Tesla Motors is conducting tests on its new battery swapping technology for select Model S drivers.
The Palo Alto firm established a battery swapping station near Interstate 5, allowing Model S drivers to exchange an empty battery for a new one between the road of San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The new swapping technology allows Model S units to be fully charged in about 3 minutes, compared to the 30 minutes charging time for the electric cars' battery.
Tesla announced the station, the first of its kind for the firm, on Dec. 19, Friday.
Traditionally, Tesla drivers can charge their electric cars with the firm's network of high-speed "supercharger" stations scattered throughout the U.S. nation. The stations can give Tesla cars three hours of driving time, but with a long time to wait.
The swapping station is an experiment for now. Tesla wants to see whether drivers want the technology.
However, compared to the supercharging stations, the swapping station, which is situated just across the street from the Harris Ranch supercharger station, is not free of charge.
According to Tesla, the battery swapping technology gives the Model S drivers a choice of "either fast or free."
The battery swapping service is currently only available to invited Model S drivers. An appointment is needed first in order to use the station.
Tesla did not disclose the service's price, but said that it costs "slightly less" for a full tank of a "premium sedan."
The Tesla battery swapping technology was unveiled by its CEO Elon Musk in 2013, but the idea did not come from the electric car firm.
International battery company Better Place pitched the idea of battery swapping, but found difficulty in developing the technology.
Tesla will "evaluate relative demand" from the tests and assess whether it will continue to expand on the technology, according to the company.