Have you ever wondered how much more a Tesla costs to run than a gas-powered car? Unfortunately, it’s a common misconception that Tesla cars are more expensive to own than gas-powered cars due to a sudden hike in electricity bills.
However, owning an electronic vehicle like Tesla is still worth it as you will save around thousands of dollars that you would have spent on fuel otherwise. People assume that it will hurt your pocket because of the increase in electricity bill, ignoring that you will save all the money on fuel.
But still, how much your electricity bills will increase depends upon multiple factors like:
- How many miles do you drive each day?
- Which Tesla model are you considering?
- What would you choose as your battery option?
- How do you charge your device?
- Electricity costs.
In this blog, we are going to bring you a clear-cut comparison of the most famous Tesla models and a regular fuel car so that you can wisely choose the vehicle of your dreams.
But before that, let’s see how much it costs to charge a Tesla.
How much does it cost to charge a Tesla Car?
Before comparing its costs to gas vehicles, it is necessary to figure out how much it costs to charge a Tesla car and what factors impact the cost of electricity consumed to charge it in one go.
For that, we need to see what kind of batteries it uses and how much electricity is required to charge that battery. And to make the comparison easy for you, we are here comparing the most liked four Tesla models.
| Tesla Model | Total Capacity of Battery | Mile Range | Costs to charge the battery |
| Tesla Model 3 | 50 kWh | 263 miles | $7- $10 |
| Tesla Model S | 100 kWh | 412 miles | $15 -$18 |
| Tesla Model X | 75 kWh | 305 miles | $11 – $18 |
| Tesla Model Y | 75 kWh | 315 miles | $11 – $22 |
All the data shared here is collected from user reviews and feedback gathered from multiple resources. These are averages of data collected from various sources.
Also, according to research conducted by the University of Michigan, you can drive an average electric vehicle annually at the cost of $485. Apart from that, according to some people who drive Tesla electric vehicles, depending upon the Model of the car they are driving and how they charge it, it costs them around $280- $550 a year.
How Much Does Owning a Tesla Increase Your Electric Bill?
Several users have reported that their average electricity bill increased by $25- $50 monthly by owning a Tesla.
It is a diversified range because the actual costs depend on multiple factors like distance covered, power of supply used rather than just electricity consumed.
Is Tesla Car Cheaper Than Gasoline Cars?
Well! Yes, Tesla and all other electric cars a much cheaper than fuel cars. According to the same research by the University of Michigan mentioned above, the average driving cost of a gasoline vehicle in the United States is around $1,117.
It is almost double what you will pay as a bill to use an electric car. Therefore, it is clearcut that Tesla and other electric vehicles are cheaper to sustain than gasoline cars.
Apart from that, according to another survey conducted by Consumers Reports, a driver saves anything from $6,000 to $10,000 over the life of a vehicle in comparison to a gasoline car driver.
How do Tesla cars save consumers’ money?
Whenever we talk about an electric car, the first thought that hits people’s minds is, “How our electricity bills are going to be increased by using an electric car?” They completely ignore that while they have to spend a few hundred dollars on electricity bills, they will save thousands on gasoline bills.
Still, people are confused about how an electric vehicle will save money for them, so here you can see why EVs are cost-efficient:
- It is estimated that the average electric vehicle owner will spend 60% less to power their vehicle than the average gas car owner. When compared with owning a comparable gasoline-powered car, owning an electric vehicle saves the typical driver $6,000 to $10,000 over the vehicle’s life.
- The cost of maintaining and repairing electric vehicles is half that of gas-powered cars, with a high percentage of that saving going to used car buyers.
- With a range of 250 miles or more, owners of electric vehicles will be able to charge 92% at home, needing no more than six trips to public fast-charging stations per year.
Is the Tesla Model 3 expensive to charge?
Talking about Teslas, mentioning the most popular and widely purchased Tesla Model 3 is a must. It is the world’s best plug-in car model for 2020.
The Tesla Model 3 car comes in three variants. These are Model 3 Sedan, Model 3 Long Range, Model 3 Performance.
The battery capacity for the Model 3 Standard Range is 50 kWh, while the range is 263 miles. Model 3’s Long Range and 3 Performance both come with an 82 kWh battery. As a result, a range of 353 miles is possible with the Long Range model, while a range of 315 miles is possible with the Performance model.
You will have to pay about $7.65 to fully charge the battery of the 2021 Standard Range Model 3. As a result, the cost per mile comes to about $0.03, or $2.91 per 100 miles.
The cost of fully charging the 2021 Long Range and Performance models would be $12.54. Each mile would cost $0.036, while each mile would cost $0.04.
Impact of Various Electric Supplies On Tesla Car Charging
Understanding the difference between charging levels is essential when discussing how much a Tesla costs to sustain itself.
Each level charges at a different rate; these choices will also affect how much you pay for recharging.
Universal socket AC
It is a universal charging option. It shouldn’t be a problem to charge your Tesla if you have a standard wall socket nearby. As a practical matter, 110-120V is all you can get into your electric vehicle. In other words, if your 2021 Tesla Long Range Model 3 has 82 kWh of battery capacity, it will take you days to charge it.
AC Level 2
Most public charging stations use this type of charger. However, there are usually more strategically placed plugs at 220-240V sockets in a house that offer roughly 40 to 50 amps. A large appliance such as a dryer will use this level of power.
The company recommends homeowners install Level 2 chargers if they can, which are usually relatively easy to install by a professional electrician. It takes about 8-12 hours to charge your Tesla with a Level 2 charger.
DC Fast Charger (Tesla Supercharger)
Unlike the alternating current (AC) methods above, Level 3 chargers use grid-supplied power directly. As a result, the output is tenfold greater despite requiring more power (480+ volts and 100+ amps).
Depending on the charging rate, Tesla Superchargers can recharge up to 180 miles in 15 minutes. Depending on which Supercharger station you end up at, you’ll also be able to charge at speeds between 90 kW and 250 kW.
How Much Does Owning a Tesla Increase Your Electric Bill If you own a car than Tesla 3 Model?
How much does it cost to charge a Tesla Model X?
There are 100 kilowatt-hours (kWh) batteries on the Tesla Model X Long Range and Model X Plaid. In older versions of the Model X, batteries might have a capacity as low as 60 kWh.
Consider a Model X with a 100 kWh battery and an average electricity price of $0.13 per kWh in the United States. Chargers with level 2 home charging stations should also have an efficiency of 85%.
According to these estimates, a full charge for a Model X would cost about $15.29. Since the 2021 Model X Long Range is designed to drive 360 miles, its cost per mile would be approximately $0.042, or $4.24 per 100 miles driven.
A 50-mile range would come in at $0.045 per mile, and a 100-mile range comes in around $4.49 per mile for the 2021 Model X Plaid.
Charging a Tesla Model X costs can vary depending on the charger you choose, the electricity rate in your area, and whether you charge it fully or not.
How much does it cost to charge a Tesla Model S?
Model S is available in three versions as of February 2021: Long Range, Plaid, and Plaid+. They all have 100 kWh batteries.
According to $0.13 per kWh electricity prices and 85% charging efficiency, the Long Range variant can travel 412 miles on a single charge.
Therefore, you will pay $0.037 per mile or $3.70 per 100 miles.
How much does it cost to charge a Tesla Model Y?
A 75 kWh battery is standard on all three Tesla Model Y EV models, Tesla’s latest electric vehicle model. As a result, the cost of fully charging the Model Y Standard Range comes to about $11.47. For 100 miles, that amounts to $0.047.
The cost per mile is almost 64% less than some of the most popular gasoline-powered vehicles, approximately 13 cents per mile.
Although these gas savings are impressive, many Tesla buyers have discovered that home solar panels are an even more cost-effective way to charge their cars.
Tesla Model 3 is the cheapest Tesla, and Tesla Model Y is the most expensive EV for electric bills. Still, it is 64% cost-effective in comparison to fuel cars.
Therefore, it is proven that electric vehicles are more cost-effective than gasoline vehicles, even if they increase electricity bills because the electricity bill is lesser than money saved on gas bills.
Tips for saving money on Tesla EV charging
You can use the numbers above as a guide to finding out the cost differentials between different pricing levels. However, these numbers are just estimates.
It would be best to consider other factors such as your location, charger, and peak energy consumption times.
Regardless of how they are arranged, they should offer some idea of how to choose how to charge based on your battery level. In addition to avoiding public charging stations, there are other ways to save money.
Does Tesla still offer free Supercharging?
In the past, but not recently. Several perks were added to Tesla EVs after the debut of the Model S, such as unlimited Supercharging. Similar promotions have been added to Tesla’s upgrades for specific models or referrals.
Tesla owners, old and new, continue to be confused by this potential perk.
Each of the Supercharger sites’ prices are displayed on the touchscreen pop-up for the selected pin. In addition, an estimate of your final charges will appear after your charging session is complete. You can find your final invoices under the ‘Charging’ section of your Tesla Account.
Prices are subject to change. Taxes and fees are included in all prices.
Supercharger stations may charge higher rates during peak periods and lower rates during off-peak periods. The navigation application on the touchscreen displays both rates and peak times.
Takeaways:
- Tesla or any other electric vehicle will increase your electricity bills. However, the hike in electricity will be much lesser than the money you will save on the Gasoline bill.
- Also, electric car users save an average of $6,000 to $10,000 on their car bills over the vehicle’s lifetime.
- Tesla Model 3 is the most affordable Tesla EV, and Tesla Y is the most expensive option regarding hike in electricity bills.
- Apart from the car model you own, several other factors like charging in peak and non-peak utility hours, the type of electric supply you use, and how much you drive it will also impact your bills.
- Studies prove that it is a complete myth that electric vehicles will put a hole in your pocket. Instead, they save your money and reduce carbon imprint in nature.
I hope this article will help you to decide better whether you want a Tesla or not. If you have made your mind to buy one, mention in the comments what model you will buy.