Tesla Superchargers: EV charging stations
innovating the world.
In the past few years, the use of electric vehicles has grown significantly. Tesla is among the
most popular EVs in the US and its empire is growing daily. Before getting an EV, many people
would think traveling across the country in an EV is almost impossible. But fast charging
stations have changed that though.
There are many fast chargers these days. Companies like Electrify America, Tesla, and EVgo
have made fast chargers that can deliver +50 kWh. But, it’s Tesla the one that is all over the
country with +40K charging stations, and going from Florida to California in the comfort of your
electric vehicle is no longer a dream.
There’s a world behind how DC fast charging stations are reinventing not only the US but the
world. Since going green has become a must, more countries are investing in fast and superfast
charging stations. Yet, for people like you and me, many questions might come up before
getting an EV or even using one of these superchargers.
It does not matter if you’re already an EV owner or you’re just thinking about going green.
Reading this article will help you clear most of your doubts and make the best decision in the
future days.
Money saving: Is charging an electric vehicle cheaper than filling
your gas car tank?
To answer this question there are many factors we must keep in mind. Although most people
would only say “YES!”. It’s not that easy. After Russia’s invasion to Ukraine, The world’s energy
crisis has gotten worse. As a result, the price of fuel increased significantly in the US and
elsewhere over the past few months.
To help you understand the differences, generally, the gas tank of a sedan car would take 13 to
16 gallons, on average. By Dec. 08, 2022, the average gas price was $3.39 per gallon. In other
words, filling a gas tank of a car like a Honda Civic 2022 would cost at least $42.37 at that time.
When talking about electric vehicles, there are many models with different battery capacities.
However, average-size EVs like the Nissan Leaf 2023 or Tesla Model 3 have a battery capacity
of 40Kwh. Recharging a car using a Tesla turbocharger costs up to about $0.50 per kWh. At
that price, recharging one of these vehicles using a Tesla supercharger would cost $20
approximately.
Since you can also recharge an EV at home, you can spend even less, depending on where
you’re located. On March 2022, the average utility rate in the US was $0.1372. In other words,
recharging a 40 kWh car would cost just $5.516. Impressive, right?
A 40 kWh EV has a range of up to around 140 miles depending on its configuration.
Nonetheless, If you have thought about getting an EV with a higher mile range, recharging costs
may vary. After all, there are a number of 60 kWh EVs that offer great performance. To get an
idea of this, let’s take a look at the chart below.
Car Model Battery Capacity Mile Range Recharging Cost
(Turbocharger)
Tesla Model Y AWD 78 kWh 279 mi $39
2023
Tesla Model S 2023 113 kWh 405 mi $56.50
Tesla Model X 2023 115 kWh 348 mi $57.50
BMW i4 2023 80 kWh 366 mi $40
Volkswagen ID.3 77 kWh 242 mi $33.50
Tour Pro S 2022
MG MG4 Electric 62 kWh 227 mi $31
2022
As you may see, recharging a mid-size EV at a turbocharger is indeed cheaper than filling up a
gas tank since it would generally cost between $30 and $58. And the rate to charge at home
would be a fraction of this.
Do Tesla Superchargers work with other EVs?
Since Tesla cars use their proprietary connector, it’s a bit difficult to imagine that Tesla
Superchargers would work with other EVs. Still, the company has also begun to add the
Combined Charging System (CCS) connector to its charging stations. In other words, it’s only a
matter of time that all Tesla charging stations offer fast charging for all EVs.
If you own a non-Tesla Electric Vehicle or you’re looking to get one, and want to use Tesla’s
superchargers, you only have to make sure it can use the CCS connector. Tesla
Superchargers, like others, are available all day and all night. If you’re a non-tesla user, you’ll
have to download the Tesla mobile to use Superchargers and pay. Also, it’s important to
highlight that creating a Tesla account is necessary.
How long does it take to recharge a Tesla?
One of the most important things for many users of electric vehicles is the charging time.
Imagine having a car with a 600 mi range but it takes forever to recharge. In general, recharging
an EV would take around 6 hours when using a home charging station. The estimated time may
vary depending on the model and type of charger you have, of course. But, fast charging
stations bring this down to just a few minutes.
With a Supercharger or any similar fast charger, you can add up to 200 miles in only 15
minutes. Therefore, arriving at a fast charging station, leaving your car there, and enjoying a
coffee before continuing with your trip is now possible.
There are other fast charging stations, like the Electrify America 350 kW stations. These can
also recharge your EV at similar times to the Tesla stations, but they are not as widespread as
the Tesla ones. Take a look a the following chart to see how long would it take to recharge
some EVs using a Supercharger.
Car Model Mile Range Recharging time (Minutes)
Tesla Model Y AWD 2023 279 mi 21
Tesla Model S 2023 405 mi 30
Tesla Model X 2023 348 mi 26
Tesla Model 3 RWD 272 mi 20
MG MG4 Electric 2022 227 mi 17
Volkswagen ID.3 Pro 2022 219 mi 16.5
Also, note that Tesla offers different versions of each model that might have a bigger battery
capacity or higher mile range, and this will affect the charging times, cost, and mileage.
How easy is traveling with an EV?
When traveling in any vehicle, infrastructure is key. Otherwise, moving from one city to another
is almost impossible. Day after day, Companies are investing more money in fast charging
stations. And, as said, there are already more than 40K Supercharging stations. It makes Tesla
the company with the largest global, fast-charging network worldwide.
With the Tesla app, you can check Supercharger availability, monitor your car’s status, and get
notified when it’s time to go. Depending on the distance to your destination, it’s possible that
making a few stops to recharge will be necessary. Though, you can plan your route by adding
the supercharging stations to your necessary stops.
With all of that being said, using a “YES!” to answer the question posed in the heading is more
than enough.
Generally speaking, going green is one of the best decisions you can make these days.
Additionally, you’ll save a lot of money on fuel as well as help the world take a breath by
reducing your carbon footprints. With more companies investing in EVs, it’s only a matter
of time before most EVs work with Tesla superchargers, and before there are even more
superfast charging stations. Don’t forget that reducing pollution is indispensable nowadays.
Otherwise, climate change will make the world uninhabitable and the human race might see an
end. Finally, we can’t deny that Tesla is making a move to reinvent the transportation industry
and will continue to do so.
