Tesla completes L.A.-to-New York electric chargers

It is now possible to drive an electric car cross country.

Tesla Motors Inc. (Nasdaq: TSLA) has expanded its U.S. network of rapid chargers to let owners of battery-powered Model S sedans drive their cars from coast to coast for the first time.

According to a Bloomberg article, Tesla’s co-founder and CEO Elon Musk said last year the company would set up “Superchargers” in most major U.S. and Canadian cities to permit long-distance trips solely on electricity provided at no charge. The carmaker now has more than 70 stations in North America.

Fittingly, Musk made the futuristic announcement via Twitter: "Tesla Supercharger network now energized from New York to LA, both coast + Texas! Approx 80% of US population covered.”

Without the stations, Tesla drivers are limited by the estimated 265-mile range. Bloomberg reports two teams of Tesla drivers will try to set U.S. cross-country electric vehicle speed records using the chargers, departing Jan. 31 from Los Angeles and arriving in New York Feb. 2.

Read more from Bloomberg.