BERLIN (Reuters) – Managers at electric carmaker Tesla Inc (TSLA.O)
on Thursday demonstrated new supercharger equipment on a Berlin research
campus, saying they were looking at more target cities to attract potential
buyers worried about access to charging.Tesla cars are seen at the V3
supercharger equipment during the presentation of the new charge system in the
EUREF campus in Berlin, Germany September 10, 2020. REUTERS/Michele Tantussi
“Now, as part of our commitment to make Tesla ownership easy and
convenient for everyone including those without immediate access to home or
workplace charging, we are expanding out supercharging network into city
centres,” said Jeroen van Tilburg, manager Europe of charging infrastructure at
Tesla, the company owned by South African born Elon Musk.
A company spokesman told reporters Tesla would open at least one
more inner-city fast charging site in Germany in 2020, possibly more.
He stressed that Tesla still believed in slow workplace and
residential charging as the main way to charge vehicles but wanted to offer a
quicker option.
The so-called V3 charger allows Tesla Model 3 cars to charge
within five minutes enough to travel 120 kilometres (75 miles).
Older Tesla models would receive relevant software upgrades.
German policymakers aim to boost demand for electric cars to cut
emissions.
“We have a lot to make up for in terms of charging
infrastructure,” said Germany’s Economy Minister Peter Altmaier at the event.
He reiterated pledges to speed the roll-out of public charging
points and permits for private charging which had hampered sales in the past.
Latest legislation for a green-led recovery after the
coronavirus crisis offers buyers incentives and helps bump up power grids.
Tesla has chosen a site near Berlin for a new factory due to
start operating next year.
Separately to the event, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
newspaper said on Thursday the factory had the potential to create 40,000 jobs,
citing the economy minister of Brandenburg state.
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Article courtesy of Reuters c/o CNBC Africa