Perennial disappointment. From a safety perspective in particular, the completion of the I-10 corridor from Tucson to San Antonio has been of key importance and, inexplicably and unjustifiably, almost completely ignored.
That 1800-mile stretch has impact not just for AZ and NM, as might well be the myopic thinking of whoever's managing the Southwest Region buildout, but for EVERY DRIVER who wants to get from the eastern US to the western US during Fall, Winter, and Spring. Today there remains NO 12-month route that doesn't require carrying chains.
If you're in Florida and want to get to SoCal, you are forced to hang a hard right at/near Baton Rouge to get routed through TORNADO country and east then into the BLACK ICE of the high desert before dropping down from 7000 feet. And that's if you don't run out of battery between TX and NM even with a 100% charge due to a magic combo of elevation, temperature and higher speed limits.
They built I-10 for a reason, folks. It was forecast for completion back in 2014 for 2015, and there was exactly ZERO progress in 2015 and now in 2016 which is almost half over. Talk about misrepresentation.
There are 2 sited SCs west of San Antonio now. That leaves them at least 6 short in such places as Tucson/Benson, Deming, El Paso and Van Horn. *Maybe* we get those in 2017. Maybe.
Meanwhile, there's no way short of RV parks or the kindness of strangers to even get west of Tucson along I-10 at this time.
Pretty sad stuff. My buying decision was based in part upon what was promised/forecast in 2014. If they hadn't forecast it in 2014, 2015, and 2016 and made exactly ZERO profess thereto, that would be different, now wouldn't it. My selling decision will be based in part upon results or, in this case, the lack thereof.
Happily, this will get resolved by 2018 either by Tesla or by the expansion of Chademos, or just by cars having better range. Wishful thinking that there will be a Chademo in Van Horn, but stranger things have happened.
And in fairness, even a 300-mile range won't close the 1800-mile wasteland from AZ to TX anytime soon. Tesla needs to meet their commitments, replace management as necessary if there's resistance or excuses in place or results, and site those last 6 SCs.
After all, it's not like they're trying to land a rocket on w barge. Just trying to keep people out of tornados, black ice, and challenging range scenarios while at the same time meeting published commitments.
No, it's not rocket science.