Tesla Charging Prices - Not excited as others

[pjell]

As mentioned by others, the “excitement” has little to do with cost. It’s all about availability, locations, and reliability compared to the other brands.

For me specifically one example is this opens up northern MN where that was not possible before.

Sponsored

 

[Newton]

C'mon,maybe downhill with a tail wind. Realistically it's like 18mpg.

It is amazing how many people on forums hod Ecoboosts that could pull a 28' trailer up the mountains while getting 30 MPG. Something must have been wrong with mine, 18 would have been a good day. The mileage was the only reason I didn't drive it more, now we take it everywhere. We could probably save money by selling the other cars.

I got a SR and of course my wife has now planned a trip to pretty much the one place in Washington without many chargers (far NW Washington where there aren't even many gas stations.) We are taking the Lightning, though, she insists we will make it work and it looks like we can.

 

[Randall Stephens]

We travelled for eclipse this weekend. Lots of miles in a shot time. Traveling at 80 mph for lots of it. I just couldn’t beat 600 mile range, cost of energy, freedom of stopping anywhere you like and 5 min charging of my wife’s outback. Truck would do better in stop and go traffic and would still be preferred for distances of 300 miles or less where there is charging at destination.

I also traveled for the eclipse, but first class from Seattle . My cost per mile was under a buck at least.

 

[RickLightning]

Most Americans are unaware how much cheaper gasoline is compared to fast charging. If this doesn't get rectified it will be the death of the EV. You can make a graph of a President's approval # with the cost of a gallon of gas and they will always coincide.

Malarkey. Non-factual. Simply wrong.

I just took a 1,754 mile trip with the truck. Fast charging rates were as follows (including taxes):

London, ON - 43.6 cents
Cobourg, ON- 36.2 cents
Williston, VT - 38 cents
Potsdam, NY - 39 cents Tesla and EA

My trip resulted in average of 1.8 miles per kWH. I also did level 2 charging, and got one charge at a hotel for free. My total cost, including the fill at home, for the trip was $324.24. That's a cost per mile of 18.5 cents.

My 2013 F-150 got 17 miles per gallon (not including local driving when it's cold of way less mpg). At $3.25 gas, that's a total cost of $335.32, and a cost per mile of 19 cents. Sure, I got 100kW free at a hotel. Most level 2 charging was around 30 cents. So that adds $30 to the total cost, making it a tad higher. However, EVERY trip I've ever taken has resulted in some free charging, usually 30% or more.

Yes, 19 cents per mile works out to 32.3 cents per kWh with this math. None of my DC fast charging was at that cost ON THIS TRIP. It has been well below that on other trips, like in Nebraska, or Kentucky, where they charge by the minute. But every DC fast charging trip includes leaving your house with usually much lower costing electricity stored in the truck. And free charging at many hotels. Or at a community charger (I've charged on many of those, DC fast charging too).

Spreading this kind of info is simply wrong. Wrong in that it's factually wrong.

 

[Maxx]

I also traveled for the eclipse, but first class from Seattle . My cost per mile was under a buck at least.

seeing the solar flares with naked eye and with binoculars alone was worth the trip. Blows my mind how big they are.

 

[Toby57]

C'mon,maybe downhill with a tail wind. Realistically it's like 18mpg.

Easy now. Somebody might come along and prove you wrong.

 

[detansinn]

If you’re frequently relying upon Superchargers in your travels, pay for the Tesla membership. It will pay for itself in two uses per month. Without the membership, yes, they’re charging a premium for non-Tesla vehicles.

There are some straight up bizarre assertions about Level 2 home charging in this thread. The reality is that it’s extraordinarily inexpensive and if you have a solar array, you can fill up your truck for free. No one is giving you free gas for an ICE pickup truck.

Even if you found yourself paying for expensive DC fast charging on the road, it’s offset by the profound savings at home. That’s not even touching the dramatically lower maintenance costs.

In year one, I drove my 2023 Lightning Lariat ER 22k miles through 18 states. Prior to taking delivery of the EV, I drove a brand new 2023 F150 XLT ICE truck for about 6k miles — it was a rental while I was waiting for the Lightning. There’s no comparison when it comes to total operating costs.

With all of this being said, an Instagram friend recently shared his PG&E electric rates in California. IMHO, these rates do break the model for EV ownership. Yeah, it’s insane — $0.73/kWh peak.

If you want real “energy independence”, go solar. The tax credit is awesome and there’s something great about filling up your truck from the sun. ROI isn’t decades either. Your electric bills are far lower if not disappearing entirely some months. Our 16.8kw is tracking to pay for itself in 6 years. After that, it’s pure sugar.

 

[Lightning&Bolt]

I charge at home. That's where the real savings are. But I'm excited for my upcoming trip to Norfolk.

Using a Tesla membership for my drive, it will cost less than with an EA membership, and will be more reliable to boot. And with the 250Kw charging giving roughly the same output as the 350kW EA units, I won't have to worry about people complaining I'm using "their" charger.

Is the membership month to month? Will i be able to get it for a month when i know im going to travel and then cancel it?

 

[RickLightning]

Is the membership month to month? Will i be able to get it for a month when i know im going to travel and then cancel it?

Yes. You can sign up the morning of your trip, then immediately cancel. I signed up on Saturday, 3/30, and my month expires on 5/1. Same as EA's membership plan.

 

[Maxx]

No EV bashing here.... fully committed (to charge at home) and love my Lightning; never going back. However I am a frugal yankee.

Here in New England, the non-subscription rates for supercharges is between .45 and .55 per kwh. The avg cost per gallon of unleaded is $3.58

I put these number into this calculator.... https://chooseev.com/savings-calculator/

The cost per mile results in Lightning getting 5 less miles than the cost of gas. The breakeven kwh cost is $.37. I pay .22 at home and .35 at vacation home (both the MA, Muni vs big guy)

Just facts presented. Tesla charging for road trips and poor planning only. Yes, I know the other costs are not factored (oil etc) and does not consider the environment.... so check those comments at the door.

Sorry if others have mentioned this already. Other than the fact that for many of us, supercharging is rare, when we do it, it is often leaving with a full tank of cheaper electrons and sometimes having access to cheaper electrons when we get to our destination. So depending on how far you go and how cheap the cheaper electrons are, you still may be able to beat gas.

My main concern is my home electricity cost going up and not having a good setup for solar. My rates are still lower than yours.

 

[Kit2874]

No EV bashing here.... fully committed (to charge at home) and love my Lightning; never going back. However I am a frugal yankee.

Here in New England, the non-subscription rates for supercharges is between .45 and .55 per kwh. The avg cost per gallon of unleaded is $3.58

I put these number into this calculator.... https://chooseev.com/savings-calculator/

The cost per mile results in Lightning getting 5 less miles than the cost of gas. The breakeven kwh cost is $.37. I pay .22 at home and .35 at vacation home (both the MA, Muni vs big guy)

Just facts presented. Tesla charging for road trips and poor planning only. Yes, I know the other costs are not factored (oil etc) and does not consider the environment.... so check those comments at the door.

It just totally depends where you live.
At my house I pay 13 cents a kilowatt.


And where I vacationed at. 17 cents a kilowatt..

So one fill at the hours at 13 cents
3 fills of 43 cents to get to vacation beach house
And 17 cents fill at beach house

I'm paying far less then my old f150 2017 that was lucky to get 19 on hwy

 

[Danface]

Welcome, similar experiences, I take solace in the value of the Mass Mor-EV-Truck credit that I got in 2022, that goes a long way compensating for the regional power expenses we have in Massachusetts.

Just got the notification that my MoreEv check will be mailed in the next 90 days. The real savings is West Boylston MA, .15/KWH. I drove back from Maine last night and got 2.5 M/KWH for 167 Miles ... Maine is "Up Hill" and I did Rt 16 to 125 to 495 so less highway and more time but GOM actually worked-ish

 

[Shawnson]

It was always a mistake to assume EVs would be cheaper per mile than gas. When supercharging was free and L2 was enough to get around town this was mostly true. But as soon as free superchargers went away and vehicle battery size made L2 impractical except for overnight home use, the market was going to drive them to cost equality.

Much like the early “bio-fuel” guys used to take used frying oil from fats food places and talk about their free “gas” - that was never a sustainable model and as soon as companies got involved bio-fuel became as much if not more than gas. Same with EVs. Charging providers need their cut, cities need their taxes. Sell enough and they move in to get their cut and all the savings are gone.

Well it is when you are the charging provider…

I also believe prices are probably near or at their high for “public charging”. Although demand will surely increase, I think the cost to supply will come down with increasing scale of operations.

 

[metroshot]

If you’re frequently relying upon Superchargers in your travels, pay for the Tesla membership. It will pay for itself in two uses per month. Without the membership, yes, they’re charging a premium for non-Tesla vehicles.

There are some straight up bizarre assertions about Level 2 home charging in this thread. The reality is that it’s extraordinarily inexpensive and if you have a solar array, you can fill up your truck for free. No one is giving you free gas for an ICE pickup truck.

Even if you found yourself paying for expensive DC fast charging on the road, it’s offset by the profound savings at home. That’s not even touching the dramatically lower maintenance costs.

In year one, I drove my 2023 Lightning Lariat ER 22k miles through 18 states. Prior to taking delivery of the EV, I drove a brand new 2023 F150 XLT ICE truck for about 6k miles — it was a rental while I was waiting for the Lightning. There’s no comparison when it comes to total operating costs.

With all of this being said, an Instagram friend recently shared his PG&E electric rates in California. IMHO, these rates do break the model for EV ownership. Yeah, it’s insane — $0.73/kWh peak.

If you want real “energy independence”, go solar. The tax credit is awesome and there’s something great about filling up your truck from the sun. ROI isn’t decades either. Your electric bills are far lower if not disappearing entirely some months. Our 16.8kw is tracking to pay for itself in 6 years. After that, it’s pure sugar.

I just checked my local utility rate (SCE) and found that they raised prices again!

During peak hours (after work), I can charge cheaper at Tesla Superchargers w/ membership rate than charging at home !

Almost half price charging at Tesla ($0.34) vs home on L2 ($0.63)!!!

 

[detansinn]

I just checked my local utility rate (SCE) and found that they raised prices again!

During peak hours (after work), I can charge cheaper at Tesla Superchargers w/ membership rate than charging at home !

Almost half price charging at Tesla ($0.34) vs home on L2 ($0.63)!!!

For reference, we're paying $0.15/kWh all day long (no peak/off peak nonsense). And for us, that's before we factor in the impact of net metering, which works like it should in Pennsylvania.

In addition to the California electric rates going hockey stick, the net metering rules have also been changed to make solar much less attractive there. I don't envy what you guys are dealing with.