Thinking about buying a new Tesla? You may want to consider this change to the company’s policies that could affect how you charge your car’s battery.

Tesla’s longtime approach has been to let drivers use its exclusive network of 3,500-plus superchargers for free, but that benefit is going away for future customers.

Maine has two Tesla superchargers, in Augusta and Bangor; there’s another in Seabrook, New Hampshire.

Beginning Jan. 1, anyone who orders a new Tesla will be expected to pay a “small fee” at superchargers once they’ve exhausted a yearly package of complimentary charging credits that’s good for about 1,000 miles of range.

It isn’t clear how much the charging fees will be; Tesla said the prices will likely fluctuate based on regional demand for electricity.

Customers can still avoid the supercharger fees after using up those free miles by hooking up their vehicles at home. That could help commuters who don’t need to travel far. But it’s clear the credits are not meant to cover all your driving needs: The average U.S. driver travels up to 13,500 miles in a year, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Tesla customers who put down $1,000 earlier this year to reserve a Model 3 will likely be affected by the new policy, Tesla told The Washington Post. Because the reservations do not constitute an actual order for a car, it does not appear that Model 3 customers will be grandfathered into the free supercharging program.

The company said it would have additional details on Model 3 charging “closer to launch.”


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.