Tesla opens its first Superchargers
Six fast-charging stations in California began what became one of the world's largest charging networks.
Archive entry. This article looks back at an event from September 24, 2012. It was drafted with AI assistance from public records and is being fact-checked. See our About page.
On September 24, 2012, Tesla opened its first six Supercharger stations in California. They were built to charge Model S cars much faster than ordinary public chargers, adding substantial range in about half an hour, and were free for owners at first.
Tesla added stations along major highways to make long road trips practical in an electric car, which it saw as key to getting more people to switch.
Over the following years the network grew into the thousands of stations worldwide. In 2022 Tesla opened its charging connector design to others, and many carmakers later adopted it as the North American standard.
