Tesla Motors is planning to build an electric charging station in Revelstoke that will be part of a network it is developing along the Trans-Canada Highway corridor in British Columbia.
Revelstoke city council gave approval to a development permit application that allows Tesla to build one of its Supercharging stations at the Best Western Plus Hotel in Revelstoke.
“Tesla approached us and said Revelstoke was a perfect location,” said Brady Beruschi, the manager of the hotel. “They’re building their own little station and their going to run their own power supply.”
Tesla is en emerging car company that builds electric vehicles.
The charging station will include four stalls — two specifically for Tesla vehicles, and two for any electric car. It will take up four parking spaces in a corner of the Best Western lot.
The Supercharger stations provide 120 kilowatts of power and can recharge a Tesla’s battery to half capacity in 20 minutes. A Tesla Model S can travel about 425 kilometres at full charge.
A Tesla spokesperson said the Revelstoke station is part of a network the company will be opening along the Trans-Canada Highway between Vancouver and Calgary.
According to a map on the Tesla website, Supercharger stations are planned for Hope, Kamloops, Revelstoke, Golden and Banff.
Tesla opened it’s first Supercharger station in Canada in Squamish, B.C., earlier this year.
Beruschi said he talked to Tesla about having the charging station located in the Regent Hotel parking lot downtown, but that Tesla opted for the highway location.
The Best Western already features one electric car charging outlet that was installed by Sun Country Highway in 2012, though Beruschi said the outlet doesn’t get as much use a he’d like.
“I think it’s going to become more of a trend with the vehicles,” he said.
Tesla did not say when the Supercharger station would open.
