The Coeur d'Alene Supercharger is here
<p>Tesla Motors Superchargers are a new addition to our area and are open to the public on Fruitland Lane in Coeur d'Alene. Charging is free, it takes approximately 30 minutes, and they are located near local businesses to benefit the economy.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Customers hitting Golden Corral Buffet or Buffalo Wild Wings in Coeur d'Alene lately might have noticed the future - right there in the parking lot.
That's because that is where six brand new electric vehicle charging "stalls" have appeared, installed by a contractor for Tesla Motors Inc. City building records show the project value was $100,000.
Representatives for Tesla, based in Palo Alto, Calif., didn't respond to a request for comment. The building contractor declined to comment, citing a confidentiality agreement with the electric car maker.
Tesla Motors documents obtained by The Press show Tesla is building a national electric vehicle charging station network, giving drivers strategically placed places to plug in.
Part of the Interstate 90 corridor for that network now includes the Coeur d'Alene station, located at 3458 N. Fruitland Lane.
Tesla calls the stations Superchargers.
"Tesla Superchargers enable free long distance electric driving across the United States, and up and down the West and East coasts," Tesla said Feb. 27 on its company blog.
Superchargers are spaced roughly 100 miles apart, and the adjacent stations to Coeur d'Alene are Ritzville, Wash., and Superior, Mont. Neither Spokane nor Boise have Superchargers.
Charging at the Coeur d'Alene station will take roughly 30 to 40 minutes, which would give Tesla vehicle drivers time to hit the buffet or grab some wings.
Tesla designs and manufactures electric vehicles that can go 265 miles on one charge. Tesla vehicle owners can charge for free, for life, and are encouraged to patronize local businesses while charging.
According to a Nov. 17 blog post on Tesla's website, the company was on track to build more than 35,000 cars in 2014. In 2013, it produced 22,000 cars.
"By the end of 2015, we will have increased production by another 50 percent," the company said.
The Coeur d'Alene Resort has two Tesla connectors for charging, but they are available to guests only, according to Tesla's website.
SpringHill Suites Coeur d'Alene, at 2250 W. Seltice Way, also has a couple connectors available to its customers.
The general contractor for the Coeur d'Alene Supercharger was Lowe North Construction Inc., of Spring Hill, Kan., and the architect was Black and Veatch, of Overland Park, Kan.