A lot of questions come to mind with Tesla EVs — the most pressing of which is 'How much does it cost to charge a Tesla?' Every Tesla car is fully electric, which results in a lower cost per mile than filling up a gasoline or diesel-powered vehicle. Electricity prices do vary, however, both by location and type of charger. Rates also vary across Tesla’s Supercharger network, but the average price is quite affordable.
The fastest way to charge a Tesla to full capacity is at a Supercharger, but the lowest prices are usually found with home charging. Home chargers are quite useful for topping up the car overnight, of if there's not a nearby Supercharger where you live. But if you're OK spending a bit more, Tesla Superchargers are a great way to top-up your car as quickly as possible.
The cost to charge a Tesla vehicle is relatively low, but can vary depending on the charger used, the location, and how much power is needed. Therefore, it’s easiest to compare the cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Exact charging costs will vary from person to person, but we can get a rough estimate looking at the battery capacity of each Tesla and the average price of residential energy in the U.S. Got all that? Let's dive in.
How Much It Costs To Charge Tesla Model S
Let's start with the Tesla Model S and the cost of at-home charging. The latest versions of the Model S and Model S Plaid both feature 100 kWh battery capacities. Multiplying that by the average home energy cost of 13.72 cents per kWh, that works out to about $13.72 to fully charge a Model S from 0 - 100 percent. That number will obviously flucuate depending on the actual price of energy where you live, but that's a rough idea of what you can expect. Tesla Supercharging rates also vary from location to location, but they usually come out to around 24 cents per kWh. For the 100 kwH batteries in the Model S and Model S Plaid, going from 0-100 percent battery with a Supercharger will cost around $24.
How Much It Costs To Charge Tesla Model 3
While that's already substantially less than refueling a gas-powered car, things become even more affordable with the Tesla Model 3. Since the Model 3 has lower-capacity batteries, the cost to charge it is also smaller. The baseline Model 3 has a battery capacity of just 62 kWh. Using the same 13.72 cents per kWh energy cost, charging the baseline Model 3 at home from 0-100 would cost just $8.50. For the Long Range and Performance versions of the Model 3, the cost increases to about $11.25. Supercharging a standard Model 3 from 0-100 percent battery should cost $14.88, while the Long Range and Performance versions will be around $19.68.
How Much It Costs To Charge Tesla Model X
What about the Tesla Model X? Similar to the Model S, both the standard Model X and Model X Plaid have 100 kWh batteries. As such, both versions cost the same $13.72 to charge from 0-100 at home. If you'd rather get a full charge at a Supercharger, expect to pay $24.
How Much It Costs To Charge Tesla Model Y
Finally, there's the Tesla Model Y. Whether you get the Long Range or Performance Model Y, each version has a 75 kWh battery. Charging the Model Y from 0-100 at home, the average cost will be around $10.29. If you take your Model Y to a Supercharger, that number increases to roughly $18 for a full charge.
Source: EIA