Nearly every major automaker now has some kind of all-electric Tesla fighter in the works. And while they may very well soon catch up with Tesla on a product level, what may prove far harder is matching the convenience and infrastructure of the Tesla Supercharger network. Owners of Tesla vehicles get access to the fastest, highest-power network of DC fast chargers, spaced sensibly for long-distance travel and offering a consistent user experience from station to station. That access has been free and unlimited until now, but buyers who place an order for a new Tesla Model S fastback or Model X crossover from this week on no longer enjoy an all-you-can-charge buffet; instead, they face a billing plan.
Although Tesla announced the change in November, this past week it detailed exactly how it will work. U.S. owners get a 400-kWh annual allowance?enough to cover approximately 1000 miles?and then pay for additional charging either by the kilowatt-hour where possible (depending on state utility rules)?at rates ranging from 11 to 22 cents per kWh?or on a per-minute basis otherwise. The per-minute rates are broken into two tiers. Tier 1 applies while cars are charging at or below 60 kW?or when two cars are sharing a Supercharger?while Tier 2, which costs double the amount of Tier 1, applies when charging above 60 kW. Tesla notes that actual charging rates depend on battery charge level, climate conditions, and current use of the Supercharger station. And the new fees vary widely...