Here’s How Much It Costs To Charge A Tesla EV

Tesla currently sits at the top of the EV throne, just based on sales numbers alone. Its cars may not garner the highest rating from reviewers and some existing consumers, but its market success is irrefutable. A big reason for this is that its products have become aspirational products among tech and electric car enthusiasts, but these cars also benefit from some of the best EPA-estimated electric range and energy consumption figures. Tesla’s class-leading Supercharging network is another strong attribute that helps it dominate global sales charts.

Tesla’s products vary in price, depending on which model and configuration you are considering. The brand offers several battery capacity options, meaning charging costs will also be different. We’ve devised this handy guide for you to be more informed about the costs and times involved with charging a Tesla, together with what charging equipment comes standard or is optionally available.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Tesla websites and other authoritative sources, including the EPA, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Sunrun.

How Much It Costs To Charge A Tesla Model 3 And Model Y

The Tesla Model 3 and Model Y range are mechanically identical electric cars, although their available configurations do vary. The Model 3 boasts a $38,990 starting price for the base rear-wheel drive model equipped with a 57.5 kWh Prismatic LFP battery. The $46,990 introduces a more powerful dual-motor all-wheel-drive system and a larger 2170 82-kWh battery pack. There is currently no Performance derivative for the model, but it will be introduced before the end of this March, according to Tesla.

As for the Model Y, a Performance variant is available for $52,490, together with a base and Long Range mode. These feature the same battery capacities as the Model 3. Tesla sources its battery technology from its long-standing partner, Panasonic, who is working on developing a production facility close to the EV manufacturer’s Texas plant in a bid to improve supply chain logistics.

The Tesla Model 3 And Model Y Take 120 Hours To Charge

As noted, you can only have the standard battery option fitted to the base rear-wheel drive models. The EPA estimates the Model 3 will cover 272 miles on a single charge and return a 132 MPGe combined energy consumption figure. The base Model Y features the same battery to cover 279 miles and return a 123 MPGe estimate. This battery takes 91 hours to charge when using a household Level One plug, just over 10 hours via a Level Two fast charger, and 25 minutes to get from 0-80 percent via Tesla’s supercharging network.

Tesla Model 3 And Model Y Range And Charging Times

(Specifications sourced from Tesla)

The larger 82 kWh battery option grants the Dual-Motor Model 3 a 358-mile range estimate and 131 MPGe combined energy consumption. The Dual Motor Model Y covers 330 miles and returns a 122 MPGe consumption estimate, while the Performance features 303-mile and 111 MPGe estimates. The larger battery takes 120 hours to charge when using a Level One system, 11.5 hours via a Level Two plug, and 27 minutes when fast charging.

The Tesla Model 3 And Model Y Cost $82 To Charge

According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of electricity in the USA is 17 cents per kWh. Energy is cheaper in cities like St. Louis and Seattle, where you can pay as little as 13 cents per kWh, but areas like San Diego and San Francisco can have you paying as much as 48 cents per kWh. Based on this, you can expect to pay $7.50 to charge the base battery in cheaper states, and $27.60 in more costly regions. The national average cost is around $9.78. These rates will be lower during off-peak hours which occur between 11PM and 6AM.

Tesla Model 3 And Model Y Charging Costs

(Specifications sourced from Tesla)

The 82 kWh battery will cost an average of $13.94 for a full charge across the country. Cheaper states will have you paying $10,66, while more expensive regions will result in a $39.36 charging cost. Tesla’s Supercharging costs range between 50 cents and $1 per kWh, depending on how congested the stations are. At most, you’ll pay $58 to charge the base battery and $82 to charge the larger pack.

How Much It Costs To Charge A Tesla Model S And Model X

The Tesla Model S and Model X also feature identical mechanical components. These models only feature one 100 kWh lithium-ion battery option for both Dual-Motor and Plaid trims. Tesla sources this 7920 battery construction from Panasonic as well, resulting in some of the best mileage estimates currently available in the new EV market.

Pricing for the range starts at $79,990 for the base Model X and $74,990 for the Model S. The Plaid trims are about $15,000 more expensive, but the jump in power is noteworthy. Tesla doesn’t include home charging equipment with any of its cars. You have to pay $230 for a mobile connection cable, rated to 240-volts, and $475 for a Level Two Wall Connector charger, excluding the installation cost, which can add $800 to $2,000 to the cost, depending on your state of residence.

The Tesla Model S And Model X Take 135 Hours To Charge

The 100 kWh lithium-ion battery pack grants the Tesla Model S an EPA-estimated 405-mile range claim and 120 MPGe combined energy consumption. This only decreases to 396 miles if you opt for the Plaid trim, together with a 116 MPGe estimate. The base Model X features an EPA-estimated 335-mile figure, but the Plaid is only marginally worse, with its 326-mile range estimate. The former returns a 102 MPGe claim, while the Plaid consumes 98 MPGe on the standard wheels and 91 MPGe on the optionally larger wheels.

Tesla Model S and Model X Range and Charging Times

(Specifications sourced from Tesla)

A 120-volt Level One plug point will take an excruciating 135 hours to recover the full battery capacity from an empty state of charge. A 240-volt point decreases this time to 18 hours. You can cut this down to eight hours if you upgrade the outlet to a 72-ampere system. Tesla’s 350-volt Level Three direct current fast charger takes a mere 30 minutes to charge the battery from 10 to 80 percent.

The Tesla Model S And Model X Cost $100 To Charge

Using the average cost of energy in the country, you can expect to pay $17 to fully charge the 100 kWh battery. This should be $13 in cheaper states and $48 in more costly regions. Fully charging the battery on Tesla’s Supercharging network during peak hours costs $100 and $50 during usual usage times.

Tesla Model S And Model X Charging Costs

(Specifications sourced from Tesla)

Unlike other fast-charging services, Tesla does not offer a subscription plan to its Supercharger network. Complementary charging is also not included when purchasing any of its cars. For a limited time, the brand offered a year of unlimited overnight charging for some of its cars via its Electric Home Charging Plan.

How Much It Costs To Charge A Tesla Cybertruck

The Tesla Cybertruck is a large EV truck with a very heavy curb weight. Overall, this is a peculiar and niche truck, catering to those who want to stand out while enjoying some level of utilitarian abilities. This is also the only Tesla to feature vehicle-to-load abilities, making it a handy camping tool or a good means of support during power blackouts. The Cybertruck is currently available as a Dual-Motor or flagship Tri-Motor Cyberbeast. A base Rear-Wheel Drive option is scheduled for a 2025 model year release.

The Dual-Motor Cybertruck starts at $79,990, and the Cyberbeast, $99,990. Tesla aims for the Rear-Wheel Drive model to enter the market at $60,990. Dual-Motor models produce 600 horsepower and accelerate from 0-60 MPH in 4.1 seconds. The Cyberbeast is a bit more intense, with an 845-horsepower output and 2.6-second 0-60 MPH acceleration time. The base model’s power isn’t disclosed, but Tesla confirms a 6.5-second 0-60 MPH time.

The Tesla Cybertruck Takes 160 Hours To Charge

Currently, Tesla only discloses the all-wheel drive battery capacity, which measures 123 kWh. You can extend this by 50 kWh via a range extender that fits in the bed. The EPA estimates the Dual-Motor will cover 340 miles on a single charge, while the Cyberbeast returns 320 miles. The EPA and Tesla are yet to announce the EV truck’s combined energy consumption estimates. The range extender adds 130 miles to both derivatives and costs $16,000 to add.

Tesla Cybertruck Range and Charging Times

(Specifications sourced from Tesla)

The Cybertruck’s larger battery gives it a competitive range for an EV truck, but its charging times are substantial. A Level One household plug will take you 160 hours to charge from empty to full. A Level Two system reduces this to 22 hours, while Tesla’s Supercharger will recover 10 to 80 percent in 40 minutes. The range extender increases charging times by 30 percent.

The Tesla Cybertruck Costs $123 To Charge

Household charging costs an average of $20.91 to replenish the Cybertruck’s battery. It’ll cost $16 in lower rate states, and about $59 in more costly areas. Tesla’s fast-charging network will cost you $61.50 to $123, depending on how busy the station is.

Tesla Cybertruck Charging Costs

(Specifications sourced from Tesla)

The optional battery extender increases these prices by 30 percent. This model is also equipped with the brand’s Powershare bidirectional charging up to 11.5 kW, which you power a small home for a few days or keep your campsite more comfortable with lighting and small appliances.