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Tesla will expand Supercharger network across Europe

It's not as exciting as a new concept vehicle, but Tesla came to the Geneva Motor Show with its own bit of news: Europe will soon get more Superchargers, more Tesla stores and more service centers. More of the company's fast-charging stations means it'll be even easier for continental Model S drivers to get from the North Sea to the Mediterranean for free and without emissions. Tesla said it expects sales in Europe and Asia to nearly double North American Model S sales by the end of 2014. Tesla is getting ready for those extra sales by opening more than 30 new service centers and stores there. The number of Superchargers in Europe will grow fast enough so that, "By the end of this year, we expect you will be able to travel almost anywhere in Europe using only Superchargers," according to CEO Elon Musk. The company has talked about European expansion before, but there are only 14 Superchargers installed in Europe today. The company's expansion map shows growth happening by next winter, but doesn't give a predicted number of stations it will have in the ground by then. Tesla Commits to Further Expansion in Europe GENEVA, Switzerland, March 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- New Supercharger locations and service centers enhance customer experience In order to serve a growing customer base in Europe, Tesla will open more than 30 new service centers and stores across the continent, the company announced today at the Geneva Motor Show. Tesla will also continue rapidly expanding its Supercharger network, allowing Model S drivers to travel long distances across Europe for free. The retail, service, and Supercharger expansions come as Tesla dials up its commitment to Europe, which continues to be a priority market for the company. In a recent trip to northern Europe to engage with customers, Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk highlighted the rapid increase in the rollout of the company's Supercharger network for Europe. "By the end of this year, we expect you will be able to travel almost anywhere in Europe using only Superchargers," Musk said. In 2013, Tesla delivered 22,477 vehicles to customers worldwide. By the end of 2014, Tesla expects combined sales in Europe and Asia to be almost twice as high as sales in North America. Part of that projected growth will come from the UK, where right hand drive versions of the Model S will soon be introduced.

Hack a Tesla, win $10,000

In the world of computers, competitions that challenge so-called "white hat" hackers are fairly common. Break into this system in X minutes and we'll give you Y dollars. Rarely, though, does this world cross over with the realm of automobiles.
At the 2014 SyScan Conference, which runs from July 16 to 17 in Beijing, hackers have the chance to win $10,000, provided they can break into the systems of a Tesla Model S. According to BidnessETC, in order to win, a successful hack will need to remotely access the 17-inch touchscreen display (shown above) that dominates the Model S cabin in order to surf the Internet and access the vehicle's controls.
While we're not computer experts, it seems like a tall order. The Model S may maintain a constant data signal via its driver's cellphone, but it seems unlikely that Tesla hasn't installed a comprehensive security system to prevent electronic tampering. Tesla, for what it's worth, has no part in the competition.

Tesla to earn $250 million from sales of California environmental credits

Tesla Motors is expected to release quarterly earnings figures within the next few days, and the Silicon Valley automaker is thought to have attained profitability for the first time ever. As it turns out, a good bit of that profit will reportedly come from the State of California.
According to an article from the LA Times, Tesla, which is reportedly on pace to sell 20,000 vehicles in 2013, receives as much as $35,000 in environmental credits from California for each Model S it sells. These credits can then be sold to other automakers that do business in the state but don't sell zero-emission vehicles of their own. Some experts believe Tesla could earn up to $250 million from such ZEV credits.
While profits from ZEV credits equals good news for Tesla, some experts and rival automakers aren't very pleased with California's strong-arm tactics when it comes to the sales of electric vehicles. "At the end of the day, other carmakers are subsidizing Tesla," said Thilo Koslowski, an analyst at Gartner Inc.