Having a renewable energy production network with a footprint every 100 miles or so has it's own revenue generation potential. Remember Elon is in the solar energy business as well and effecting a regulatory change in each state with the rollout of supercharging stations has profit potential. What I would expect is that the "free" charging gets coupled with some revenue generation like $5 coffee, a $10 lunch, or a $20 massage. Last I looked a McDonald's franchise was worth $5M. What would a McDonald's with a supercharger be worth?
Those points are 100% valid. But that is also true for every other corporation as well. Anyone, just not Tesla, can provide free superchargers (or any free charging capability) if they thought it would result in a positive Return On Investment. Likewise they could install solar production anywhere as well (and would). It's just that the promoting of something valuable being "free" is true for as long as it supports a positive ROI overall and not one second beyond that point.
So how do you feel about national healthcare? (Don't respond to that as it will get the thread banned)
Don't forget, the model is for these supercharging stations will, overall, be producing as much, if not more, electricity as it uses from the grid. If Tesla can sell the excess to the utilities, I think the overall cost will be minimal. If Tesla can't produce enough electricity, it will become a ginger expense.
Yes, AWD to Model S, and wait till they start producing the SUV and the smaller sedan promised. http://priuschat.com/threads/tesla-model-s-outsells-all-“large-luxury”-competitors-in-q1-of-2013.125993/#post-1795588
There will be an announcement on June 20th. In fact, not an announcement but a demonstration. Elon Musk discusses When Tesla Will Demonstrate How Model S Charges Quicker Than Filling a Tank Full of Gas!
That's one of my few remaining complaints (the others being why can't I go 500 miles on one charge and please hurry with the eco model ). Does this signal another breakthrough in charging tech?
