If you want a glimpse of what the nascent new energy economy looks like, pull off Interstate 5 in Southern California just before the steep climb through the Tejon Pass. There amid a cluster of fast-food joints you'll find three Tesla Motors Superchargers sitting under a canopy of solar panels.
The 480-volt Superchargers, which resemble white mini versions of the monolith in "2001: A Space Odyssey," add 150 miles of range to the Tesla's Model S luxury electric sports sedan in 30 minutes. With six Supercharger stations in operation in California, Model S drivers can make a carbon-free dash down the coast from San Francisco to Los Angeles -- or to Lake Tahoe or Las Vegas -- without those nervous glances at the car's battery range indicator. And the cost? Not a penny if you're a Model S owner.
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