Given that most new cars usually have teething problems and small defects, Tesla has prioritized delivery of its new Model 3 to investors, employees and previous Tesla owners. That looks like it’s about to change with the Wall Street Journal recently reporting that the company has notified some reservation holders that they can start configuring their vehicles for the first time. For those looking forward to picking up their shiny new Model 3, how much will it actually cost to charge it? Of course, all good things must come to an end that includes Tesla’s “free forever” supercharger program for Model S and Model X owners. Restricted supercharger access applies to all new Tesla cars bought after mid-January 2017, though previous owners will still be able to charge to their heart’s content. The cost structure of the charger network varies both by country and by U.S. state.
Billing is separated into two tiers based on charging speeds. Tier 1 applies when cars are charged at 60 kW and tier 2 is for charging above 60 kW. Massachusetts is the most expensive place in the U.S. for a tier 1 charge at 22 cents per minute while the cheapest rate of 8 cents can be found in 16 states. On average, Americans pay about 11 cents per minute for the cheaper of the two charging options, according to Tesla data published by Tableau. Internationally, Denmark pays the most at 39 cents per minute, while Spanish drivers pay 30 cents. In Australia, China, Switzerland and the UK, charging costs are pretty much the same at 28 cents.
So what does that all mean when it comes to getting around? While post-2016 Tesla owners may find the disappearance of the “free forever” program frustrating, supercharger costs are still very cheap. Tesla estimates that a trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco would cost its customers $15 while anybody making the more arduous journey from Los Angeles to New York City would pay $120. In Europe, the 14-hour drive from Paris to Rome would cost approximately €60 while in Asia, Beijing to Shanghai would have a bill of ¥400. Free charging isn’t entirely extinct for new drivers either – new Model S and X cars receive 400kWh of free charging every year, good enough for 1,000 miles of driving.
Click below to enlarge (charted by Statista)
