SARASOTA, Fla. — Great news for electric vehicle owners in Sarasota County — a new Tesla showroom and service center is preparing to open at the University Town Center Mall.
Several Tesla owners said the development is a great addition to encouraging new interest in electric vehicles and supporting existing owners.
"This is my first electric vehicle. They've been becoming really popular and I've been seeing a lot of them, especially in this area so I went to test drive one and it just drives so smoothly," Destiny Peele said.
"I bought this car for my son so it's two days old, so I am just learning how to use the charging so I can teach him how to use it," Ed Smith added.
Peele and Smith are among some Sarasota residents who have become the latest electric vehicle owners. They join more than 200,000 in Florida who have, for many different reasons, made the switch.
"I just like that it's very versatile where you don't have to get the oil change and do all that stuff so I think it's a perfect car for me," Peele said.
"It's been a lot of fun. Definitely a lot better than going to the gas station cause. I can just charge it and sit in my car and get on my phone. I love all the technology features. That was a big selling point for me," she explained.
"Honestly the buying process right now in the standard market is really painful. I ordered this car from my phone. Literally just ordered it, put in my pick up destination," Smith said.
Surrounding cities like Tampa and Bradenton have also joined in offering free or subsidized ride-share partnerships powered by EVs.
Some have also introduced electric-powered buses and are pushing for more avenues for electric charging stations for the public.
Around noon, the EV charging station on Honore Avenue in Sarasota, which has about 20 charging ports, was already past 50% capacity.
EV drivers there said investing in infrastructure has become necessary in order to support the growing needs.
"It has to become more friendly because it's not friendly now. This is a pain to charge my car. I've got a search for a place to go charge it," Smith explained.
"When I go to grocery stores or Target it would be nice to have some charging stations I can plug in while I'm in the store. So definitely more charging stations throughout town for sure. If they were more chargers, it will definitely ease some of my anxiety about it," said Peele who had to pick up her car in St. Pete.
However, the new 55,000-square-foot Tesla showroom and service center set to open at the University Town Center by the end of April is looking to ease some of that anxiety.
Drivers like Peele and Smith won't need to go to St. Pete, Tampa or Fort Myers to service or shop for a new Tesla brand electric vehicle.
"In the next 5 to 10 years, I mean who knows, it's going to be out there and I think the majority of cars most likely will be electric vehicles," Peele said.
The Tesla center aims to add about 50 jobs to the local economy and would have several charging stations accessible to the public.