In recent years, Tesla has become nearly synonymous with modern, high-end electric vehicles. Teslas are a greener alternative to normal cars and produce much less CO2. With gas prices on the rise, electric cars are becoming more and more popular due to the lower cost to charge them.
But while Teslas (and other electric cars) are quite expensive to buy, how much do they cost to use? If you’re interested in getting a Tesla of your own and want to know how cost-effective it will be over time compared to a gas car, this guide has got you covered.
Here we’ll walk you through how much it costs to charge a Tesla, how this compares with fueling a gas car, and how much money Teslas save on fuel. Ready? Then let’s get right into it!
How Much Does It Cost To Charge A Tesla?
If you’re unfamiliar with Teslas, or electric cars in general, you might not know how they’re ‘refuelled’. Instead of standard gas stations, Teslas charge at specialized electric car charging stations. You can find these anywhere from parking garages to shopping malls, and even on some parking spots in cities.
Prices can vary slightly depending on the model of Tesla you have, as well as where you’re charging it. The best place to charge a Tesla when you’re out and about is at a Tesla Supercharger or a public charger, which can be found practically anywhere nowadays.
Alternatively, you can charge your Tesla at home through your house’s electricity or solar panels.
Superchargers work out total costs through a per-kWh billing system, which charges you based on the amount of kWh it takes to charge your Tesla. Because different models of Tesla vary in their battery capacity, the total cost can be different depending on your model.
The location of the Supercharger can also affect the cost. However, you’ll typically be looking at around $0.25 per kWh.
Charging your Tesla at home is even cheaper than using a Supercharger, and is also more convenient for long charging sessions (a full charge can take anywhere from 6 hours to multiple days).
In regards to charging your Tesla at home, the national average electricity cost per kWh in the USA is only $0.135 per kWh.
This can be reduced even more if you install solar panels. While the upfront cost of solar panels is a bit steep, using solar power will massively reduce your electricity bill and make charging your Tesla practically free!
And speaking of free: if you purchased a Tesla before January 2017, using a Supercharger costs absolutely nothing!
Different Models, Different Prices
As mentioned before, different models of Tesla can cost more to charge than others. Currently, there are four models of Tesla, which each use various types of batteries.
These batteries have a range of capacities, which affects how much they cost to fully charge. Not only that, but they also vary in strength, both in terms of how much power they produce as well as how much charge they use.
The Model S is the oldest model of Tesla that is still available commercially and is one of the most expensive to charge. Fully charging a Model S at a Supercharger costs $16.56.
The Model X is slightly more expensive than the Model S to charge, costing $16.57 to fully charge.
The Model 3 is the cheapest model of Tesla to charge, only costing $8.71 to fully charge.
The Model Y is the newest model and costs $12.29 to fully charge the battery.
EVs Vs Gas: How Do They Compare?
While the price of charging different models can vary, charging your Tesla will still cost you less than a gas-fueled car.
The current price of a gallon of gas in the USA is around $3.30 per gallon. For a standard gas tank that holds 15 gallons, it will cost you upwards of $50 or more every time you want to refuel.
Contrast this with a Tesla, where even the most expensive models cost less than a third of this for a full battery, and you’ll see which is the more cost-effective choice.
So now that we know Teslas are more cost-effective than gas cars, just how much does a Tesla save you in the long run?
The average person will drive around 1200 miles per month. Gas-fueled cars typically get around 25 miles to the gallon, so a month’s worth of driving will use 48 gallons. This works out to $160 per month, just on fuel costs!
Meanwhile, the same amount of driving will cost Tesla owners just $54, which is what many gas car drivers will spend on a single tank.
In the long-term, driving a Tesla will save you over $1000 annually on fuel costs alone (and that’s if you’re using Superchargers to charge).
Teslas are even more cost-effective than gas-fueled cars if you charge them at home instead of Superchargers. The lower cost of charging your Tesla through your house’s electricity nearly doubles your cost savings!
It’s also more convenient to charge your Tesla at home, as you don’t have to leave your car alone for hours at a time while it charges. Home charging stations mean you can leave your Tesla charging overnight so it’s ready to use in the morning.
And as mentioned before, using solar power to charge your Tesla results in practically no cost at all!
Final Thoughts
So there you have it! Now you know how much it costs to charge a Tesla, how these costs compare to gas prices, and the ways Teslas can save you money while being better for the environment.
If you’re interested in getting a Tesla for yourself, you can rest assured that you’ll be making back your money’s worth in fuel savings in no time. So if you’re looking for a luxurious new car that costs hardly anything to charge and is better for the environment to boot, a Tesla might just be the car for you.