The network already covers parts of Nevada and California on the west coast and the area from Washington DC to Boston on the east coast. Free access is included for owners of the Model S fitted with the most powerful battery pack, or as an optional extra through a software upgrade for the rest of the range, offering the ability to travel long distances with no fuel costs en route for the lifetime of the vehicle.

‘The number of Tesla Supercharger stations is increasing dramatically,’ said founder Elon Musk. ‘By the end of next month we will have tripled the number of stations since the start of the year. Within six months we will have covered most metropolitan areas in North America. A year from now we’ll have covered 80% of the North American population, and within two years over 98%.

‘By buying a Tesla you essentially have free long distance travel throughout the country forever.’

As the network expands, Tesla is also improving the charging technology to cut waiting times in half. This will allow the Model S to replenish three hours of driving in between 20 and 22 minutes, suiting a rest stop on a long journey.