MERIDEN — The city is in discussion with Tesla to install a supercharger station in the near future.
Telsa, a multinational company that specializes in electric vehicles, has been adding new supercharger stations throughout the country. The plug-ins charge Model S and Model X Tesla vehicles in minutes compared to hours needed at other stations.
“Superchargers are strategically placed to allow owners to drive from station to station with minimal stops,” according to the Tesla website. “Stations are located near amenities like roadside diners, cafes, Wi-Fi hotspots, and shopping centers.”
City Planner Bob Seale said the station is only a possibility at this time.
“(I’ve had) discussions with (Tesla) and potentially putting it on a private property,” Seale said. He said Tesla has been looking at one location in particular, but did not say where.
The city first introduced electric vehicle charging stations in 2014, with its first station at the public library. The state paid for the cost of the equipment, through a grant from the Publicly Accessible EV Charging Infrastructure Program.
Charging stations are also available in the parking lot at City Hall, a municipal lot off Butler Street, and the 24 Colony St. parking garage.
There currently about seven supercharger stations in Connecticut, including Milford, West Hartford, and Manchester. There are more than 1,000 superchargers in North America.
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