Albury turned down charger chance, Tesla manager says as Wodonga site is opened

Supercharger program manager Evan Beaver made the comment after overseeing the opening of a $250,000 six-unit charging station in Wodonga on Thursday.

"I approached Albury Council on the same day as I approached Wodonga Council and they were not interested, they wouldn't see the value in it," Mr Beaver said.

"Wodonga was interested, they found a site and they were really helpful."

Tesla has leased two bays at the Havelock Street end of a Wodonga Council parking lot for five years.

Wodonga councillor Anna Speedie opened the charging station.

"This is the future," Cr Speedie said.

"I was very fortunate I had a personal family holiday in Europe recently and saw so many electric vehicles.

"I saw electric buses in cramped areas, which was great because you had no fumes."

Tesla models retail for more than $100,000 but there are plans to release a version for about $50,000 in 2018.

Cr Speedie believes Wodonga Council should consider buying the cheaper model.

"If they come down in price it's certainly something we should be looking at, because part of the council's role is to lead the way with environmental matters," Cr Speedie said.

"Our community has told us through our 2033 document that they want us to be clean and green."

Mr Beaver believes the introduction of the lower-priced model will mark a tipping point for interest in electric vehicles.

"I think things will start to happen really quickly then," Mr Beaver said.

"I think anyone in a Commodore or Ford would be thinking 'why would I be driving this' when they can get a Tesla that beats it on quality and thrashes it on performance."

The Tesla crew which attended the opening of the Wodonga station on Thursday had earlier launched a charging site in Goulburn.

The units allow drivers to power from Melbourne to Sydney.

Mr Beaver said the chargers were designed to last 15 years and would be adaptable to battery technology shortening recharging times over that period.