Tesla once proudly boasted about a $35,000 fully electric sedan. Those days are long gone. Now the cheapest Tesla is the standard range Model 3, which starts at $43,990.
Last weekend, most Tesla models bumped up in price by $2,000. (The Model 3 standard range used to be $41,990.) And, on Wednesday, Tesla prices also went up in Germany and China.
That doesn't mean affordable EVs are out of reach. Beyond Tesla, EVs from Chevy to Nissan can be had for under $40,000, and they offer plenty of range, power, and other features — even if there's no Dog or Sentry Mode available.
Here are the EVs a more budget-friendly driver might consider.It’s no secret that Tesla is the most popular electric vehicle manufacturer in the world. Tesla offers four electric vehicle models: the Model 3, Model S, Model X, and Model Y. With so many vehicle options, it’s easy to find an option that works for you.
But there is a lot of hesitation around buying electric vehicles, and one of the reasons for that is range anxiety. Many people fear that their electric vehicle won’t be able to get them to their destination without the battery running out of charge.
As a response, Tesla has been able to settle some troubled minds by including long range batteries in their vehicles, as well as their extensive network of Tesla charging stations.
You’ll be able to stay charged anywhere you go with access to Tesla’s charging stations since they are located in convenient locations along well-traveled routes throughout the country.
In this blog, we’ll review everything you need to know about Tesla charging stations: the different types of charging stations available, how fast they charge your electric vehicle, and how much Tesla charging stations cost. For a detailed explanation of what goes into the cost of charging a TeslaThis lightning-fast charging is designed to be used when traveling long distances. In just 40 minutes, a Supercharger will charge your Tesla to 80%. Once the battery reaches 80%, the rate of charging slows in order to protect the battery’s health.
It’s important to note that it would take around 75 minutes to reach a full 100% charge with a Supercharger. While Superchargers are fast compared to other electric vehicle chargers, it still takes more time than filling a tank of gas. So, factoring extra time for charging into your trips is important to consider.
The charging rate of Tesla Superchargers is different for each Tesla model: Because Teslas have long battery ranges, most people won’t have to charge their vehicle over 80% anyway. On an 80% charge, a Tesla Model S can drive about 321 miles. That means you could drive from New York City to Philadelphia, and then back to New York City again without having to stop to charge.
Superchargers are able to charge Teslas so quickly because of how they charge the vehicle’s lithium-ion battery. A typical charger provides AC power to the car’s onboard charger. The onboard charger then converts the AC current to DC current, which then charges the battery.
Superchargers provide DC power directly to the battery, bypassing the onboard charger which speeds up the charging process.
Destination Chargers
Besides Tesla Superchargers, Tesla owners can also take advantage of the company’s network of Destination Chargers. Destination Chargers are installed by Tesla’s ‘Charging Partners.’
Charging Partners are usually business or land owners who choose to install a Tesla Wall Connector on their property for public use.
Tesla destination charger charging a white tesla with a cityscape background
Destination Chargers are installed in places where you might spend a few hours, like hotels and restaurants. Image source: Tesla
Destination Chargers have a slower charging speed than Superchargers. Depending on how much charge is left on your Tesla’s battery, a Destination Charge can take anywhere from one to 12 hours to fully charge your vehicle.
Learn more: Check out this blog for more information on how long it takes to charge your Tesla.
The best time to use a Destination Charger is when you are going to be in one spot for an extended period of time, like during dinner at a restaurant or overnight at a hotel. Destination charges will not be of much use if you’re just making a quick stop - a 30 minute lunch pit stop will only give you an extra 15 miles of charge.
You must be logged in to post a comment.