Monday, 26 March 2018
Tesla charging station coming to Hy-Vee
BY JEFF MONTGOMERY
TH staff writer
Biz Buzz shares business tidbits from around the tristate area. This week, we highlight businesses in Dubuque, Bellevue and Elkader.
A new construction project taking place outside the Hy-Vee on Locust Street has nothing to do with groceries.
About two weeks ago, crews began installing charging stations for electric Tesla vehicles.
The Tesla Supercharger site will be located on the west side of the Hy-Vee parking lot and will feature eight charging stations, which will look similar to gas pumps.
These stations will be connected through underground conduit to nearby power-generating equipment, which will be obscured within a small enclosure.
Construction of Tesla Supercharger sites generally takes four to six weeks. Hy-Vee officials said a specific date has not been established for when the Supercharger will become operational.
“We view it as killing two birds with one stone,” said John Brehm, director of site planning for Hy-Vee. “This project fits into our sustainability goals and it also provides a wanted and needed customer service. It makes it really convenient for Tesla owners to be able to stop and fuel up.”
The Locust Street Hy-Vee will become the eleventh Hy-Vee in the country to incorporate Tesla Superchargers.
Brehm said Tesla approached Hy-Vee about the plan in hopes of creating a network of charging stations that extends from Chicago to Denver.