TESLA S

Tesla Motors Opens First North Carolina Supercharger Station

October 22, 2013 by admin 1 Comment

Electric vehicle maker extends its supercharger network.

Burlington, NC, may not be an instantly recognizable location for people outside of the Tarheel State, but it is a city that is strategically located halfway between Winston-Salem and Raleigh. It is also near where interstates 40 and 85 intersect, making it the ideal location for Tesla Motors to set up its very first supercharging station in the state. Tesla has done just that, choosing a parking lot at the Alamance Crossing mall where vehicle owners can quickly recharge their vehicles.

Ribbon cutting time at Tesla’s first supercharger station in NC.

Extending the Range

The North Carolina station is located near the Carousel Luxury Cinemas complex. It features eight charging stalls and is open 24 hours a day. Tesla owners won’t find signage pointing them to the station, instead they’ll find it by means of an app.

When hooked up to the supercharging stall, a Tesla Model S can take in up to 120 kilowatts of power to obtain half a charge in just 20 minutes. And with it strategically located near shops and restaurants, owners can get a bite to eat and return ready to resume their trip.

Eight charging stalls stand as sentinels ready to serve.

Supercharger Station Assistance

Without access to a supercharger, Tesla Model S owners would be restricted to a maximum 265-mile driving range depending on the model. That’s much longer than other electric vehicles, but it does limit long distance travel.

To eliminate range anxiety, Tesla is installing superchargers along three major “highways” across North America. One will connect Vancouver to San Diego and a second one will connect Boston to Miami. The third one is its most ambitious project: providing supercharging stations to make it possible to drive from Los Angeles to New York City on electricity only.

NC Tesla Model S owners try out the supercharging stalls.

Second North Carolina Station

On Tues., Auto Trends spoke with Patrick Jones, communications manager for Tesla Motors about the company’s vision. Jones said that the supercharging network will be completed by the end of this year with gaps filled in next year. Those gaps include connection points between other major cities. For example, from Chicago to Houston. In the meantime, a second North Carolina station is in progress and will open near Rocky Mount later this year.

Establishing a supercharging network requires a collaborative effort, something Tesla received with the assistance of CBL Properties, owner of the mall, electric supplier Duke Energy, and other partners. Said Jones, “We selected this location because there is a lot of shopping around. Customers can come, get out and go to Dillards, grab pizza or a burger while they plug in and charge and then get back on the road.” Jones noted that Tesla owners would be able to make it Charlotte, the largest city in the Carolinas, by recharging at its Burlington station.

A number of dignitaries including Burlington mayor Ronnie K. Wall, and city council member Celo Faucette were on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Duke Energy, the state of North Carolina, and Alamance County also sent representatives. Tesla owners, electric vehicle enthusiasts and members of the media populated the assembly of no more than 100 people.

Local stores are just steps away from the supercharging station.

Supercharger Station Partnership

CBL & Associates Properties Inc. is the owner of Alamance Crossing. This past June, CBL launched a partnership with Tesla Motors to install superchargers at five of its properties. Besides North Carolina, Tesla Supercharging stations will be built at CB Malls in Rockford, Ill., El Centro, Calif., Fort Meyers, Fla., and Port Orange, Fla.

Tesla Model S owners take advantage of free charge time.

Cadillac ELR Pricing and Distribution Set

October 15, 2013 by admin 1 Comment

The all-new Cadillac ELR will go on sale in early Jan., a 2014 model based on the Cadillac Converj concept and underpinned by the platform supporting the Chevrolet Volt. This plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) will retail from $75,995, and has a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 for eligible tax payers.

Cadillac ELR

Surging Cadillac Sales

The ELR arrives as Cadillac sales continue to surge. Through Sept. 2013, GM’s luxury brand is easily outpacing the industry with sales up by 28.9 percent year to date. Early last week Cadillac unveiled the 2015 Escalade, the fourth generation of its super-sized sport utility vehicle. Production for the new SUV begins next spring.

The Cadillac ELR presents some risk to GM especially as it seeks footing in a segment dominated by the Tesla S. Unlike the pure electric Tesla, the ELR runs on electric power only for approximately 35 miles before a small, gas generator kicks in to extend vehicle range. That generator, a 1.4-liter turbocharged four cylinder engine, is the same motor that extends the Volt’s range. Whether buyers will be satisfied with its hybrid capabilities instead of electric-only power is not known. Still, Cadillac is likely to tout its range advantage when marketing the ELR.

Indeed, GM estimates that the total range for the ELR will top 300 miles. Drivers can continue on their route by filling the gas tank at a service station, replenishing the battery system as time permits.

Unique Cadillac ELR Properties

Cadillac’s ELR is far different from the Chevrolet Volt as it has its own body shell and a unique interior. Commented Bob Ferguson, senior vice president Global Cadillac, “ELR is also unique in that it will be offered nationwide within a luxury customer experience, with proven benefits and care extending from the shopping process all the way through the ownership experience.”

And it is that special care that Cadillac has been establishing ahead of time through special dealer training, selling and servicing, especially in white-glove care.

Each Cadillac ELR owner will have an ELR concierge representative to assist with information about battery care, home charging, service scheduling and vehicle updates. A toll-free number has been established for ELR owners exclusively at 855-422-3357.

Cadillac ELR Technologies

As equipped, the 2014 Cadillac ELR features Cadillac CUE with navigation accessible via an eight-inch, full-color capacitive-touch screen. This model also features front and rear exterior LED lighting, safety systems including safety alert seat, lane departure warning and forward collision alert, and an all-new and exclusive regenerative energy system — Regen on Demand™ — what allows the driver to temporarily regenerate energy from the vehicle’s momentum via its steering wheel paddles.

The Cadillac ELR interior is outfitted with handcrafted leather. Authentic wood grain and chrome trim are also present.

Drivers can choose from four driving models including the default Tour, the engaging Sport model, a Mountain mode ideal for hilly terrain, and a Hold mode. When operating in Hold mode, the driver can choose tap either the electric battery or the gas engine to power the ELR.

Looking Ahead

With the introduction of the Cadillac ELR followed by the Escalade later in the year, Cadillac’s line up continues to expand and renew. What hasn’t yet been made known are the brand’s plans for a super luxury model, perhaps one based on what has been teased over the past few years.

In 2011, the Ciel concept was introduced, followed two years later by the Elmiraj concept. Although both concepts are quite different, each suggests that a high-end Cadillac model is possible, perhaps likely given customer demand for similar exclusive products sold by rival brands such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

Tesla Motors Unveils Supercharger Network

September 27, 2012 by admin 1 Comment

EV maker seeks to eliminate range-anxiety completely.

The problems with electric vehicles go beyond high prices and basically boil down to two significant issues: restricted range and long charging intervals. For commuters, an electric vehicle is an ideal option, but for everyone else EVs can be a major inconvenience. If you travel more than 70 miles with most vehicles you’ve hit the end of your range — that isn’t acceptable if your trip takes you two hours or more away from your starting point.

Supercharger Network

Tesla Motors does not produce cars that give short-term range anxiety. Its Tesla S sedan has a standard range of 160 miles when outfitted with its standard 40 kWh battery system to as much as 300 miles with an extended-range 85 kWh performance system. Those numbers are far and away much better than what other companies are offering, but Tesla wants to make long-range driving a possibility through its recently announced supercharger network.

That network was announced by Tesla this past Thursday and includes six of what the company promises will eventually be more than 100 quick charging stations that will located throughout California and in parts of Nevada and Arizona.

Solar Power System

The electricity for each supercharger station is garnered from a solar carport system provided by SolarCity, an arrangement that will allow Tesla owners to enjoy free, long distance travel without restrictions. Each solar power system will produce more solar power throughout the year than what Tesla owners will use, with the excess electricity sent back to the electrical power grid. These superchargers can complement the solar-powered systems that electric car owners may have installed in their homes, enabling Tesla owners to enjoy a power boost and send unused electricity to the grid.

The first six supercharger stations will be the model for additional stations located in the southwest U.S. and later across the continent. Tesla says it will install more stations to allow drivers to travel from Vancouver to San Diego, from Montreal to Miami and even coast to coast from Los Angeles to New York. The company will also begin installing superchargers in Europe in Asia beginning in the second half of 2013.

Extended Range

Tesla says that it supercharger is “substantially more powerful than any charging technology to date” as it offers nearly 100 kilowatts of power to the Tesla S, with a reach of 120 kWh at some future date. What this means is that Tesla S drivers can get three hours of driving at 60 mph in about 30 minutes, which is generally the time drivers will spend getting a meal before returning to the road.

Said Elon Musk, Tesla Motors co-founder and CEO, “Tesla’s Supercharger network is a game changer for electric vehicles, providing long distance travel that has a level of convenience equivalent to gasoline cars for all practical purposes. However, by making electric long distance travel at no cost, an impossibility for gasoline cars, Tesla is demonstrating just how fundamentally better electric transport can be. We are giving Model S the ability to drive almost anywhere for free on pure sunlight.”

Range-Extended Driving

In effective, Tesla raises the bar for pure electric driving, one that other manufacturers will need to follow if they’re to offer range-extended driving. The EV market is still quite small and likely will not rise without further innovations. On the recharging side, Tesla is showing leadership and is removing one more problem associated with electric vehicles in the process.