The Benefits of Having a Tesla Compared to  Gas-Powered Vehicles

Are you thinking of buying a Tesla? Read this article to learn about its charging costs and how it compares to a gas-ran vehicle.

While fuel-powered cars are the norm, Tesla has introduced battery-powered cars to the automotive industry. Of course, in the beginning, Tesla encountered many questions from the curious crowd who were astonished by the invention of electric vehicles. Questions like the cost and efficiency of Tesla compared to regular cars were common. In addition, queries regarding the cost of charging their electric car and if it were more wallet-friendly than fuelling a regular car.

Therefore, let’s have a brief charging cost breakdown of Tesla vehicles and compare it against gas vehicles.

Tesla Models Charging Cost Overview

Currently, Tesla has four types of electric car models: Model X, Model Y, Model S, and Model 3. There is a reason why the cars are segregated, so the charging cost depends on the type of model you buy.

• Model X

The updated version of the Tesla Model X features a 100 kWh battery that has the same price and size as the previous version. Charging this 100 KWH battery from 0-100% will cost $16.47 on average. It means you will pay a mean of $0.046 for every mile, and for every 100 miles, you will pay $4.58. The average charging cost will fluctuate depending on whether you are charging it from zero or not. Furthermore, the cost is determined by the cost of power in your location as well as the charging time of a Tesla.

• Model Y

Model Y is Tesla’s newest creation to hit the roads, featuring a battery of 75 kWh. On average, the charging cost of Model Y from 0-100% is estimated to be $11.47. Meaning, charging the Model Y will cost $0.047 per mile and $4.70 every 100 miles, which is a way lesser cost per mile than a regular fuel-powered car.

• Model S

The three Tesla Model S versions, Plaid, Plaid+, and Long Range, have 100 kWh batteries. The Model S batteries are smaller and lighter than Model X’s 100 kWh battery, so they charge faster with an average charging cost of $15.29. You will get 80-90% average chagrin efficiency. As a result, the cost per mile will be around $0.037 and $3.70 per 100 miles. Again, depending on your location’s electricity cost, the charging cost can vary.

• Model 3

Let’s dig into the cheapest Tesla model of all that comes with the lowest charging cost of all, the Model 3. The trims of this model come with different battery power. The Standard Range features a 50 kWh battery, while the Long Range and the Performance feature 82 Kwh batteries. The Model 3’s 50 kWh battery charging cost from 0-100% is estimated to be $8.24 on average. At the same time, the 82 kWh battery charging costs around $13.51.

Now let’s talk about the cost per mile; the Standard Range trims will cost $0.03 per mile and $3.00 per 100 miles. At the same time, The Long Range and Performance trims will cost $0.038-0.043 per mile and $3.83-4.39 per 100 miles.

Factors that Affect Tesla Charging Cost

Let us look at some factors that directly affect the charging cost of Tesla cars.

1. Type of Charging

Charging the electric vehicle with home solar panels is way cheaper than charging it directly from electricity. Solar panels are renewable sources of electricity. Installing a solar panel system will be a one-time investment, so you can determine the cost online before deciding on investing. However, not every house suits solar panels. If your house works with solar panels, then you can save around 35% of the overall charging costs mentioned above.

2. Electricity Cost

The electricity cost per kilowatt is different in every region and country. The charging costs given for all the models of Tesla are based on an electricity cost of $0.13 for every kWh.

3. Miles Traveled before Charging

You will more than likely not charge your Tesla from 0% all the time. The miles you have covered in between charging and the amount of charge you have used in that coverage will vary the charging cost every time. For example, if you are recharging your car while it’s at 30% battery, it will cost less than to charge a fully drained battery.

4. Size of the Battery

The size of the battery determines the charging time. Therefore, the greater the charging time, the higher the charging cost will be due to electricity consumption. We have already seen an example above that Model 3’s 50 kWh battery charging cost is way cheaper than Model S’s 100 kWh battery charging cost.

Which is More Cost-Effective in the Long Run? Electric or Gas Cars?

Now comes the most awaited part of the entire article: the cost of owning and operating a gas-powered car vs. an Electric Car.

A few years ago, the Transportation Research Institute of Michigan University researched and found out that operating an electric power car is less than half the cost of owning a fuel-powered car. We can’t give you an exact estimation because the price difference will vary depending on your location’s gas and electricity rates as well as the type of vehicle you own. Nowadays, conventional car manufacturers are making fuel-efficient cars to lessen the impact of fuel on the environment by covering more mileage in lesser fuel.

Gasoline does not have many substitutes available, which can drive its price up high. A conventional car needs gas which only comes from burning gasoline internally. At the same time, electricity has many cheaper substitutes. It can come from burning gas or coal and renewable resources like hydropower, solar, and wind. This somehow justifies the research study of Michigan University.

Final Thoughts

Indeed, electric cars are not only cheaper to operate but are lenient towards the environment too. Are electric cars the future of automotive vehicles? Will fuel-powered cars be extinct in the next fifty years? All these remain a question until we head into the future. For the majority of us, electric cars are still a place of wonder that needs exploration before we completely ditch gas cars. There are still many confusions to clear up regarding electric cars before we see them on every street we go.