Quick Comparison
Home charging: $0.04-0.06/mile ($8-15 full charge)
Supercharging: $0.12-0.18/mile ($15-30 full charge)
Verdict: Home charging is 3-4x cheaper. Use Superchargers for road trips, not daily charging.
Cost Breakdown: Side by Side
Home Charging (Level 2)
Supercharging
Key takeaway: If you drive 1,000 miles per month and rely solely on Superchargers, you'll spend $120-180 versus $40-60 at home. That's $80-120 extra per month.
Real-World Scenarios
Scenario 1: Daily Commuter with Home Charging
Profile: 40 miles/day commute, charges at home every night
Monthly cost:
- • 1,200 miles × $0.05/mile = $60/month
- • Occasional Supercharger use: +$10
- • Total: $70/month
Scenario 2: Apartment Dweller (No Home Charging)
Profile: 1,000 miles/month, relies on Superchargers and public Level 2
Monthly cost:
- • 70% Supercharger: 700 miles × $0.15/mile = $105
- • 30% public Level 2: 300 miles × $0.08/mile = $24
- • Total: $129/month
Scenario 3: Road Trip Warrior
Profile: 2,000 miles/month, 80% home charging, 20% Supercharging
Monthly cost:
- • Home: 1,600 miles × $0.05/mile = $80
- • Supercharger: 400 miles × $0.15/mile = $60
- • Total: $140/month
When to Use Each Charging Method
Use Home Charging For:
- ✓Daily commuting and regular driving
- ✓Overnight charging when you're not using the car
- ✓Maintaining 20-80% charge for battery health
- ✓Saving money (3-4x cheaper than Supercharging)
Use Supercharging For:
- ✓Road trips and long-distance travel
- ✓Emergency top-ups when you can't wait
- ✓When you don't have access to home charging
- ✓Quick 10-60% charges (faster than 60-100%)
How to Minimize Supercharging Costs
Charge to 60-70% instead of 80-90%
Charging slows dramatically above 60%. Stop earlier and charge more frequently to save time and money.
Use off-peak Superchargers when possible
Some locations have time-based pricing. Charging at night or during off-peak hours can save 20-30%.
Arrive with lower battery percentage
Charging is fastest from 10-50%. Plan routes to arrive at Superchargers with 10-20% remaining.
Precondition battery before arriving
Navigate to the Supercharger in your Tesla to warm the battery. This maximizes charging speed and efficiency.
Consider Tesla's Supercharger membership
If you Supercharge frequently, membership can reduce per-kWh costs by $0.05-0.10 in some regions.
Frequently Asked Questions
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