Tesla unveils 3,100-mile Supercharger route across China as part of Musk's plan to connect Shangai and London (TSLA)

REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

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Charging remains one of the biggest headaches of EV ownership — and Tesla just made it a bit easier for its Chinese customers to take long road trips with a new Supercharger route.

The electric-vehicle maker announced Sunday that it opened a Supercharger route stretching more than 5,000 kilometers — over 3,100 miles — along the Silk Road. Tesla has built 27 charging stations along the route, which it says is now the longest East-West Supercharger route in China. 

It's part of Elon Musk's plan to establish a charging route spanning more than 6,000 miles from Shanghai to London, the company said. To accomplish that, it would need to fill gaps across Central Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe

Tesla China tweeted out a promotional video announcing the route. 

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//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1406277513517494272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
5000 kms with 27 Supercharger Stations👉Tesla opens the longest Supercharger route from east to west in China⚡️#TheSilkRoute @TeslaCharging pic.twitter.com/QUucp0qjK3

Tesla's extensive charging network, something no other company has, is one of the key advantages of buying a car from it over a competitor in the US. Elon Musk is looking to replicate that range anxiety-eliminating network in China, one of Tesla's most critical markets. Tesla has deployed some 800 Supercharger locations in China to date. 

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The move to bring Supercharging to one of China's cultural landmarks may also be part of an effort by Tesla to smooth over its image in the country after a string of public-relations crises. This year in China, Tesla has faced protests and calls from officials to ban its cars on government property. 

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