Tesla Supercharger station in Santa Clarita, Calif.
You’ve in all probability by no means heard of Firebaugh, Calif., a small distant freeway city alongside Calfornia’s Rt 5 — until you drive a Tesla.
Firebaugh is house to a big Tesla Supercharger station. And proper subsequent door is a McDonald’s. With a banner that reads:
“Recharge with McDonalds’s when you recharge your Tesla.”
“Meals delivered on to your cost bay.”
(See picture beneath.)
With 56 chargers, the Firebaugh Supercharger station is large, even by Tesla requirements.
A McDonald’s worker in Firebaugh confirmed that they’ve the banner posted as a direct attraction to Supercharger prospects.
And in case you will have any doubt, Tesla lists McDonald’s, together with Subway, on the Firebaugh Supercharger page.
A recent Reddit post concerning the Firebaugh station generated various feedback — although largely about which fast-food chain would greatest cater to Tesla Supercharger prospects.
The very fact is, many charging stations, together with those who don’t cater to Tesla prospects (similar to EVgo and Electrify America), are situated at main purchasing facilities, supermarkets, or inns.
The exceptions are these like Firebaugh — small-town pitstops situated alongside distant stretches of an interstate with comparatively few native companies.
However the logic is similar as fuel stations. A pitstop is a chance to relaxation and seize a snack.
The distinction is, with EV charging stations there may be much more alternative. When charging an EV, you will have extra time to burn as a result of it takes longer to cost an EV to 80 or 90 p.c than to replenish a fuel tank (generally for much longer*).
Tesla is just not oblivious to this. Tesla’s Supercharger station in Kettleman Metropolis, Calif. has a 24-hour Tesla buyer lounge that gives snacks and occasional — and it even has a Yelp page.
Tesla’s Kettleman Metropolis station web page additionally lists Denny’s, Jack within the Field, Carl’s Jr., and Starbucks as being close by.
NOTES:
*My charging periods at Electrify America sometimes take at the least half-hour.
Feedback or options might be despatched to me by way of a direct twitter message at twitter.com/mbrookec.