Alamosa Installs First Tesla Superchargers in the San Luis Valley

January 18, 2024

“There is a lack of EV charging infrastructure in rural areas, and FSWB saw this as an opportunity to fill a need, support local community members with EVs, and support a positive economic impact in our rural community, a foundation of our mission as a CDFI bank,” said Kristy Esquibel, Chief Credit Officer, First Southwest Bank and Board President, Alamosa County Chamber of Commerce.

First Southwest Bank is excited to share that eight Tesla Superchargers have been installed at the Alamosa branch located at 720 Main Street, Alamosa, CO.

Tesla Superchargers can offer up to 200 miles of range in just 15 minutes compared with traditional charging stations where Tesla owners have to wait multiple hours to charge.

However, many of the Tesla Superchargers are placed along major highways and in urban areas, making it inconvenient for Tesla owners to travel through rural regions. The high-speed Tesla Superchargers located at FSWB allow people to access Alamosa and the San Luis Valley in a way they couldn’t before.

Alamosa has been a highly requested location for Tesla Superchargers for many years. The FSWB charging station opens new routes for EV owners to the Great Sand Dunes National Park, west to Pagosa Springs, Durango, the Four Corners, and south to Taos.

In the future as automakers transition to the Supercharger network, people will likely seek out the Supercharger for their non-Tesla charge due to the fast charge rates (250kW) and 99+% reliable uptime.

In addition to the time saving convenience, these Superchargers have a positive economic impact. Installing Superchargers brings additional traffic off the highway and to local businesses rather than national gas stations and travel stops.

“The Superchargers will enhance the overall appeal of Alamosa and our downtown. Not only will it be an additional incentive for travelers to stop in our community, but the ideal location will encourage visitors to explore and support our business community and contribute to our local economy,” said Erin Keck, CEO, Alamosa County Chamber of Commerce.

The Superchargers in Alamosa provides convenient charging that encourages people to visit the main street businesses while they charge. This means additional dollars coming to the town from drivers who previously couldn’t travel there even though they wanted to.

Kathy Woods, Economic Development Director for the City of Alamosa remarked, “Near the intersection of Highways 160 and 285, Alamosa’s downtown is the perfect spot for the Superchargers, adding another reason for travelers and locals to enjoy our downtown amenities! The location of the charging stations is convenient to restaurants and shopping, bringing commerce to Alamosa.”

Click here for more information about Tesla charging stations and all locations.