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BMW dismisses Tesla tie-up talk

Despite recent rumors to the contrary, don't expect to see much collaboration between Tesla and BMW in the near future. Based on some rather prickly statements from the German automaker, Elon Musk might have even burnt some bridges in Bavaria with his latest proclamations. The spat stems from Musk's recent interview with German magazine Der Spiegel where he discusses future collaboration with BMW on "battery technology or charging stations" and the possibility of a battery factory in Germany. But apparently, any future tie-ups are news to the Bavarian automaker. In an interview with the German business publication Wirtschafts Woche, an unnamed spokesperson for the company claims Musk said it all for PR value and swats down most of the statements. BMW has no intention of acquiring Tesla shares, and they aren't working together on any tech. There's not much chance for future cooperation on a battery factory in Germany, either. BMW believes that the cells can just as easily be purchased from suppliers, like other auto parts. The one slight concession is that the spokesperson said that the German automaker would be willing to supply Tesla with carbon fiber. That's not an exclusive offer, though, and the company is open to negotiate such a deal with any interested automaker.

Recharge Wrap-up: Tesla Model 3 reservation priorities, Opel builds Ampera-e in US?

Opel will build the Ampera-e EV in the US. According to a report from German magazine Automobil Produktion, the electric Opel will be built alongside its sibling, the Chevrolet Bolt, at GM's Orion Assembly plant near Detroit, Michigan. GM CEO Mary Barra did not disclose the location of the Ampera-e's assembly, and Opel declined to comment on the report. A Vauxhall spokesman in the UK declined to comment on whether the car would be sold there as a right-hand-drive model. Read more from Automotive News Europe. How will Tesla prioritize reservations for the Model 3? While some folks argue that orders should be prioritized according to time zone, others think all the Tesla stores should open at the same exact time, regardless of time zone. What is more likely, however, is that places where more deliveries take place will get their cars before locations with fewer buyers, for the sake of efficiency. Elon Musk has also said that the cars ordered with the most options will be built first. Read more at Teslarati. The Zoleco is an attempt at ultimate aerodynamic car design. Built by Zoltan Bod in British Columbia, it is a body concept that will potentially be sold as a kit meant for various propulsion systems. The idea is to reduce aerodynamic drag as much as possible, while saving weight wherever possible, in order to get the greatest efficiency out of the powerplant - be it gas, electric or some other form of energy. Bod says the car can achieve 151 mpg at 45 mph, or 91 mpg at 65 mph using a turbocharged, three-cylinder gasoline engine. Learn more at the Zoleco website. Featured Gallery Opel Ampera-e View 12 Photos News Source: Automotive News Europe, Teslarati, ZolecoImage Credit: Opel Design/Style Green Plants/Manufacturing GM Automakers Tesla Opel Fuel Efficiency Green Automakers Electric recharge wrapup

Tesla expands Supercharger network in central Europe

While you can't drive a Tesla from the US to Europe, Model S drivers on both sides of the pond are seeing a robust Supercharger network. Today, Tesla announced that enough stations exist in central Europe to get a Model S from Amsterdam to cities 500 or 600 miles away in the Alps. As in the US, using a Supercharger is free. The eight Superchargers are located in Germany, Holland, Switzerland and Austria trace a route along the German Autobahn (another six are in Norway) and Tesla says that by the end of March 2014, "50 percent of the German population will live within 320km [200 miles] of a Supercharger," with the rest covered by the start of 2015. The lowest-range Model S, the one with a 60-kWh battery pack, can go 230 miles on a charge, officially. Tesla says its Superchargers can add 170 miles of range in a 30-minute fill-up. You can see Tesla's future Supercharger plans here and find more details in the press release below. TESLA EXPANDS SUPERCHARGER NETWORK IN EUROPE Newly energized routes enable free, convenient long distance travel across DACH region and the Netherlands Tuesday, January 21, 2014 AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands – This week, Tesla officially opens new Supercharger locations connecting the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. These newly-energized routes will enable Model S customers to enjoy free, convenient, 100 percent electric trips on the German Autobahn and to destinations in the Alps and elsewhere. Tesla's first six Superchargers were energized in California in September 2012, with the first network of European Supercharger stations opening in Norway less than a year later. As of today, 81 Supercharger locations are energized worldwide, with 14 locations in Europe. More than 11 million kilometers have been charged by Tesla Superchargers and nearly 1.13 million liters of gas have been offset. The accelerated energizing of Superchargers in Germany (Wilnsdorf, Bad Rappenau, Aichstetten and Jettingen), Switzerland (Lully), Austria (St. Anton) and the Netherlands (Zevenaar and Oosterhout) represents a new milestone in the expansion of the European network. In Germany, Superchargers connect Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich. They also connect the German network to Amsterdam, Zurich, and Innsbruck. In the Netherlands, energized routes connect Amsterdam to Cologne and Brussels, and in Switzerland the stations connect Zurich and Geneva.