Tesla lifts Supercharging rate in Australia to 52c/kWh

The Driven

Tesla has surprised – and disappointed – customers in Australia and across the world with a rise in the cost of its Supercharging network. In Australia, that puts the cost of Supercharging – for those who do not have a free pass – now at 52c/kWh, up from 42c/kWh previously.

Tesla has a growing network of Supercharging stations across the country, with some 42 stations built or “coming soon”, and it is already the most substantial of any EV charging network in Australia.

It is used mostly – but not exclusively – by Tesla owners travelling long distances. The advantage is that they charge the batteries quickly, at a rate of up to 150kW, depending on the car and the state of the battery.

Most Tesla owners use home charging for their regular top-ups, often with their own rooftop solar.

But some Superchargers in city and regional locations are regularly used by Tesla owners as their local top-ups, either because of a lack of charging options at home, or because they can access “free” charging under the terms of their purchase, or through referalls.

At the new rate, charging a Model 3 SR+ from near empty to its capacity of 50kWh would cost up to $25, although most only charge to around 80 per cent because the charging is slower from 80-100 per cent due to the battery chemistry. For a top of the range Tesla Model S, the cost of going from low to full would be around $50.

To read the full version of this story, please go to our EV-focussed sister site, The Driven and click here…