Tesla To Build Michigan’s Largest EV Charging Hub Near Detroit Airport

Tesla will construct a Supercharger station near Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus. This will be Michigan's largest electric vehicle charging location when completed. The carmaker plans 48 Level 3 DC fast-charging stalls on a 2-acre plot beside a Sheetz gas station on Vining Road.

Work has begun. The first phase includes 32 charging bays and should wrap up this summer. 

The new hub will dwarf any existing site in Michigan, according to Tesla's charger map. Most of the company's Michigan stations sit in Meijer grocery store parking areas, which have 6-10 stalls. Tesla operates the nation's biggest EV charging network.

Michigan has about 2,000 EV charging stations with close to 6,000 ports statewide. The state ranks somewhere in the middle for EV charging access.

This project shows that EV charging keeps growing even though electric powertrains have lost steam. Federal policy shifts and changing buyer tastes get blamed for EV slowdowns, but scarce charging options play a big role too.

At this standalone location, security cameras will monitor chargers. Solar canopies will cover the stalls and generate extra electricity for the ports. An agreement with Sheetz lets charging customers use the convenience store's restrooms. Charging runs 20-30 minutes and works with all compatible EV brands, not only Tesla vehicles.

This means more than just a place to charge cars, said Kevin Krause, director of community safety and development for the city of Romulus, during the 2024 planning commission meeting. "While we say it's just the parking lot or it's just some EV chargers, I think there's a significant impact that this location is going to have with the other developments that we already have there and the ones that hopefully are going to be coming," he said according to Crain's Detroit.

How much Tesla is spending remains unknown. When phase two will finish is also unclear.