SuperCharger Network in Texas in Need of Investment

Whether it’s the new Tesla Gigafactory in Austin or the relocation of Tesla HQ to the Lone Star State, Texas is set to see a massive continued investment by Tesla moving into the new year. This investment seems to be coming at the perfect time as the Tesla charger infrastructure is already in need of investment and improvement in Houston and other areas.

‍

Why Texas Is In Need of EV Charging Investment

‍

Over the past few years, Texas EV advocates have pushed for investment in EV charging stations. There’s a good reason for this. Texas poses some unique challenges when it comes to EVs. First, Texas creates a unique challenge for Tesla owners. Texas is the second largest state by land mass, meaning it simply requires more charging stations to accommodate drivers covering these larger distances. Recently, Dallas reporters for WFAA attempted to drive a Tesla on a 20-hour road trip around Texas to see if the charging network could support their trip. Surprisingly, on their trip they found just one fast charger station between the Austin and Houston suburbs that wasn’t working properly when they pulled up! This report supports the push for a more reliable and improved charging infrastructure.

Furthermore, Texas’ population is growing and EVs are on the rise. A recent study from Environment Texas found that the number of EVs in Houston is estimated to increase to 65,000 by 2030 and that the city will need to add at least 2,000 more Houston Tesla Superchargers to keep pace with demand.

‍

Charging your EV efficiently?
Save automatically with Optiwatt

‍

Status of the Houston Telsa Supercharger Network

In 2017 there were around 30 Superchargers in Texas. How does this stack up to other States?  California, the former home of Tesla’s HQ, has around 1,900 Tesla Superchargers as of 2018! Understandably, the growing adoption of EV in Texas is going to accelerate the demand for an improved Houston Tesla Supercharger network. To keep up with the growing charging demand, in 2017 Tesla planned to push for a doubling of the amount of Superchargers in Texas. Unfortunately, Texans didn’t see the investment they were hoping for. Nearly five years later, the Houston Tesla Supercharger network has grown to around 132 Superchargers with many more set to come online soon.

‍

Where is Texas Supercharging Headed?

‍

With the construction of the Tesla Gigafactory in Austin and Elon Musk formally relocating Tesla HQ, Texas is set to see a lot of Tesla investment. Musk noted that this new Gigafactory site is set to build the Tesla Cybertruck, Model Y, Model 3 and Tesla Semi. The factory alone will account for 5,000 jobs and a total of $1 billion investment towards the project. The months to come should be interesting for the future of the Tesla Supercharger network in Texas. 

If you would like to learn more about what times of day you should be charging, check out Optiwatt – a free app that schedules your charges and ensures the cheapest price possible. If you’d like to keep up-to-date with all things Tesla charging, check out some of our other articles such as Tesla Charging Practices: Tips For Charging Your Tesla In Extreme Texas Weather.

‍

How to Plan a Road Trip with a Tesla Supercharger?

Planning a road trip involves knowing where your charging stations are laid out and determining your mileage accordingly. Fuel your savings instead of your vehicle and see how Optiwatt can help you save up to 70% with every charge.