Tesla has spent $18 million to expand its Supercharging presence in New York City as it acquired a lot in the borough of Queens on August 16.
Perhaps one of the most difficult parts of being an electric vehicle owner in New York City is the fact that charging is in short supply, leading to a problematic ownership experience.
Earlier this year, we discussed how Tesla combatted congestion with EV owners who drive Lyft and Uber with congestion fees.
The automaker also confirmed earlier this year that it would build more Supercharger sites in New York, with more locations coming to the boroughs of Queens, Staten Island, and Brooklyn.
Tesla plans to expand Supercharger presence in New York City
Now, it seems Tesla is making that move by building on an $18 million lot in Queens.
First reported by the Commercial Observer, Tesla bought an $18 million lot that spans over 40,000 square feet in size from Wildflower, a real estate firm.
Credit: New York City Department of Finance – Office of the City Register
The deal was signed by Max de Zegher, one of the two Supercharging executives who was let go in April as Tesla started to eliminate up to 20,000 employees. de Zegher was brought back by Tesla in May.
New York City has become one of the most prevalent areas in terms of EVs for ride-sharing. The City has incentivized drivers to choose EVs through various programs, but real estate is so hard to come by that charging continues to be an issue.
However, it seems there are more attempts to build out a charging infrastructure in the Big Apple, as it certainly needs it. NYC plans to have a zero-emissions fleet and also has wants to install 13 fast-charging hubs, a charging depot in the Bronx, and 30 fast-chargers at the Taxi and Limousine Commission’s Woodside inspection facility.
Do you agree with this move? If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.
