Tesla just announced free use of Superchargers just in time for Thanksgiving, bringing some holiday cheer, but there is a catch involving which stations will offer free charging and when it takes place. During the holidays, there is a general busyness on the road and at charging stations. Bringing up the battery level of a Tesla at home on an overnight charger is convenient. However, it can't compare to the lightning speed of a Supercharger.
Tesla's Superchargers can add up to 200 miles of range to the car in about 15 minutes, over 266 times as fast as a 120-volt home charger, which drizzles energy so slowly that only three miles of driving distance are added in an hour. Most Tesla owners choose the 240-volt option, offering a much more usable 44 miles of range each hour. Destination chargers have the same charging rate as the 240-volt wall connector.
Given the vast speed difference of in-home charging a Tesla car versus using Supercharging, it's easy to understand why some Supercharger stations keep busy, particularly during the holidays when more people are traveling the roadways. Tesla just announced free supercharger use during off-peak hours Nov. 24 through Nov. 28, 2021, at specific locations in California. Beyond being a nice gesture during the holidays, it might relieve crowding at these busy locations. The news was shared on Twitter by TelsaCharging, the company's official account for charging related topics.
When & Where Is Supercharging Free?
Tesla's free Supercharging offer runs for four days, Nov. 24 through the 28th, during hours that are usually less busy, after 7 p.m. in the evening and before 10 a.m. in the morning. However, not every Supercharger station has this offer. In fact, it is restricted to 39 of the busiest locations in California, spanning the northern, central and southern regions.
The Grinch might give a smug grin about those fine details, yet it is still a nice gesture in light of the typical holiday season crowding. Anyone local to the free Supercharging stations or passing through during the off-peak times will benefit from the offer. Fully charging a Tesla costs about $20, give or take a bit, depending on the model, so it won't be a significant saving for each individual driver. However, it might be a sizable investment for Tesla since some of the Supercharger stations have dozens of stalls and are located on a major highway.
Source: Tesla, Tesla/Twitter