Who Pays for Tesla Charging Stations? Teslas Considerations

With the enormous amount of demand for Teslas, we also see their superchargers pop up everywhere. People and businesses are beginning to see the value in having a supercharger nearby. People have time to walk about and spend some money on almost anything, while their cars are charging. Enter the costs of installing a supercharger. How much does it actually cost to have a Tesla charging station installed?

When installing a Tesla Supercharger station at your business, Tesla will foot the upfront costs and ongoing maintenance fees. It costs between $100,000 and $175,000 to have a Tesla Supercharger mounted at your business. This accounts for the cost of installation, the equipment, and the land lease. 

As always, I’ve done some further research on the topic to provide you with the most helpful resource I could come up with. So, read on to find out more.

Tesla Charging Stations Explained

Before diving more into the topic of who pays for Tesla Charging stations, it’s worth getting a better understanding of what these stations actually do. That way, the cost analysis I’ll take you through later on will hopefully make a bit more sense.

Teslas obviously need to be charged to function.

Unlike gas cars, which you can just stop at a gas station and fill up, electric vehicles need to be plugged in and have their batteries recharged. This is usually done at home overnight or during the day at a public charging station.

Fun Fact:

California has the most Supercharger locations at 282, which account for 20% of all Supercharger stations in the United States. Here is a YouTube video of what a Tesla Supercharger station looks like:

Tesla charging stations have multiple Superchargers, which are high-speed chargers that can charge a Tesla much faster than a standard home charger.

Because of this, people often use public charging stations when they are going on long road trips or if they need to charge their car quickly.

Currently, Tesla has over 30,000 Superchargers located on major highways across the world.

When you get to a Tesla charging station, you simply park your car in an available space and plug it in. The charger automatically starts charging your vehicle, which is usually pretty quick. You can recharge up to 200 miles in only 15 minutes.

Tesla Charging Station Locations

Tesla Supercharger stations are available all over the U.S. on popular routes and highways for convenient long-distance travel.

Most Tesla charging stations are located along interstate highways and parking lots of major hotels, shopping centers, and restaurants.

Some Tesla dealerships also have Superchargers, so you can charge your car while shopping or eating.

Destination chargers are also available at many high-end hotels, resorts, and restaurants. These are installed by Tesla’s “Charging partners” at their property for public use. 

On a somewhat related note, I wrote this article where I discussed if you need a permit for a Tesla charger. I compared all the Tesla chargers with different scenarios and costs. Check it out!

They are much slower than Superchargers, but they are still a great option if you need to recharge your car while enjoying a nice meal or staycation.

They will take between 1-12 hours, depending on how much charge your car needs.

You can use Tesla’s Find Us Tool to find all the Supercharger stations in your area. The company also offers a Go Anywhere Tool that helps you plan your road trip routes based on the availability of charging stations.

It also tells you how much charge you need before you reach the next station, so you can better estimate and re-arrange your travel time.

Cost of Charging Your Tesla at a Supercharger Station

E.V.s are often lauded for being cheaper to operate and maintain than gas cars. Electric vehicles don’t require tune-ups, oil changes, or other regular maintenance, unlike gas cars.

Just plug in your Tesla at a Supercharger, enjoy your coffee, and stretch your legs a bit as your car charges.

The cost of charging your Tesla at a Supercharger station varies depending on the model, type of charger you are using, cost of electricity in your area, and how much charge you need for your Tesla. 

The average charge will set you back $0.24 per KW/h if carried out at a Supercharger. If you are recharging a long-range Tesla Model 3, it will cost you about $24 to fill up from 0-100%

Your Tesla’s model also affects how much it costs to charge. 

The baseline Tesla Model 3 has a 62 kWh battery which will cost you $15 to charge from empty.

The Long Range and Performance versions with an 82 kWh battery will cost you about $20 to charge from empty.

Tesla Charging Costs by Model

Charging at home is much cheaper but takes longer.

Based on the national average cost of electricity in the United States of $0.13 per kWh, it costs about $7.65 to charge a Long-Range Tesla Model 3 from 0-100%. That’s about $0.03 per mile or $2.91 for every 100 miles.

Statistic:

There are 1,370 Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. California has the highest number at 282, followed by Florida at 95, and Texas at 73. Unfortunately, the states of Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa have no Superchargers.

Paying for Tesla Charging Stations

Now that you know a little more about Tesla charging stations, you may be wondering who pays for them. After all, they are pretty expensive to install and maintain.

And if you want one installed at your business, you want to know all the associated costs before investing.

As I’ve mentioned in the intro, it can cost between $100 000 and $175 000 to install a Supercharging Station at your local business.

The installation takes 1-2 weeks, and the company will handle all the necessary permits and applications. You will, however, need to provide an electrical connection for the charger.

This typically involves connecting to an existing power grid and can take a few weeks, depending on the complexity of the electrical work required.

Number of Powerwalls You Need for a Tesla Supercharger

Powerwalls are integrated battery systems that store solar energy to be used during a power outage. They detect outages in the power grid and automatically recharge themselves so they can provide backup power.

You need one to two Powerwalls connected to your home or business’s electrical system to support a Tesla Supercharger.

This ensures there’s enough power to charge multiple cars at once and that the charger can operate even if there’s an outage. 

The number of Powerwalls required depends on the total power draw of the Supercharger station and the maximum amount of time you want it to operate without being connected to the grid.

A basic Tesla and Powerwall system requires ten solar panels and a Powerwall. This system will generate 13.5 kWh/day, with the Powerwall holding approximately 12.2 kWh.

To calculate the amount of power you need for your business, add the wattage ratings of all devices you plan to have plugged in at your station.

With a capacity of about 13 kilowatts, a single Powerwall can power your home or business for 13 hours.

If you want your Supercharger to be able to operate for 24 hours, you will need two Powerwalls.

How To Buy a Tesla Supercharger

Installing a Tesla Supercharger in your business is an excellent way to attract new and repeat customers.

Teslas have an in-car navigation system that directs drivers to the nearest Supercharger when their battery runs low.

If you’re interested in having a Tesla Supercharger installed at your business, you need to apply to host a station. You can do this by filling out an online application form. Tesla will then review your application and contact you to discuss the next steps.

The average cost of a Tesla Supercharger is about $43,000.

When considering purchasing a Tesla Supercharger, you must factor in the cost of installation, the equipment, and the land you need.

The price will also vary depending on the number of Powerwalls you need and the complexity of the electrical work required.

Tesla’s experienced and skilled technicians will handle the installation of your Supercharger. They will also provide you with training on using and maintaining the charger. 

Cost of Tesla Supercharging Stations Compared to Other E.V. Charging Stations

The cost of installing a Tesla Supercharger is higher than the cost of other Level 2 E.V. charging stations. Their “supercharging” ability comes at a significantly higher price tag.

Unlike other E.V. chargers, Superchargers are highly efficient, meaning they can charge a Tesla much faster.

Did You Know:

Tesla will charge you an idle fee if you leave your car connected to the Supercharger after it has finished charging. The fee is $0.50 per minute and is designed to encourage drivers to move their vehicles and allow others to use the charger.

The price of a Level 2 E.V. charger ranges from $500 to $1,200, while the price of a Tesla Supercharger starts at $43,000.

A single port Level 1 EVSE will cost you between $300 and $1,500, $6,500 for Level 2 and $10,000 to $40,000 for DC fast chargers.

A ChargePoint Home system is relatively cheaper, costing $499 to $749.

With a Tesla Supercharger, you’re getting a high-quality charger that can charge a Tesla quickly and efficiently. While the upfront cost is higher, you may find that the long-term benefits of having a Tesla Supercharger outweigh the initial investment.

Government Grants and Tax Credit To Install E.V. Charging Stations as a Business Owner

The federal government and some states offer tax incentives to promote the installation of electric vehicle charging stations.

The federal government offers a tax credit of up to 30% of the cost of installing a charger with no upper limit.

Some states offer rebates or tax credits to offset the cost of installing an E.V. charger. Incentives vary by state, so you’ll need to check with your state’s program to see what’s available.

You can also take advantage of government grants to help offset the cost of installing an E.V. charger at your business. To be eligible for a grant, you’ll need to have a site ready for installation and meet the program’s other requirements.

What Tesla Considers When Selecting a Supercharger Station

While you may be eager to get a Tesla Supercharger installed at your business, there are several criteria you need to meet before Tesla considers your site.

• Location: Your business should be close to a major road or highway. This will make it easy for Tesla owners to find your business and charge their cars while they’re on the go.
• Site Access: You’ll need to have easy access to your site so that Tesla can install the charger. This includes having a flat, level surface for the charger and adequate clearance around the site.
• Power Requirements: Your business will need a 480V three-phase electrical line with a maximum power of 250kW. This is necessary to support the high-powered charger.

If you meet all of the above criteria, you can submit an application to Tesla. Once your application is approved, Tesla will contact you to schedule an on-site visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out these 20 great gift ideas for yourself or a Tesla fanboy.

Contact Us if you have any questions or queries.