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Drivers of electric vehicles can charge their cars while grabbing a bite, now that eight Tesla Superchargers have been installed outside Cafe Crust on County Road 39 in Southampton.
Each charger is capable of providing as much 120 kilowatts of power—which equates to roughly 150 miles of driving—in 30 minutes.
“As Tesla sees it, a critical component of the adoption of electric vehicles is to create a seamless and convenient charging experience wherever owners choose to travel,” Sonja Koch, the communications coordinator at Tesla, said in an email about the company’s decision to put chargers in the restaurant’s parking lot.
Ms. Koch said Tesla strategically places Superchargers along corridors that owners of the vehicles—which start at approximately $70,000 to purchase—like to travel. “Superchargers are located near amenities like roadside diners, cafes and shopping centers, so road-trippers can stop for a quick meal and have their Model S charged by the time they’re done,” she said.
Even though the idea sounds like it could help local businesses, David Wiesneski, the owner of Cafe Crust, said he has mixed feelings about the charging stations. Mr. Wiesneski said he thinks it would be great for people to come in and grab a drink and a bite at his restaurant, but that he fears that Tesla drivers will simply plug in and ask to use his bathroom—and unload their garbage on the premises.
“It’s not a family of four cruising around in a Tesla,” Mr. Wiesneski said.
Tesla charging terminals can also be found at the Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, the White Fences Inn in Water Mill, and the Montauk Yacht Club.
Greg Wehner on May 30, 2016