[michaelry]

That 1.5 hours represents three(3) thirty(30) minute charges. A supercharge gets 200 miles per 30 minute charge.

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

This is the beginning of a new way to fuel cars and the charge time technical hurdle (30 minutes) although already small, will be reduced in future battery technologies.

[avar]

Sure. It's going to get better. But it's still 1.5h per day spent on the equivalent of a gas station. If you wanted to stop for sightseeing while on the road in a gasoline powered car you'd likely take 10 minutes or so to fill up for the whole day, and then stop somewhere more interesting.

I'm just saying that it's disingenuous marketing speak by Elon Musk to try to pass of a 1.5 hr mandatory stop at a place you wouldn't have stopped at unless you needed to as "stopping anyway".

[timroman]

True if you're only interested in getting there as fast as possible. For most people who choose to drive from coast to coast, stopping often to see random things is part of the fun and reason they chose to drive in the first place.

[avar]

Indeed, I love stopping at random places when I'm on the road.

Having to spend 1.5hr per day at a gas station is not a random stop however, and having to spend 1.5hr per day at one in lieu of stopping somewhere more interesting takes some of the fun out of driving and stopping at interesting places on the road.

[DanBC]

Won't the interesting places want to attract people who can afford expensive cars? Won't they start to add charging points?

[alphakappa]

The inferesting places are not always private properties that are trying to attract people. On my road trips, I often end up stopping and stretching my legs at scenic overlooks, hiking trails, lakes etc, none of which are likely to sprout charging stations any time soon.

[dredmorbius]

Agreed. I could point you at any of a number of highly memorable breaks I've taken pretty much out in the middle of nowhere.

But you've got to eat. And if the place is interesting to the level of offering food, the bonus of adding a charging station should be a reasonably good investment.

I think the point is that Tesla are likely to have their choice of charging locations as they build out their network, and even non-SuperCharger stations will offer some range extension for the cost of a 220AC outlet.

[DanBC]

I often forget how big the US is.

But the government builds roads, and taxes[1] some road users. It's in the government's interest to provide some kind of infrastructure for lower carbon transport.

Providing a few thousand charging points for electric vehicles seems a reasonable thing for government to do, so long as those are vendor-neutral and can be used by any electric vehicle.

[dredmorbius]

Now someone's starting to get it ...

[vidarh]

The SuperChargers are not at gas stations. They are on purpose locating them near malls, restaurants etc.. I certainly would not like to spend all day cooped up in a car without a couple of stops to eat or stretch my legs, and I think you'd find very few people drive all day without taking breaks to eat etc. of that kind of length.

[R_Edward]

That's the thing, isn't it? I've just charged up my battery, so I know I have 200 miles in my "tank." And it's 170 miles to the next Supercharger. So when we spot a billboard in the distance advertising some awesome spectacle and the kids say, "Can we go there, Dad?" I have to determine whether it's more than 15 miles off course. 'Cause if it is, then no, we can't go there. Unless someone wants to push the car.

To be fair, it probably took a while before gas stations sprouted up like mushrooms all over the vast, heaving bosom of America too, and I do wish nothing but success for Musk and Tesla. Want to see that infrastructure get built quickly, because in the next 5 years or so, I'm going to be in the market for a new car, and I'd love for it to be one of those affordable electrics with a 200+ mile range.

[stcredzero]

It's 30 minutes per supercharger stop. I have a challenge getting my friends back into the car that quickly on road trips. (I have chaotic friends. Musicians.)