Tesla has unveiled a wacky idea on one of its superchargers. maybe it's awesome

Tesla's Supercharger network is undoubtedly one of the company's smartest ideas. When the company started selling its Model S sedan in 2012, the biggest obstacle to driving an electric vehicle (EV) was that there was virtually no charging infrastructure. You could plug your vehicle into the house, but that was very slow unless you had a spare 50 amp dryer outlet.

To make it a little easier to spend nearly six figures on a new car without fear of range, Tesla has launched its own network of fast-charging stations. This meant you could drive your vehicle on longer trips without worrying about running out of battery charge. Oh, and to make it even better, people who bought a Tesla in the early years got unlimited boost for free.

Of course, charging an electric vehicle always takes longer than pumping out a full tank of gas. If people have to stop for 20 or 30 minutes, it makes sense that you want to place your Superchargers somewhere close to civilization so that Tesla owners have something to do.

That's why I love this latest wacky idea the company is trying out in Germany, where it recently installed a heated pool at a Supercharger. Yes, a swimming pool. As in, you can charge your car and go swimming while you wait. I said that was a crazy idea, right?

While installing a swimming pool is one of the more unusual ways to let people spend some time while adding life to their battery, it's not the only thing Tesla does. The set is rather brilliant. Here's what I mean.

Most Supercharger locations are still limited to the furthest corners of large big box store parking lots near major highway interchanges. Makes sense. the people most likely to need to use a Supercharger are those who travel long distances, which likely means driving on a highway. Also, if you plan to stop for 20 or 30 minutes, it's nice to have shops and restaurants nearby.

Tesla has also added software to its vehicles to give drivers something to do while they charge. You can watch Netflix or YouTube or Disney+, or even play Tesla's car karaoke game, known as caraoke. All of this is especially handy if you have young children.

But, what if you want to take a trip further afield from civilization? That's hard to do in a vehicle you have to plug in every few hundred miles. You can start building Superchargers in more rural areas, but these are less likely to have the other niceties readily available.

Of course, you can always create them too. Turns out, Tesla does just that.

Tesla worked with a company called BK Group to install what it calls Qubes, which are essentially small modular buildings with bathrooms, a lounging area (including video games), vending machines of food and coffee, silent modules for having a quick meeting or phone call, and even a machine that will make a hot pizza in four minutes.

There's a great review of the first of these Qubes in a Supercharger in Endsee, Germany, by YouTuber Kyle Conner of Out Of Spec Reviews. BK Group announces that it plans to deploy 200 of them at Supercharger sites. The only downside I can think of is that they don't come to the US

Ten years on from their launch, Tesla has built over 36,000 Superchargers, and they're still one of the best perks of buying one of its cars, even though the company no longer offers unlimited recharge. By partnering with companies that add valuable services...