StoryMap | Tesla Motors Superchargers Point West

StoryMap Update, Friday, March 7th:

The growing craft beer brewer, Two Brothers Brewing company (www.twobrothersbrewing.com), recently welcomed electric car supercharging stations at its Aurora roundhouse restaurant/cafe/brewery parking lot. The Aurora location hosts four Tesla Motor supercharging stations—they provide a 150 mile charge in about 20 minutes—and Jason and Jim Ebel of Two Brothers are electric car owners (Model S owners). The adjacent parking lot—Commuter train—area also has two level II charging for other electric cars. 

I contacted Two Brothers for more information on how supercharging stations came about, see Q&A below:

Q: How did the charging stations come about, did Two Brothers find Tesla? Or Vice versa? And, who were some of the players from both company?
A: Tesla contacted Two Brothers while they were searching through a number of different locations for their next charging station. The Ebel brothers interviewed with Tesla in November, and Tesla selected the Roundhouse location shortly after.

Q: Any ideas why Tesla choose Aurora?
It has not been explained why Tesla chose to install the stations at Two Brothers Roundhouse, but I think the fact that the brothers owning Model S helped and the location of the Roundhouse. Aurora is centrally located in the state and the Roundhouse is adjacent to the Metra.

Q: Have the Ebel Brothers of Two Brothers tested out the Fast Charging stations, yet?

A: The charging station at the Two Brothers Roundhouse was officially charged last week (March 1&2) and it charged its first “test” car that day. Since then there have been a couple of Tesla’s spotted using the station in the Two Brothers Roundhouse parking lot throughout the week and weekend.

Q: What kind of Model S cars do the Ebel brothers own?
A: Both Brothers have Model S 85 Signatures

Q: When did the charging stations arrive or how long did it take for Tesla's contractors to install the charging stations?
A: The stations arrived about a month ago and due to the weather it took about 3 weeks to install and the Tesla team had wait for the ground to thaw.

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Original post from Monday, March 3:

"I left my home in Norfolk Virginia
California on my mind."~ Chuck Berry, Promised Land

A recent update on Tesla Motor's Supercharger page shows that the Fremont, Calif.-based automaker is pointing west with its first station that will connect to I-80, the gateway road to the west from Chicago. The automaker unveiled four supercharging stations at Two Brothers Brewing Company (www.twobrothersbrewing.com) parking lot this weekend, located inA Tesla Model S sits next to the new Tesla supercharging stations, located in the Two Brothers Brewing Company's parking lot. The building was originally a train "roundhouse" that was transformed to a craft brewing restaurant and facility. Aurora, Illinois (35 miles west of Chicago). Interstate 88 runs through Aurora, Ill. and feeds into I-80 as you move west toward Iowa.

Illinois has history with western roads, namely Route 66 that starts in Chicago proper and winds its way to Los Angeles. That road was symbolic for Americans' growing love of the road and freedom associated with the more technically-advanced autos.

From the supercharging map, Tesla plans to build out the I-80 route after I-70 is finished later this year. The I-70 route starts in St. Louis for Tesla Motors and will connect to Denver. From there, it seems the company is targeting a route through Colorado to Las Vegas, and eventually to the promised land of California for 2014. 

Full disclosure: I'm a fan of Two Brothers' many beer offerings and, of course, Tesla. 

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