Being that a Tesla is outside my price range for the next few years, I thought I'd instead spend my time thinking about where superchargers will appear in Tasmania when the time comes. (I should point out this doesn't mean I'm expecting it anytime soon.. no doubt the Melbourne-Adelaide path, south-west WA, and maybe a bit more of the Qld coast will come first)
I'm going on the assumption that people will charge at home and the superchargers will be mainly for travelling in between the cities and tourism locations. The mainland superchargers are generally 170-190km apart so I'll go with a similar distance.
One thing to consider is that if you are driving more than 200km in Tasmania you are more than likely going somewhere remote.
I've also taken into account the fact that some of Tasmania's minor roads are quite windy and hilly and energy consumption will not be as good there.
Basic coverage would include two superchargers:
*
Elizabeth Town, Bass Highway
- Along major highways: 171km to Smithton, 90km to Burnie, 44km to Devonport, 56km to Launceston, 111km to George Town (and other Tamar Valley locations)
- Along more windy roads: 93km to Cradle Mountain, 81km to Great Lake/Miena, 120km to Scottsdale
- Ideal businesses to host. ETC (Elizabeth Town Cafe) or Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm - Pros: both are very popular stops. ETC is open 6am-late. Almost every tourist stops at the Raspberry Farm. Cons: neither are 24 hour.
... approx 187km from...
*
Kempton, Midland Highway
- Along major highways: 151km to Launceston, 49km to Hobart, 193km to Freycinet (a few minor roads here - may be risking it)
- Along a mix of major/minor roads: 106km to Geeveston (Huon Valley), 119km to Port Arthur (Tasman Peninsula), 143km to Swansea
- Ideal business to host: Mood Food (24 hour service station) Pros: open 24 hour. Cons: A service station - but locally owned.
What areas are outside the 200km return distance here?
* The west coast (Strahan/Queenstown)
* The northern part of the east coast (St Helens/St Marys)
* The central highlands (Lake St Clair, etc)
* The remote southwest
If Tesla wanted to start with three superchargers, then replacing the Elizabeth Town site with two -
Burnie (on the north-west coast) and
Perth (just south of Launceston) - would be ideal. This would take care of pretty much all the dead zones in the northern half of the state. Burnie is at the junction to the Murchison Highway (the main highway from the north-west to the west coast), and Perth is conveniently on both the Launceston-Hobart and the Devonport-Hobart route.
The distances between superchargers in this arrangement would be 145km (Burnie-Perth) and 133km (Perth-Kempton)
I'm not sure of a suitable host in Burnie, but it is a city of 20,000 so it shouldn't be hard to find somewhere.
In Perth, the Caltex Perth Roadhouse would be best - it is right on the junction of the highways. Con: It is a service station, is not 24 hour.
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