Tesla ends free charging for life (for new buyers)

Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla has announced that it will be drastically changing its Supercharging initiative for free public charging.

The company’s Supercharger network of stations allow Tesla owners to charge their cars for free at 4600 points around the world. The company is offering free charging at these points for life, but it’s since revealed a revised policy for new owners.

“For Teslas ordered after January 1, 2017, 400 kWh of free Supercharging credits (roughly 1,000 miles) will be included annually so that all owners can continue to enjoy free Supercharging during travel,” the company wrote on a blog post.

Tesla will no longer give free lifetime charging to customers who order their car after 1 January 2017

“Beyond that, there will be a small fee to Supercharge which will be charged incrementally and cost less than the price of filling up a comparable gas car,” the electric vehicle firm continued.

Tesla added that the policy change won’t affect current Tesla owners or those who order before 1 January 2017, “as long as delivery is taken before 1 April 2017”.

So why the about-turn then? Well, Tesla claims the move “allows us to reinvest in the network, accelerate its growth and bring all owners, current and future, the best Supercharging experience”.