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- tesla
Friday, September 29, 2023
There was electricity in the air last Saturday morning as a crowd, along with nearly 50 Tesla electric vehicles, gathered in the parking lot at Prospect Street and Carroll Avenue in Southlake Town Square.
The excitement was in anticipation of the ribbon cutting for the Tesla Supercharger station, which is one of 39 throughout the state and five in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. There are 70 registered Tesla vehicles in Southlake, the highest concentration in Tarrant County.
Similar to a gas station, the Southlake Supercharger has 10 stalls for Tesla owners to plug in and charge their vehicles quickly. This allows for out-of-area travel and more than 500 stations are strategically placed throughout the U.S.
According to Rick Bollar, a Southlake resident, and president of Tesla Owners Club of North Texas, this network differentiates Tesla from other electric cars, which aren’t capable of long-distance travel.
“Having a Supercharger station in Southlake is really special because we’re one of the few in Texas that is not located along a highway. The amenities we offer in Southlake Town Square will make it a destination for people traveling across the country, encouraging them to stay and shop, eat and spend the night,” said Bollar, who estimates it will bring $500,000 in revenue to the city.
Bollar also pointed out that a Supercharger differs from the urban charging stations – which are located in Plano and Dallas and designed to serve drivers who don’t have a garage (and way to charge their vehicle at home) – in that the Supercharger delivers more power, thereby charging the car faster.
“This station puts Southlake on the map as a destination for Tesla owners and is another example of exciting things that are happening in our city,” stated Southlake Mayor Laura Hill, who participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Southlake Town Square welcomed Tesla last September with the opening of its 4,500 square foot gallery across from the Apple Store. According to Tesla, its charging network is designed to be the fastest, most convenient, and extensive charging network in the world. Note: There are currently six public chargers for all-electric vehicles in Southlake Town Square, see the map below.
Southlake Town Square is charged and ready to welcome Tesla enthusiasts. The new Tesla gallery, a show room for the electric car manufacturer, opened on September 23 in a roughly 4,500 square foot space across from the Apple Store. A 10-spot Supercharger station will open later this fall in the west parking lot near Carroll Avenue.
Southlake makes the eighth gallery location in Texas for the California-based automaker, which also has more than 100 gallery and store locations across the country. According to a Tesla spokesperson, the new gallery opening will better serve the increased interest in Tesla vehicles in the region, further connecting Texas communities to the company’s mission of a sustainable energy future.
Although franchise dealer laws restrict Tesla from selling directly to buyers in Texas, gallery visitors can still learn about Tesla’s electric vehicles, visit with highly knowledgeable on-site staff, and can even enjoy test drives of the Model S and Model X to understand the many benefits of Tesla ownership. Prospective buyers can order a vehicle online or talk on the phone with Tesla employees in California.
According to Tesla Model S owner and Southlake resident Rick Bollar, there are several reasons for owning a Tesla—conservation and energy security, air quality, not being dependent on gas fuel, and performance (without engine noise)—all included with a 250-mile range.
“This range lets us do anything we want in the metroplex without considering ‘range anxiety.’ I often drive from Southlake to Dallas to Fort Worth to Southlake, and still have enough charge left to do the same drive a second time,” stated Bollar.
After acquiring his second Model S in Seattle, Bollar even turned the experience into a cross-country vacation through western Canada and the United States, making use of Tesla’s network of Superchargers, before returning to Texas.
Southlake Town Square currently has six public chargers for all electric vehicles, but will soon join the network of Tesla Supercharger stations with 10 Tesla-installed chargers. Texas residents currently have access to 29 Supercharger stations in the state, most placed along main highways. According to Tesla, the Supercharger Network is designed to be the fastest, most convenient, and extensive charging network in the world.
Aside from serving local and regional Tesla owners, the Southlake Supercharger station will also serve long-distance travelers who may not have otherwise stopped in Southlake, which is one of few locations in Texas to offer attractions within walking distance from chargers.
“Southlake is the perfect destination for visitors to stop and enjoy shopping, dining and entertainment while charging their vehicles. Tesla owners can even drop by the gallery to visit with staff about new software updates for their cars,” said City of Southlake Senior Marketing Manager Jill Lind.