NEW YORK – How’s this for speed: Tesla debut a system that
enables drivers to swap out the battery in a Model S electric vehicle in about
90 seconds, which is less time than it takes to fill up a traditional car at
the pump, according to CNN Money.
During a demonstration in California last week, Tesla CEO
Elon Musk said the battery swap stations would be installed throughout its
network of supercharger stations across the United States, which currently
offer free recharging for EVs in about an hour.
Tesla announced in May that it is expanding its supercharging
stations network, indicating that it planned to triple the number of station by
the end of June. There are currently a number of supercharger stations open in
the corridor from Washington, D.C., to Boston, as well as in California and
parts of Nevada, according to the news source. By the end of 2013, Tesla plans
to have more than 100 locations.
The battery swapping stations are expected to be in service
by the end of the year. Musk said the battery swap would cost between $50 and $80.
“The only decision
you need to make when you come to one of our Tesla stations is, do you prefer
faster or free,” he said. “Our goal here was to eliminate the objections that
people have. We want to show that [Tesla] can actually be more convenient than
a gasoline car. Hopefully this is what convinces people that electric cars are
the future.”