Is It Free To Charge Your Tesla

Want To Charge Your Tesla At Home

Install a Tesla home charger to quickly and affordably charge overnight. You can purchase a Tesla wall charger for your home for approximately $400, though you will likely have added installation costs for an electrician. Bonus: You may even be eligible for tax credits on your EV charger installation costs.

How Much Does It Cost To Charge A Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S is similar to the Model X in that it also has the Long Range and Plaid currently on the road. Both of these options come with a 100 kWh battery, which is also the same as the Model X. However, the total estimated mileage range is different on the Model S trims compared to the Model X. Here, the Long Range has a 405-mile estimate, and the Plaid has a 396-mile estimate.

Using the same information about the average cents per kWh for residential usage, we can calculate how much it would cost to charge a Model S battery from 0% to 100%. Heres an estimate of how much it costs to charge a Tesla Model S at home with 85% efficiency for Level 1 and 2 charging and at a charging station with 100% efficiency for Level 3 charging:

• Level 1 and 2 charging: About $16.10

• Level 3 charging: $26.00

These numbers end up being exactly the same as the Model X because you have the same 100 kWh battery in the calculation. However, you can expect the cost per mile to be different since the ranges of the vehicles are slightly varied.

Heres what the cost per mile looks like on the Model S Long Range and Plaid:

The Model S Long Range also beats out the Plaid here because of its longer estimated range, which slightly decreases your cost per mile. However, the more powerful Plaids range is only an estimated nine miles less than the Long Range so the difference in cost per mile isnt huge.

Teslas And Other Evs Can Charge For Free At Some Public Charging Networks

There are also a number of free-to-use public charging networks such as those installed by road motorist associations such as the NRMA in NSW and RACV in Victoria, or by city and shire councils. The large, DC fast chargers that can top you EV up in less than an hour have both CCS2 and CHAdeMo plugs, so all EVs can charge there.

Smaller AC slow chargers generally have only CCS2 plugs so might require an adaptor for Nissan Leafs and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVs, but they will work for all other EVs.

Some operators of these free networks may implement fees for use in the future, so again its always good to check with Plugshare. And check in! It helps other EVs know when youll be done and reduces range anxiety stress.

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How Much Does It Cost To Charge A Tesla Model Y

The Tesla Model Y weighs less than both the Model S and Model X, which is possibly why its equipped with a smaller battery. Both the Model Y Long Range and Performance trims come with a 75 kWh battery. The Long Range has an estimated 326-mile range, while the Performance has an estimated 303-mile range.

Since these numbers are different from what weve seen on the Model X and Model S vehicles, we should see a big difference in the total cost of a charge, as well as the cost per mile. Heres what a full charge from 0 to 100% would look like on the Model Y depending on the charging station:

• Level 1 and 2 charging: About $12.08

• Level 3 charging: $19.50

The total charging cost ends up being lower on the Model Y compared to the Model X and Model S because it has a smaller battery. This is similar to how a car with a smaller gas tank would likely cost less to fill up than a car with a larger gas tank.

Heres the breakdown of the cost per mile on the Model Y:

Overall, the numbers indicate that the Model Y has the lowest cost per mile among the three Tesla vehicles weve looked at. And not surprisingly, the Long Range trim is more cost-effective than the Performance. This is because they have the same battery, but the Long Range has more range.

Where To Charge Tesla

There are four options for charging:

Regardless of the charging method you use, you simply plug into the Tesla charging port and charging will start automatically.

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Additional Costs That Surprise Tesla Owners

The cost of using a Tesla isnt all about charging your car at home. Fuel costs are one consideration to keep in mind when comparing the math of using a traditional car and using a Tesla, but you should also research the additional costs that Tesla owners might have.

Heres a look at a few extra expenses you might not have thought about:

Why Is Level 1 Tesla Charging Called Trickle Charging

Tesla owners can in fact charge via a standard 120V residential outlet with a trickle charging adapter. Its nicknamed trickle charging because its really, really slow.

THE GOOD

• No Upfront Cost. A new Tesla owner gets the 110/120V adapter for plugging into a regular ol home outlet at no additional charge.
• Charge virtually anywhere. Standard outlets are super easy to come by. Convenient.

THE BAD

• Snail status. Most Tesla owners say that trickle charging doesnt cut it. It will take all night to recoup 30 miles worth of range.
• Missing time of use discounts costs $$. Many electric utilities offer discounts when the grid would otherwise be idle. Usually in the middle of the night.

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How Much Power Does My Charging Station Have

Your charging time also depends on the maximum charging rate of the station you use. Although Level 3 direct current fast chargers have popped up with increasing frequency, dont plan to automatically save time and money by powering up at these stations. According to ClipperCreek, Level 3 ranges from 200 to 800 direct current volts and can recuperate up to 60-80% of an electric vehicles range in as little as 30 minutes.

Even if your car can charge more quickly, it will only charge at the maximum power rate offered at the station, which can adversely affect charging time, which means you can end up paying more.

Now that you know how much you can expect to pay to charge your EV, the question remains: How do I pay for it?

If you have an at-home setup, youll pay to charge your electric car through your monthly electric bill. If youre paying at a public charging station, you can pay as you go by simply swiping your credit or debit card and paying the specified rate, measured either by a cost per hour or per kWh. Many of these even charge by the minute, and prices vary depending on whether youre fully charging a large battery.

Drivers can also buy monthly subscriptions or indefinite memberships to save money. But remember that you dont have to pay for charging an EV. Companies such as PlugShare provide maps of free charging stations all over the U.S., and some workplaces and businesses offer free EV charging stations.

What Are Idle Fees

Since Superchargers are meant to be a fast charging solution for Tesla vehicles, they are not meant to be used for parking. So, if owners park at a Supercharger after it has reached full charge, they will start to be charged idle fees.

The idle fees are however waived if the vehicle is moved in the five minutes after the vehicle has reached full charge.

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How To Confirm Whether Or Not Your Tesla Qualifies For Free Charging

Contact Tesla directly

The easiest and clearest way to check if you or your Tesla have free unlimited Supercharging is to contact Tesla directly. These days, it may be tougher to get a hold of someone, but whether its through call or chat, it might be worth the wait to know for sure whether you still qualify or not.

Check your Tesla account

What Is The Cost To Charge An Ev In Kwh

A conservative rule of thumb is that an electric car gets 3 to 4 miles per kWh, Voelcker says. So divide the total miles you drive each month by 3 to get the kWh you would use monthly. Multiply that number by your cost per kWh. The dollar amount you get will most likely be lower than what you pay each month to buy gasoline.

To put this into perspective, lets give an example. Lets say you drive about 1,183 miles per month . For an EV, you will use about 394 kWh in that timeframe. Using the U.S. household average from June 2022 of about 15 cents per kWh, it would cost about $59 per month to charge an electric car.

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Ways To Save Money Charging Your Tesla Ev

The numbers above are simply estimates to give you an idea of the sorts of cost differentials between charging levels. Again, additional factors such as your location, charger, and whether its peak energy hours can all play a big role.

Either way, they should offer some idea of how to most effectively choose what style of charging is best for your given battery level situation. Additionally, there are other ways to save yourself some cash on public charging networks.

First An Ev Charger Can Refer To Two Different Things

• Internal or On-Board ChargerThe on-board charger is a component inside the car. The OBC manages internal power flow to safely charge your EV battery.
• External Charger or EVSEThe box-and-cord device has a technical name. Electric vehicle supply equipment, or EVSE. The EVSE delivers power from the grid to your EVs on-board charger in the first place. Still, everyone tends to call the EVSE a charger. So will I for the rest of this post.

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Do Teslas Save Money On Gas

Yes, driving a Tesla can save you money on gas since it runs on electricity. With the lower cost of electricity as compared to gasoline, youll be able to save some money on fuel costs. For example, the average cost of electricity in the US is around 11.

5 cents per kilowatt-hour, while the average cost of regular unleaded gas is around $2. 45 per gallon . Since a Tesla has a range of 300 miles per charge, depending on your electric rate and your driving habits, you could save hundreds of dollars per year in fuel costs compared to driving a traditional gasoline-powered vehicle.

In addition, the savings from reduced maintenance and insurance on a Tesla further help you save additional amount of money in the long run.

What To Know About Tesla Adapters

Unlike most other EVs which use a J1772 charger, all Teslas have the same Tesla-specific charging port. You can still charge your Tesla using universal EV chargers on the go youll just need an adapter. Its not something youll have to buy separately, though, as SAE J1772 adapters are included as a standard accessory when you purchase any Tesla. In addition to charging with Tesla chargers and standard EV chargers, some chargers leverage CHAdeMO . CHAdeMO charging your Tesla will require an adapter, which costs just over $500.

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Cost Of Charging A Tesla Model Y

The Model Y, Teslas newest electric vehicle, is available in three configurations with a 75 kWh battery. The cost of completely charging the Model Y Standard Range is $11.47, which is around $0.047 per mile, or $4.70 every hundred miles.

This is over 64% less expensive per mile than some of the most popular gas-powered cars, costing around 13 cents per mile.

These petrol savings are noteworthy, but most new electric car customers have discovered that charging their Tesla with home solar panels is even cheaper.

How Do You Charge A Tesla

There are four options for charging:

Regardless of the charging method you use, you simply plug into the Tesla charging port and charging will start automatically.

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Charging Your Tesla With Solar At Home

Theres sometimes a misconception that home Tesla charging is expensive. Still, its substantially less expensive in most areas than buying gasoline especially if youre using solar to power your charging. Your exact comparison depends on the cost of electricity in your area and the model Tesla you own .

One of the best long-term solutions to lower your home Tesla charging costs is to go solar. You can use the EnergySage Marketplace to compare several quotes from pre-screened installers, helping you find a system that fits your needs at the right price. If youre planning to charge an EV at home, share that information when getting estimates so an installer can help you build the right size system, allowing you to power your car with free, renewable energy generated at home.

How To Make Your Iphone Charge On Clean Energy

Writing about Apples deep decarbonization efforts recently, I discovered something about my iPhone that I didnt realize. In the US, if you are on iOS 16, you can now set your phone to charge on clean, green energy as much as possible.

What does that mean? If you go to Battery Health & Charging and turn on Clean Energy Charging, Apple tries to track your charging patterns and then, when plugged in, only actually charge your phone when relatively low-carbon-emission electricity is being produced . This new option or feature is part of Apples new partnership with the CoolClimate Network at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley.

Clearly, Apple is also able to see and is paying attention to what energy sources are being used for electricity production in real-time. It is also presumably tracking patterns in such electricity production and trying to match the times of greenest electricity with the times you have your phone plugged in.

As Apple wrote in October, Available starting this month in the United States through iOS 16, the new feature looks at the sources of the electricity during expected charge times and optimizes for when the grid is using cleaner energy sources like solar or wind.

So, even if you dont have solar panels on your roof or a subscription to 100% clean electricity, you can charge your phone in a greener way by turning on one little feature on your iPhone. Enjoy!

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How To Charge Your Tesla For Free

Dynamite647 said:For the potential buyers or for those who have already purchased a Tesla or any other EV you can in some cases charge your car for free using public stations. In video below I have shown the Chargepoint stations and depending on location it will either give you 2 or 4 hour of FREE charging.These stations are located at most offices and malls . All you need is the Chargepoint card or app, you just plugin the car and start charging. You will need the J1172 adapter. The station will let you know when your free session is about to end so you can manage accordingly. The speed on these stations varies but most of the FREE ones are around 6kw/30amp.I think this is great to charge your car for FREE while shopping, or if you are out with friends chilling. This is also useful for those people who might not have a charging setup at home and this is there only option. This is just one example of many stations out there that let you charge for free to a certain degree.