Electric vehicles like Tesla have taken a significant toll on gas-powered cars. Not only are they environmentally friendly, but they are supposedly economical to own too.
But how much economical are they? How much does it cost to charge a Tesla?
The cost to charge a Tesla is anywhere from $15 to $25. This cost depends on the charging station used, the model you are charging, and the price of electricity.
So, what are the differences in charging costs between the charging stations?
And how much of an impact does the model of the vehicle make? Read through to get all the answers.
How Much to Charge a Tesla?
As mentioned earlier, the cost to charge a tesla varies depending on your charging station. For example, the cost of using a Tesla Level 3 charger, also known as a Supercharger, will be anywhere from $10 to $25 for a full charge.
On the other hand, for the Tesla level 2 charger, you need to spend anywhere from $15 to $25 for a full charge. Plus, this charger has an efficiency of 85%.
Lastly, the average cost of fully charging a Tesla with a Level 1 charger is $13.96.
The price for this charging station varies a lot. And this charger has an efficiency between 74% and 84%.
If all these pieces of info seem a little confusing to you, here’s a simplified chart of how much it costs to charge a Tesla:
| Charging Method | Cost |
| Level 1 Charger | Around $13.96 for a full charge |
| Level 2 Charger | $15 to $25 for 0% to 100% |
| Level 3 Charger | $10 to $25 for a complete charge |
Is It Expensive to Charge Your Tesla at Home?
Charging your Tesla at home is not necessarily expensive. However, the Tesla home charging cost indeed depends on the charger you have at home.
Also, the time you make the Tesla charge makes a lot of difference.
To illustrate, the charging cost will be reasonably lower when you charge the EV during off-peak hours. The electricity cost jumps up when the load is too high.
Still, you cannot deny that charging your Tesla at home is the most effective way to fill up the battery. You don’t have to wait in line, nor will you need to pay any session charges.
Now, in case you didn’t know, the session fees can be $0.99 to $1.99. That data comes from the Wawa tesla charging station cost.
The fee can be different for different the other charging stations.
What Options Do You Have to Charge Tesla?
It is not like you are stuck with one charging option for Tesla. In fact, there are four different ways to charge your EV.
Let’s discuss them to give you a better idea.
Home Charging
In short, home charging is the most convenient option to charge your Tesla. It is possible to charge your car throughout the night without worrying about extra costs.
Also, Tesla’s home charging cost is reasonably lower too.
Supercharging
The fastest way to charge your Tesla is through a Supercharger. These charging stations can add up to 170 miles to your vehicle within 30 minutes.
However, it is much more expensive than a home charger.
Destination Charging
The charging stations near shopping centers, restaurants, and hotels are destination chargers. And the cost of these varies from one location to another.
Also, the charging speed is much slower than a Supercharger.
Public Charging
These charges are not owned by Tesla. Instead, they are from companies that are partnered with Tesla.
The cost will vary from one partner to another. However, public chargers are not as convenient or fast as Superchargers or destination chargers.
The Cost of Charging Tesla on the Go
One of the perks that Tesla owners have is that Tesla has Supercharging stations pretty much everywhere. So, if the vehicle runs out of juice in the middle of the trip, it is quite easy to refill it.
But what about the cost of doing this? Well, the cost of using the Supercharger on the go will vary.
It depends on the region. However, generally, it will be around $0.25 per kWh. And it can go up to $0.40 per kWh too.
Wondering how this cost is calculated? It relies on the price of electricity in that specific region.
And as you know, the cost of electricity is not the same in all the states.
That said, it is not just about the per kWh charge. You also need to factor in additional costs.
For example, the idle cost increases the fee as the vehicle connected to the charger stays idle. The longer the car is idle, the higher the charge.
However, there is good news. Tesla has a Supercharger network access package.
Through that, you can get unlimited access to Superchargers with a one-time payment. There is an option for annual payment too.
Is Tesla Cheaper Than Gas?
Undoubtedly, it is cheaper to drive a Tesla than a gas-powered vehicle. How does that come up?
The cost to charge a Tesla is much lower than refilling a vehicle’s fuel tank.
In case you didn’t know, Tesla’s integrated advanced battery technology makes them highly efficient. So, even if your area’s electricity rate is reasonably higher, Tesla’s will be better than a gas-powered car.
Furthermore, the maintenance cost of electric vehicles is considerably low. How so?
Compared to a gasoline-powered car, Teslas have a lower number of moving parts. And let’s not forget you don’t have to worry about oil changes at all.
Want some numbers?
The approximate cost to drive a Tesla for a year is $614.51. That’s just the fee that you need to pay for charging.
On the other hand, you will have to pay about $2245 per year for fuel.
That means that Teslas are approximately $1631 cheaper than gas-powered cars for a year-worth of driving. So, overall, in the long term, a Tesla is much more cost-effective than a gasoline-powered vehicle.
Final Words
So, how much does it cost to charge a Tesla again? Well, the cost can be anything between $15 to $25.
And it will depend on the charger you are using and whether or not you have to pay a session fee. Remember, home charging is the most convenient and cost-effective solution among all the charging options.
