 3 roll-out. At a preview of the new electric sedan on March 31, Musk said the goal would be to produce 500,000 battery vehicle in 2018, a massive increase that has generated plenty of skepticism among investors and analysts. Tesla has so far missed both launch dates and production targets on all of its earlier models.
Getting ready for the roll-out of the Model 3 has strained Tesla’s budget, though Musk recently told financial analysts that the company does not expect to have to raise additional capital this year. But there is general consensus that Tesla is reining in spending where possible. And one area now appears to be in the operation of its Supercharger network.
Going forward, Tesla says new buyers will get 1,000 miles of credits to use at the Superchargers. It declined to comment regarding how much additional miles will cost.
