Tesla Cross Country Run

[lemming]

Originally Posted by nate

Any cross country route is going to go through some rural areas, but I find it very odd that they built the supercharging stations on a route north out of Denver and across South Dakota.

It makes more sense to me to go on I-70 from Denver to Kansas City and St. Louis, then north to Chicago and/or Indianapolis.

agreed.

their demographics data must have been interesting to warrant that route.

[JST]

And the Bethesda Supercharger is now live:

http://www.teslamotors.com/supercharger/bethesda

[ZBB]

Originally Posted by nate

I bet there are a lot more people that drive their Teslas to St. Louis and Kansas City than Mt. Rushmore...

But Elon is trying to re-create a road trip he took with his brother after college. This time with his kids. Stops in Vegas and Mt. Rushmore are on his agenda -- so Superchargers are being put in first to allow his route...

[bren]

Originally Posted by ZBB

Superchargers are being put in first to allow his route...

It's good to be king.

[ZBB]

Originally Posted by JST

And the Bethesda Supercharger is now live:

http://www.teslamotors.com/supercharger/bethesda

We now have 4 superchargers in AZ, with another 3 confirmed to be under construction.

Open:
- Quartzsite (I-10 near the CA border)
- Flagstaff (at the I-17 and I-40 interchange)
- Kingman (on I-40 in NW AZ -- about 2/3 of the way between Phoenix and Vegas)
- Holbrook (on I-40 in NE AZ -- about 1/2 way between Flagstaff & the NM border)

Under construction:
- Yuma (on I-8 near the CA border) -- should open next week
- Buckeye (on I-10 on the west side of the Phoenix area -- 1-2 weeks max before open
- Gila Bend (on I-8 SW of Phoenix) -- construction just started
- Wickenburg (on US 60 NW of Phoenix on the route to Vegas) -- lease signed and utility pre-markings done

There are a couple more planned per Tesla's map:
- Casa Grande (near the I-8 and I-10 interchange, midpoint between Tucson and Phoenix) -- on 2014 map
- Payson or Heber (NE of Phoenix in the mountains) -- on 2015 map

[JST]

The Bethesda Supercharger is showing up in the car, but it is listed as a "Temporary Location."

[lemming]

any data for how their car is equipped to deal with the snowy conditions?

just snow tires?

i'm curious. that's all.

[JST]

Not that I've seen. They are running stock 19" wheels, but no info on tires.

[bren]

Originally Posted by blee

I can't find a link (too recent?), but C&D recently pitted a Tesla Model S against a Ford Model T. The route ran from Detroit to the Tesla Science Center on Long Island. Interestingly enough, the Tesla won by just a few hours.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...turies-feature

[JST]

Originally Posted by lemming

any data for how their car is equipped to deal with the snowy conditions?

just snow tires?

i'm curious. that's all.

According to someone who met them in MN, they are on the OEM Michelin Primacy all-seasons.

http://www.TeslaMotorsClub.com/showpost.php?p=568481

Sounds like they went through some pretty serious weather in CO, too, though they also had chains for when it got very bad.