- Tesla has reportedly submitted plans with the city of Los Angeles for a diner and drive-in theater.
- In 2018, Elon Musk said he wanted to create a Supercharger station with a restaurant and drive-in.
- Tesla's plans could help boost EV adoption by turning charging stations into fun destinations.
Tesla is planning to build a Supercharger station with a 24-hour diner and a drive-in movie theater in Los Angeles, according to a report from Bloomberg.
The electric-car maker filed the plans with the city of Los Angeles on May 19, according to the publication. Tesla plans to build the luxury supercharger station at 7001 West Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood, per Bloomberg. Electrek was the first to report on the plans, citing a tweet with a schematic of the two-story diner in the 9,300-square-foot space.
The site will have 28 Supercharger stalls and two movie screens that can accommodate over 200 people, Bloomberg reported. Customers will be able to view the two screens either from their car or a rooftop seating area, according to the project description for the site that was referenced by Bloomberg. Customers will also be able to order and have food delivered right to their car, according to the plans.
The project description for the site says it will show movies that will take about the same amount of time as it takes to charge a Tesla — about 30 minutes.
—MarcoRP (@MarcoRPTesla) May 21, 2022
Tesla did not respond to a request for comment on its plans for the site. Insider was unable to confirm the site plans with the city. The plans must first be approved by the city.
The project details did not include any information on prices, menu options, or when the venue would open to customers. The address is located in the heart of downtown Hollywood and is currently home to a pizza chain called Shakey's Pizza Parlor, which appears to be still accepting orders.
News of the Tesla diner and drive-in comes nearly four years after Tesla CEO Elon Musk first tweeted about building an "old school drive-in, roller skates & rock restaurant" in Los Angeles. In 2021, Tesla filed an application with the US trademark office to use its brand assets in restaurant services.
Musk's plans to turn EV charging stations into destinations for entertainment and food reflect a larger trend in the industry. In February, Insider reported that top design firms were crafting concepts for charging stations that featured anything from gyms and coffee shops to parks and study spaces.
Charging infrastructure poses a major hurdle for electric-vehicle adoption. Insider's Dominick Reuter previously reported that one in five EV owners has switched back to gas cars because charging represented too much of a "hassle."
Last summer, CNBC reporter Brian Sullivan and Axios editor Dan Primack broke down several of the issues EV drivers can face on the road — from "panicked" searches for open chargers to waiting 40 minutes in triple-digit heat for a car to recharge. Both concluded that the best way to help drivers make the switch to electric cars would be to turn charging stations into destinations.
"Give people a place to stop, shop," Sullivan said. "Give them something to do."
By reimagining charging stations instead of duplicating gas stations, Tesla and other electric-car makers could combat EV adoption hesitancy. To date, several Tesla charging stations already include lounges with coffee bars, vending machines, and Tesla merchandise.