Flickr/Robert Nordqvist
Tesla wants its massive Supercharger network to run on solar power or batteries in order to disconnect from the electric grid, which is still largely powered by natural gas and coal.Musk said on Twitter that Tesla is currently installing solar panels and batteries at its Supercharger stations as part of that goal.
"All Superchargers are being converted to solar/battery power," Musk said. "Over time, almost all will disconnect from the electricity grid."
Tesla's network of Superchargers, which is set to double in number by the end of this year, can restore 170 miles of range in just 30 minutes, making it one of Tesla's biggest customer perks.
Musk broke the news in response to a Twitter user's criticism that Tesla's Superchargers are powered by dirty energy. Natural gas currently powers 34% of the US' electricity, followed by coal and nuclear power, according to the Washington Post.
Although electric vehicles still cut overall vehicle emissions, experts from UC Davis have discussed the important of decarbonizing the electric grid.
"Vehicle electrification can cut vehicle energy use and CO2 emissions," UC Davis wrote in its 2017 report 'Three Revolutions in Urban Transportation.' "However, for electrification to have maximum benefits, power generation must be strongly shifted away from fossil fuels and deeply decarbonized."
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All Superchargers are being converted to solar/battery power. Over time, almost all will disconnect from the electricity grid.
- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 9, 2017