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Superchargers power Tesla Model S EVs for over 8M miles [UPDATE]

Ahead of the company's press conference at the Detroit Auto Show tomorrow, Tesla is talking up its Supercharger network with some impressive numbers. Tesla's Alexis Georgeson told AutoblogGreen that Tesla Model S EVs have driven more than eight million miles on Supercharger fill-ups. That's the equivalent of 33-and-a-half trips to the moon and back. We can see how quickly the free Superchargers are getting popular by comparing this milestone to where we were four short months ago. At the end of September, after the Superchargers had been installed for a year, Tesla drivers had hit 3.2 million miles. The rapid increase since then is due mostly to there simply being a lot more chargers being available now. Tesla representatives told us that there are over 70 Supercharger stations in the world today (58 in North America and 14 in Europe) and that six were installed in the past week. Georgeson didn't have numbers on hand to say which stations were the most popular or other details, but did say that it's safe to assume that the Supercharger in Lusk, WY (pictured), part of a sweeping 'S' shape from Los Angeles through the northern US and on to Chicago and the East Coast, is not the most frequently visited. The next target for expansion is finishing the Boston-to-Miami corridor, which means putting in more Superchargers in North Florida and South Carolina. At CES last week, the Supercharger network won our AOL Technology of the Year award. *UPDATE: Tesla just let us know that 8 million is a little premature. The current number is actually closer to 7.5 million, but the total should crest the 8-million mark soon.

NY Gov. Cuomo in favor of revived anti-Tesla store legislation

When we last left the New York auto dealers and their fight against Tesla Motors, there scene was an uneasy ceasefire. The New York State Assembly and its backers from the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association said last summer that they would allow the three currently operating Tesla stores to continue operating but would pick up the issue again when the legislature reconvened in early 2014. Well, guess what? That time has come a new bill is being promoted that tries once again to stop the California automaker from selling its electric vehicles in its non-traditional way. The dealers say the bill doesn't target EV companies unfairly. Capital New York says representatives of the state's dealers have met with Governor Andrew Cuomo about the new bill and he apparently said he would sign it if it reaches his desk. The dealers say the bill doesn't target EV companies unfairly and just asks them to play by the same rules as everyone else, which means selling cars through traditional dealerships. Tesla says that traditional dealerships don't work for EVs and currently sells its Model S out of small stores in places like shopping malls. Actor Mark Ruffalo (best known as the Hulk in the recent Avengers movie) tweeted his support, saying that EVs are good for New York and that what the bill is trying to do is akin to stopping Apple from selling its products directly to customers. He also asked his many, many Twitter followers to call and oppose the bills. Tesla is fighting against similar laws and proposals in many other states, including Texas and Ohio. We have asked Tesla for a comment on the new New York legislation and will update this post if we hear back.

Elon Musk teases Tesla Roadster update

A holiday present is coming for Tesla enthusiasts, according to a Tweet from Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk. Like all good presents, we don't know what it'll be, though. Musk only said that details for an improved Roadster electric vehicle will be announced later this week. Ever the master of suspense, Musk would not provide further detail. He only said that a number of "crisis issues ... pushed this out longer than expected." Whatever it is, make mine red, Santa. Earlier this year at Tesla's annual shareholder meeting, Musk said the automaker would do "something cool" with the Roadster before the end of the year, though, again, he wasn't specific. In the summer, Musk told the UK's Auto Express that the Roadster would get an upgraded battery that would give the convertible a 400-mile single-charge range. That would make the convertible's range about 135 miles longer than the top-of-the-line Tesla Model S sedan. While a new Roadster has been talked about, this update is for the first-go-round model, which was sold in the US between 2008 and 2011 and had a single-charge range of 245 miles. Whether the longer range is the only news or if there's something else in store (all-wheel drive? more horsepower?), we'll all have to wait just a little bit longer to see. Featured Gallery 2012 Tesla Roadster Final Edition View 10 Photos News Source: Twitter/Elon Musk Green Tesla Electric roadster