Watching for I-70 Superchargers from Denver to St. Louis

[xhawk101]

Cross posting Kc service center is now open!

 

[bluefuego]

Columbia has turned into quite a debacle. There have been 3 or 4 false starts. The conspiracy theorist me has come up with ridiculous scenarios of an evil car dealership overlord bullying and intimidating local government and potential locations. :-/. Say it ain't so.

Perhaps Tesla should consider looking outside of Columbia? Kingdom City or Boonville, perhaps?

 

[jvonbokel]

The conspiracy theorist me has come up with ridiculous scenarios of an evil car dealership overlord bullying and intimidating local government and potential locations. :-/. Say it ain't so.

I can't help but have some of the same thoughts creeping into my head. Thankfully, the optimist in me is stronger, and I think if it comes down to Columbia being the last link in the chain for I-70, Tesla could always just buy some old convenience store or restaurant with a 10-space parking lot and install Superchargers there. Probably wouldn't cost them all that much, and if they ran into any nefarious pressuring at that point, they'd have a lot more to stand on as land owners than as potential lessees.

Btw, if it is dealership money/effort behind their struggles, it's likely not coming from inside Columbia, but rather at the state or national level, in which case it would extend to neighboring towns. I would think the same lobby (*cough*NADA*cough*) that doesn't want Tesla's sales model to succeed would love to see them fail to connect I-70 (as well as other major interstate routes) with their free charging network. But that's just the conspiracy theorist side talking.

 

[Jdcleary]

Exactly!

My strong hints for Independence and St Charles are still valid, and hopefully someone will see some action at those locations in the coming months.

Just heard today from a KC Tesla Service person that Independence, Mo will be the site for a Supercharge… near Applebees?

Nobody, I mean nobody, would like to see that more than me. We have made 12 trips up and down I-35 from NW AR to MN & WI for the past 22 months and it has required night sleepovers in KC and Ames, IA. Our last trip was a one night stay-over with a 3 hour stop at the Hotel Raphael in KC (nice lunch) and an overnighter at the Casino in Osceola, IA. From there you can make it to the Albert Lea Supercharger but drive slowly in single digit temperatures.

Go Tesla... and hurry

 

[SW2Fiddler]

Testify.
I like Louisiana, but I'd rather not have to depend on Lake Charles as a gateway to Minnesota! Kind of out of the way.

 

[ajax]

I can't help but have some of the same thoughts creeping into my head. Thankfully, the optimist in me is stronger, and I think if it comes down to Columbia being the last link in the chain for I-70, Tesla could always just buy some old convenience store or restaurant with a 10-space parking lot and install Superchargers there. Probably wouldn't cost them all that much, and if they ran into any nefarious pressuring at that point, they'd have a lot more to stand on as land owners than as potential lessees.

Btw, if it is dealership money/effort behind their struggles, it's likely not coming from inside Columbia, but rather at the state or national level, in which case it would extend to neighboring towns. I would think the same lobby (*cough*NADA*cough*) that doesn't want Tesla's sales model to succeed would love to see them fail to connect I-70 (as well as other major interstate routes) with their free charging network. But that's just the conspiracy theorist side talking.

Yeah, Columbia is a pretty progressive college town. I'd be surprised if local officials are blocking it, but if anyone has reason to believe otherwise, please let me know and I'll make my voice heard. I'm not a Model S owner, but I know there are several around town.

I wonder if the Joe Machens dealership has something to do with it. They've got a stranglehold on our market with 11 locations in Columbia along I-70. That's a lot for a small town and they're the only source for new Ford, Toyota, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Volkswagon, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Fiat, Scion, Lincon, Mazda, and Ram.

 

[jvonbokel]

I wonder if the Joe Machens dealership has something to do with it. They've got a stranglehold on our market with 11 locations in Columbia along I-70.

Wow, I hadn't realized that. Sure seems reasonable that a business that large in a town that small would carry quite a bit of weight. Not to mention it looks like they have a dealership in the state capitol as well (their only one outside Columbia).

That said, I certainly hope they're not the reason for Tesla's multiple delays and/or false starts in Columbia. On the bright side, Tesla's newly updated maps show they still have every intention of putting a Supercharger in/near Columbia this year.

 

[basf_audio]

Heard Saint Louis opening in the next two weeks (yet no signs of construction...) and Columbia end of February...

 

[Sudre]

I wonder if the Joe Machens dealership has something to do with it.

NO not at all. That would be so silly to think anything like that at all....

Mike Kehoe Ford sold to Joe Machens dealerships.
http://www.connectmidmissouri.com/news/story.aspx?id=678705

Yes that is Missouri Senator Mike Kehoe and once owner of the Jefferson City dealership, the one I believe put the anti-Tesla language into the not so long ago bill, sold his dealership to Machens.
But don't worry. It's all just a bunch of conspiracy theories. Move along.

 

[Skotty]

I checked in KC around the Bass Pro Ship again (near intersection of I-70 and I-470) and no sign of any Tesla construction there...yet. They are building a new hotel there, and there is ample parking space in the area, so it is still a very viable location. I could see possibly Superchargers popping up once they finish the hotel construction.

 

[bluefuego]

Well, I'm cruising the Dierberg's parking lot in St Charles. Haven't found anything yet. :-(

 

[efusco]

Well, I'm cruising the Dierberg's parking lot in St Charles. Haven't found anything yet. :-(

Look HARDER!!
After driving to the Colorado Mountains from Springfield, MO area (and home tomorrow) and getting to witness the nice chain of Superchargers from Silverthorn all the way to Topeka, but not any beyond to easily allow me to travel this route it is even more frustrating knowing that literally only 5 more supercharger stations in Missouri would open up almost the entire country for me (3 on I-70, 2 on I-44). I do appreciate those living close checking often for signs of progress.

 

[bluefuego]

Look HARDER!!

heh... If looking HARDER was all it took, I would be out there every day circling the parking lots. In addition to the aforementioned Dierberg's and the nearby Schnuck's AND Applebee's, I checked the new development at 70 and 5th street (this is where I think it should be). (I skipped the Bass Pro shopping area - I'll hit that next time.)

NADA :crying:

I have a tennis match out in St. Charles again on Friday - will plan on more scouring after.

 

[slipdrive]

Look HARDER!!
After driving to the Colorado Mountains from Springfield, MO area (and home tomorrow) and getting to witness the nice chain of Superchargers from Silverthorn all the way to Topeka, but not any beyond to easily allow me to travel this route it is even more frustrating knowing that literally only 5 more supercharger stations in Missouri would open up almost the entire country for me (3 on I-70, 2 on I-44). I do appreciate those living close checking often for signs of progress.

Welcome to Colorado Dr. Fusco! Hope you enjoyed your trip... Next year hopefully you can sail here at high voltage!!

 

[efusco]

Welcome to Colorado Dr. Fusco! Hope you enjoyed your trip... Next year hopefully you can sail here at high voltage!!

You provided amazing weather and great snow. I do expect to drive the Model X next year barring any further production delays.

 

[Sudre]

The only parking lot I ever saw with any construction on it in St. Charles was near the Saint Charles Eye Center, 1005 Fairgrounds Road.
I appeared to just be a little retaining wall maintenance. Wouldn't hurt to check it out again. It was close to the Bass Pro Shop.

 

[BlueShift]

I started a thread for the St. Charles MO supercharger here: Supercharger - St. Charles, MO

 

[SW2Fiddler]

I can't seem to get this out of my head, as the eventual last word on the Case Of The MO NADA Monster:
"I would have gotten away with it, too!
If it weren't for those meddling Tesla Owners and their smart cars..."

Maybe because Saturday morning

 

[Cottonwood]

I started a thread for the St. Charles MO supercharger here: Supercharger - St. Charles, MO

Cross posted from that thread:

Great find! Congratulations!

Missouri may soon lose it's dubious honor as the highest population state in the U.S. without a Supercharger.


From Watching for I-70 Superchargers from Denver to St. Louis - Page 24 on 12/12/2014:

Because you liked that one so much, another Google vision came to Cottonwood: St Charles — Google Maps

This vision could be past, present, or future...let's just hope Tesla is not a past-style Scrooge in Missouri.

I was just a month or two ahead of reality. Compare the map cited above to the recently found permit, 1981 Zumbehl Rd, St Charles, MO 63303 - Google Maps.​

 

[samcarney]

Look HARDER!!
After driving to the Colorado Mountains from Springfield, MO area (and home tomorrow) and getting to witness the nice chain of Superchargers from Silverthorn all the way to Topeka, but not any beyond to easily allow me to travel this route it is even more frustrating knowing that literally only 5 more supercharger stations in Missouri would open up almost the entire country for me (3 on I-70, 2 on I-44). I do appreciate those living close checking often for signs of progress.

I just completed a trip from Michigan to California in my Model S85. I did not want to take the northern supercharger route Wisconsin, South Dakota, etc. in mid-January. I used superchargers from St. Joe, MI to Springfield, IL. The next supercharger is in Topeka, KS approx. 400 miles from Springfield, IL. There are 2 public chargers (Chargepoint card required, but free) in Columbia, MO that is half way between Springfield and Topeka. The Stoney Creek Hotel is a 1/4 mile from the chargers. A nice hotel stay and an overnight charge and I was on my way to Topeka in the morning. From Topeka to LA was dream, plenty of superchargers allowed me to travel the speed limit or (ahem slightly above) for the remainder of the trip.
Benton Harbor, MI to Manhattan Beach, CA. Four and one-half days and 2300 miles all electric.
Looking forward to some SC's in Missouri soon.