How Much Does It Cost To Charge A Tesla Per Month?
The monthly cost of charging a Tesla will vary due to several factors. The most influential factors are how far you drive each month, your electricity cost, and your battery’s size. So for the sake of this discussion, we are going to assume the following:
At a Glance:
1️⃣ The average cost of electricity per kWh in the US is 16.10¢ (cents) per kWh (kilo Watt hour) as of July 2022.
2️⃣ The FHWA estimates the average motorist drives 13,500 miles per year. It equates to just over 1,000 miles every month.
3️⃣ Each model has a different battery pack. Let’s assume the smallest size for each model.
With Tesla’s well-reported price cuts, more and more buyers are considering making the switch, especially with the EV tax credit benefits available to encourage adoption.
One last point to highlight before we begin is that the figures in this article are for a 0%-100% charge cycle. In reality, you are more likely to perform 20%-80% charges.
The Cost Of Charging a Tesla Model X
There are two types of Model X, the Plaid and the Long range. The batteries of these cars are both 100 kWh. However, older models have slightly smaller batteries, of around 60 kWh.
The average cost to charge the 100 kWh battery is $16.10 for a zero to full charge. Assuming the full EPA range of 350 miles, your monthly cost (based on 1000 miles per month) will be $45.99 for the Long Range.
1000 miles / 350 EPA range = 2.85
2.85 * $16.10 = $45.99
And for the Plaid with an EPA rating of 333 miles, you’ll be looking at around $48.34 using the same formula above.
The Cost Of Charging a Tesla Model 3
The Model 3 features a 60 kWh battery pack. That’s nominal while the useable is 57.5 kWh, but let’s assume the nominal to keep the article uniform.
The average cost to charge the Model 3 is $9.67 for a single zero to full charge.
Assuming the RWD 18-inch: EPA range of 272 miles, your monthly cost (based on 1000 miles per month) will be $35.51 for the cheapest model.
1000 miles / 272 EPA range = 3.67
3.67 * $9.67 = $35.51
These costs will increase if you use the supercharger network or any other DC fast-charging network.
The Cost Of Charging A Tesla Model S
There are two types of Model S, the Plaid and the dual motor. Both have a 100 kWh battery pack with a useable 95 kWH.
The average cost to charge the 100 kWh battery is $16.10 for a zero to full charge. Assuming the full EPA range of 405 for the dual motor model, your monthly cost (based on 1000 miles per month) will be $39.75.
1000 miles / 405 EPA range = 2.46
2.46 * $16.10 = $39.75
And for the Plaid with an EPA rating of 396 miles, you’ll be looking at around $40.65 using the same formula above.
The Cost Of Charging A Tesla Model Y
There are three types of Model Y, Performance, Long Range, and AWD. The first two have a 78 kWh battery, and the AWD has a 60 kWh nominal capacity pack.
The average cost to charge the 78 kWh battery is $12.56 for a zero to full charge. Assuming the full EPA range of 330 for the LR model, your monthly cost (based on 1000 miles per month) will be $39.75.
1000 miles / 330 EPA range = 3.03
3.03 * $12.56 = $38.06
And for the Performance with an EPA rating of 303 miles, you’ll be looking at around $41.45 monthly using the same formula above.
Lastly, the monthly cost for the standard AWD model is roughly (using the 279 EPA) $34.62 or $9.66 per home charge.
How Much Does It Cost To Charge A Tesla Per Month?
When it comes to the overall costs of charging a Tesla per month, it is more complex than estimating the costs because there are a lot of aspects to consider. As a result, there is no set amount.
Usage
The first aspect to consider when looking at the charging costs of a Tesla is your usage. If you use the car daily and for long drives, then your usage will be far higher than someone driving their Tesla once or twice a week for short trips.
Considering both of these aspects, the more you use the Tesla, the more you will pay to charge it monthly.
Area
The area you live in also affects the cost of charging a Tesla. Unfortunately, there is no flat rate when it comes to the price of electricity, just like with the price of gas.
The Model
Different Tesla models will cost different amounts of money to charge. Given this, the Tesla you own can make a difference in costs.
As the price can vary depending on these factors, to work out the overall costs, you will need to take the total kWh of the car and times this by the amount of the electricity costs.
Battery size * price per kilowatt = cost to charge
Electricity VS Gas Prices
When you look at the differences in the cost between charging an electric car and gas, it is staggering. While you still have to pay for electricity, the price does not come close to the price you would pay for gas.
As a result, Teslas are cost-effective, and you will not have to pay a significant amount of money per month even if you drive your car for longer distances.
If you want to keep the cost of charging your Tesla down, you should also purchase a home charger. These are more useful, and if you combine this with solar panel energy, the costs are lowered again.
Key Takeaways
There is not one answer that fits all regarding the monthly cost of charging a Tesla.
You must consider how often the car needs to be charged and how far you travel. Both of these will have an overall effect on how much your electric bill will increase with the costs.
In addition to this, the charger you use can affect the costs, as can the area you live in. Even so, the national average cost of 16.10¢ (cents) per kWh (as of July 2022) is substantially lower than gasoline equivalents.
