![The first Tesla store is finally open in EV-loving Vermont [update]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/Tesla-South-Burlington-.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
The first Tesla store is finally open in EV-loving Vermont [update]
New Englanders, rejoice – at last, Vermont’s first Tesla store is now open in South Burlington.
IT’S HEEEEEERRRREEEE!
January 26: The Vermont Tesla store is so not going to open in the latter half of January, as we initially expected. One of our readers (thanks, Doug!) went past the store today and spoke to a supervisor, who said there was still a lot of work to do and that the store wouldn’t open until March 1 at the earliest. He took a photo of the store’s interior and shared it with us:
Yeah, that is nowhere near being ready for launch in four days, lol.
Vermont’s first (and only) Tesla store
December 22: Up until now, Vermont’s approximately 3,000 Tesla drivers have had to travel to Latham, New York, for service and repairs. If you wanted to buy or lease a new Tesla, you’d have to go all the way to New Jersey to pick it up – if you wanted to order to avoid the hefty delivery charge. Both Tesla stores are a few hours’ drive each way from Vermont. (Tesla also offers mobile service to Vermont residents, but the traveling technicians can’t provide the same full service as in the shop.)
But now it’s official: A former Hannaford Supermarket now has a large Tesla sign across the front. The South Burlington store is expected to open in the latter half of January.
Vermont state law was revised in 2021 to allow direct sales of EVs to customers, and South Burlington made a zoning change to allow car sales at the former supermarket site.
Tesla just opened a store at Mohegan Sun, a casino and resort in Connecticut. The move was made because the Mohegan Tribe owns the land, which serves as a workaround because the state bans direct car sales by car makers. (The state does, however, allow direct leasing.)
There aren’t any Tesla stores in New Hampshire, so the state’s residents will also benefit from this development.
Electrek’s Take
This is extremely welcome news for a lot of people (not just me, lol). The state has a small population, but per capita, it’s in the top 5 in the country for EV drivers. Drive Electric Vermont reported in July that there were 10,022 plug-in electric vehicles registered in Vermont – a 34% jump over 2022.
And Chittenden County, where South Burlington is, has the highest rate of EV ownership, with about 1 EV for every 47 people.
Having a Tesla store in the state will only boost those numbers, as it will attract new buyers. And, of course, there are those of us who are cheering its arrival because we won’t have to drive out of state anymore.
Read more: I just bought my very first Tesla. Here’s what happened
Photo: Todd R. Lockwood/New England Electric Auto Association Group
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On today’s informative episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got Honda engineers Jason Hwang and Emilio Sanchez to talk us through some of the things that make the GM Ultium-based Honda Prologue EV feel like a real Honda, and why that matters.
Jason and Emilio talk about some of the choices they made to make the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX feel different from its GM-branded cousins, and explain why this was much more than a case of badge-engineering. Give it a listen, then let us know what you think of the Prologue and ZDX in the comments.
Today’s episode is sponsored by BLUETTI, a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 52% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday sale, now through November 28, and be sure to use promo code BLUETTI5OFF for 5% off all power stations site wide. Learn more by clicking here.
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Read more: All my favorite EVs, racecars, and robots from Electrify Expo Austin.
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The first EV charging hub funded by the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Program in the Eastern US is now online in Deerfield, Massachusetts.
The town installed the region’s first DC fast chargers (four ports), along with four Level 2 chargers, at 59 North Main Street in South Deerfield.
These new charging stations, funded with $2.46 million from the CFI program, are conveniently located near Interstate 91 in Franklin County, the most rural county in Massachusetts, which serves drivers from Connecticut up to the Canadian border.
The hub also features local and regional bus stops and designated bike lanes with secure onsite bike racks. The chargers are meant to cater to everyone: from local residents and visitors to municipal EVs and commercial vehicles that service the region’s businesses, like those in food and beverage manufacturing.
Gabe Klein, executive director of the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, sees this as a model for future projects:
Multi-modal charging hubs in communities are key to giving more people the choice to ride and drive electric. The Town of Deerfield is showing leadership in building out convenient charging infrastructure that brings new transportation choices to rural and disadvantaged communities while supporting local commerce.
In recent years, Deerfield has experienced increased climate change-driven flooding from nearby rivers, including the Deerfield River, the Connecticut River, and the Bloody Brook. The project incorporates environmental engineering designed to mitigate and adapt to the effects of flooding and climate, including the installation of permeable asphalt and rain gardens, planting of native trees, grasses, and shrubs, and the creation of new greenspace in the center of Deerfield.
The Biden-Harris administration’s CFI Grant Program is expanding EV infrastructure nationwide. It offers grants for projects that complement and expand upon the initiatives of the NEVI program in urban, rural, and disadvantaged and low-income communities. So far, the CFI Grant Program has allocated over $1 billion to nearly 100 projects across the US, encouraging private investments and expanding the EV charging network to make EV ownership more practical and convenient.
Read more: The US reaches milestone of 200,000+ public EV charging ports
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Kia’s upcoming EV4 electric sedan was just spotted testing in the US for the first time. The low-cost EV is expected to make its big debut by the end of the year. Here’s a look at the new model.
The EV4 will round out Kia’s new “EVs for all” master plan launched last year. Kia showcased three new models, the EV3, EV4, and EV5, during its first annual EV Day in October 2023.
During the event, Kia outlined its new global strategy to “lead and accelerate the EV revolution” with a wide range of models priced from $30,000 to $80,000.
Kia plans to rapidly expand its lineup with a series of smaller, lower-priced models. It launched the EV9, its first three-row electric SUV, which is already proving to be a hot seller in the US. Starting at under $55,000, the EV9 is still a great deal compared to others in its class, but Kia plans to go even lower.
The EV3 and EV4 are expected to be among the most affordable electric vehicles when they arrive in the US.
Kia’s new EV4 is now testing in the US
Ahead of its official debut, Kia’s new EV4 sedan was recently caught driving on US streets for the first time.
The latest image from KindelAuto doesn’t reveal much more than what’s been shown in the past, but the fact that it’s now testing in the US is significant.
Kia’s EV3 is already on sale in Korea, starting at around $30,000 (42.08 million won). Earlier this week, the company said its new compact SUV is now available across Europe, starting at around $38,000 (36,000 euros) with a “segment-leading range” of up to 375 miles (WLTP).
Next up will be the EV4. Kia is expected to officially reveal the new EV by the end of the year, with deliveries starting in 2025. It could be as soon as next week at the 2024 LA Auto Show.
The interior will feature Kia’s advanced new ccNC infotainment system with dual 12.3″ navigation and driver display screens. An otherwise minalimalistic design is expected inside.
Kia’s EV4 will also be available in a hatchback variant. Although the hatch is likely aimed at European buyers, it was also recently spotted testing in the US for the first time.
We will learn official prices closer to launch, but the EV4 is expected to start at around $35,000 to $40,000.
Kia is teasing five new vehicles for the US, at least one being a new EV, that will debut at the LA Auto Show next week. Will it be the EV3? EV4?
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