The luxury electric car company makes its way to Seaside By Wendy O. Dixon
As a leader in urban mobility, Seaside was the first town in the 30A community to have a free charging station for electric cars, with two Tesla superchargers and one universal charger. Recently, the newest Tesla models were on display in town. Curious drivers could take a road test around town and discover the benefits of driving an electric car.
Seaside is one of thousands of locations travelers can access on a Tesla touch screen that indicates where charging stations are located. The Tesla can travel up to 270 miles on a single charge, which takes about 20 minutes to charge. Tesla pays for the construction and maintenance of each station.
David Rauschkolb, owner of Bud & Alley’s Waterfront Restaurant, the Bud & Alley’s Pizza Bar and the Bud & Alley’s Taco Bar, has a Tesla
Model S and Tesla Model X. He and his wife, Carol, have since ditched the gas station. “I can’t help but smile when I pass a gas station and know I don’t have to stop,” he says.
The charging station, equipped to accommodate two cars, is completely recyclable. The Tesla Superchargers are fast-charging stations capable of delivering half a charge in about 20 minutes. Its convenient location allows the car owners to browse the shops and grab lunch while their car charges — free of charge, so to speak.
“Not only is it a great amenity for car owners,” Rauschkolb says, “it’s a great example for promoting clean energy transportation along 30A.”
As more people purchase electric cars, Seaside will surely be a pit stop. “It is a great opportunity and it’s free. I envision that people will come from Atlanta and Montgomery and other cities to charge up while they’re visiting here,” Rauschkolb predicts.