I was considering where I might site chargers with that $500K the State of California gave Tesla Motors.
I think I'd (do the obvious and) focus on the population centers and the connections between them. As such, I'd probably look at the the coastal cities (San Diego, metro LA, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, San Jose, San Francisco) with a few others inland (Bakersfield, Fresno, Modesto, Sacramento). I'd also add a couple of tourist outliers (Palm Springs, Tahoe, Napa).
North of San Francisco, the cities become quite small, even rural. Perhaps only Santa Rosa and Eureka might warrant a look, but I'm not sure I'd put them on the first list.
These cities all mostly lie within 100 miles or so of another of them. With the exception of the outliers, they also all lie on one of the three major north-south highways (Interstate 5, U.S. 101, or California State 99).
I think I'd want to follow on with the idea of placing the chargers in higher-end hotels, which are really ideal spots. I'd probably avoid rest stops, as the charger station doesn't seem to be vandal-resistant for the moment.
I'm guessing that a relatively few well-placed sites, perhaps as few as 100, would enable a patient driver to cross California and always be within range of another charger.
I think I'd (do the obvious and) focus on the population centers and the connections between them. As such, I'd probably look at the the coastal cities (San Diego, metro LA, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, San Jose, San Francisco) with a few others inland (Bakersfield, Fresno, Modesto, Sacramento). I'd also add a couple of tourist outliers (Palm Springs, Tahoe, Napa).
North of San Francisco, the cities become quite small, even rural. Perhaps only Santa Rosa and Eureka might warrant a look, but I'm not sure I'd put them on the first list.
These cities all mostly lie within 100 miles or so of another of them. With the exception of the outliers, they also all lie on one of the three major north-south highways (Interstate 5, U.S. 101, or California State 99).
I think I'd want to follow on with the idea of placing the chargers in higher-end hotels, which are really ideal spots. I'd probably avoid rest stops, as the charger station doesn't seem to be vandal-resistant for the moment.
I'm guessing that a relatively few well-placed sites, perhaps as few as 100, would enable a patient driver to cross California and always be within range of another charger.
