Sep 29, 2022 at 8:49am ET
Tesla has officially raised its prices for Supercharging in California. This isn't the first time the US electric automaker has raised prices, and it certainly won't be the last. However, since EVs are significantly more efficient than gas-powered cars, you'll still be saving money, even after the price hikes.
Currently, electricity is less expensive than gas, but electricity prices can and will rise as well. Owning an electric car will save you the most money if you charge at home. Public DC Fast Charging varies significantly across the country, as do prices for electricity and prices to charge at the various stations.
According to Electrek, it wasn't uncommon in the recent past to pay less than $5 to $10 for a full charge at a Tesla Supercharger. Now, following multiple price increases over the last several months, many Tesla Supercharger stations in California are charging $0.50 per kWh at peak times, though there are some that are $0.40 per kWh.
Do the math, and that's $30 to charge a 60 kWh battery pack and $50 to charge a 100 kWh pack. Granted, that $30 to $50 may get you like 250 to 300 miles of range or more. Driving those miles in most gas cars is still going to cost much more, but the cost of a full charge is exponentially higher than it was not long ago.
Based on information from an official Tesla email that was shared on Reddit, the company began changing Supercharger rates in California this week, on Wednesday, September 28. Part of the official email reads via Electrek:
"Starting Wednesday, September 28, charging rates and off-peak hours will change at select Superchargers. Avoid the rush and save on charging costs when you begin your charging session during off-peak hours. Tap the Supercharger map pins on your in-vehicle touch screen to view rates."
Essentially, Tesla is trying to take advantage of off-peak electricity rates and push people to charge their EVs during a time when the grid isn't potentially overwhelmed. If you charge your EV at home, you may be on a plan that helps you by offering cheaper prices during off-peak times.
For example, we charge overnight (which is the case with many people), and it costs about one-third of what it would cost if we charged during the day thanks to "peak" rates.
Read These Related Tesla Stories:
Charging while you sleep is one of the best parts of EV ownership. However, not all people are able to charge at home. If you're a Tesla owner in California who you can't charge at home, you may have to visit a Supercharger station in the middle of the night, to save money.
The article goes on to say that some Tesla owners in California are seeing about a 30 to 40 percent discount when they charge during non-peak hours.
In addition, some utilities and states may offer EV discounts and tax credits to help offset costs and be sure to check into those, if they exist.
Solar Panels
For EV homeowners, many often consider solar panels to offset electricity costs even further. If you live in a state like California where electricity costs are high, this could make a big difference and allow any upfront solar costs to pay for itself relatively quickly.
Tesla Supercharger Costs While on the Road
How Much Does it Cost to Charge at a Tesla Supercharger?
One of the great advantages to owning a Tesla is the large Supercharger network available to owners who travel long distances.
Tesla has built over 2,000 Supercharger locations that allow owners to pull up and start charging without having to enter credit card information since it recognizes the car automatically.
You’ll notice, in general, with charging that some areas have pricing by kWh (the most fair way) versus pricing by time. This is because regulations vary by location and some regions do not allow entities other than utilities to charge by kWh, so Tesla and other charging stations are required to charge by time (less ideal since each car may be able to take more or less power).
Supercharger station rates vary depending on the location, but here’s the general breakdown:
- Per kWh Charging – Most Supercharging locations charge per kWh.
- Flat Rate: $0.28
- Time-Based Charging – In some cases, Tesla is required to charge by time and in
these cases based on how long you charge and the speed.
- $ 0.26 per minute above 60 kW
- $ 0.13 per minute at or below 60 kW
Example Tesla Supercharger cost:
Let’s say you have a Tesla vehicle with a 75 kWh battery pack (e.g. Model 3 or Model Y Long Range), and you have 10 kWh left when arriving at a standard flat-rate Supercharger and charge it up to 70 kWh. That 60 kWh charge will cost $16.80 (60 kWh x $0.28/kWh).
Of course, many owners also take advantage of free Supercharging upon the purchase of a new Tesla, which offsets some of these costs.
How Much Does it Cost to Charge at a Tesla Destination Charger?
Tesla encourages businesses such as hotels, Airbnbs and wineries to install “destination” chargers at their business to attract Tesla owners and provide a convenient EV service to their clients. These chargers are similar to home chargers but typically provide a bit more power.
Usually the Destination Chargers are free to use for patrons, but sometimes charges apply, so be sure to ask the host.
Cost of Charging a Tesla at Public Chargers
While most of the time Tesla owners charge at home or at Tesla-specific chargers on the road, there are occasions where a Tesla owner may need to charge at a public charging station, such as Chargepoint, Electrify America, or EVgo. They’ll quickly find out it’s not as simple or fast as the Tesla Supercharger network, as they have different connectors, charge different amounts and don’t usually have as many available charge ports per station as Tesla has.
Tesla includes a J1772 adapter for slower (AC) charging and sells a CHAdeMO adapter for faster (DC) charging, but does not currently have a CCS adapter, so you’ll need to be aware of that when searching for public charging stations (most of the time it’s not an issue).
To find public charging stations, download the ChargePoint or Plugshare apps (see below). You’ll also need an account with ChargePoint, for example, to charge at those stations (ChargePoint has roaming agreements with EVgo and Electrify America, some of the largest charging networks).
Costs vary widely at these stations as many of the prices are set by the property owner and are sometimes a mix of per-minute charging, per-kWh charging, and flat-fees, etc. Be sure to check the apps ahead of time.
Download Third Party Charging Apps for Public Charging Stations
If you plan on charging on the road for a road trip, it’s handy to have an app pre-installed to find public charging stations. Plugshare is a fantastic app that has a massive database of charging stations, including Tesla Superchargers. You’ll also want to download ChargePoint and set up an account so you’re ready to go, as needed.
- Plugshare App – Apple iOS or Google Android
- ChargePoint App – Apple iOS or Google Android
Tesla Charging Cost Calculator
Curious to know how much it costs, on average, to charge in your state at home versus a gas car? Use the Tesla charging cost calculator below.
Select a state to prefill your electric rate.
Note that all fields are editable so you can adjust them as needed.
State:
Miles / Year:
Vehicle:
Fuel Costs: /kWh /gal
Efficiency: MPGe MPG
Capacity: kWh gal
Cost to fill up: $7.80$62.73
Cost per 100M: $3.31$13.67
Cost per year: $331.45$1366.67
Other Considerations
It’s also important to know that Tesla counts excess energy used while parking. For example, turning on the climate controls in an extremely hot or cold environment may add additional kWh to the energy billed for charging (e.g. 10 to 25 kWh).
Learn More
- How Long Does it Take to Charge a Tesla?
- How Do You Charge a Tesla – The Complete Guide