Bozeman is set to become one node in a network of Tesla Motors Supercharger stations that will allow Tesla sedan owners to travel across the country for free.

Plans for the four-bay charging station’s installation at the Hilton Garden Inn were approved by the city planning department last week. The plans are now in the hands of the building department and must garner approval there before the station is built.

Tesla is building stations along major traffic corridors to let owners of its Model S electric sedan, the first mass-produced electric sedan, travel cross-country for free, said Alexis Georgeson, the California company’s spokeswoman.

Superchargers can replenish half a charge in 20 minutes, she added. The stations only work with the Model S sedan and are free for the vehicle owner. The company pays the electric bill at each station. A typical charge in a regular power outlet takes over an hour.

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In order to stop the brain drain of graduates and other talent from Montana, Montana State University developed its technology transfer program in 1990. The University is now equipped with incubators and accelerators to foster entrepreneurship and innovation, and grants students access to state of the art facilities and mentorship. Through the program TechLink, students are given opportunities to develop start-up companies or conduct research with funding from the Defense Department, NASA, and other government buyers. The University’s technological advancements have successfully turned university-level innovation into local companies and jobs.

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