Electric vehicle company Tesla is reviving free Supercharging for life on new Model S and now also Cybertruck Foundation Series purchases or leases over six years after discontinuing the perk, Electrek and InsideEVs reported. The move was reportedly aimed to boost sales of Tesla's flagship sedan amid falling demand and has now been extended to the more premium tiers of Cybertruck purchases.
But, of course, there are some catches. The perk applies only to Model S vehicles bought or leased starting Dec. 13 and Cybertruck Foundation Series vehicles from Dec. 27 on. The promotion is also exclusively for new vehicles that are privately owned or leased, meaning it's non-transferable and excludes "used vehicles," "business orders," and cars used for "commercial purposes," such as ridesharing or deliveries, according to Electrek.
At the time of publishing, the perk shows as applying to the Cyberbeast version of the Foundation Series as well. The EV company said it also reserves the right to cancel the perk for excessive usage or unpaid fees related to idling at Superchargers.
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Free Supercharging, a hallmark of Tesla's early years, was discontinued in 2018 due to financial sustainability concerns. While Tesla has reintroduced it briefly in the past, this marks the first time "in a while" the benefit is tied to the lifetime of a single owner or renter, according to Electrek.
This revival follows slumping Model S and Model X sales, which totaled fewer than 10,000 units last quarter, a sharp drop compared to the previous year, per Electrek. Tesla hopes free Supercharging will make the luxury sedan more attractive.
For drivers, free Supercharging can be good for their wallets, particularly for frequent travelers or those without home charging setups. EnergySage estimates that charging an EV at home costs an average of $674 per year, cheaper than fueling a gas-powered car, making free access to Tesla's extensive Supercharging network an even better financial gain.
Beyond personal savings, this initiative supports Tesla's broader mission to accelerate EV adoption and reduce reliance on dirty gas-guzzling cars. By incentivizing EV purchases, Tesla helps reduce planet-warming pollution, promoting cleaner transportation options.
Tesla has recently made other changes to enhance its Supercharging network. In December, the company announced plans to expand its chargers to non-Tesla EVs — a win for the EV industry. Additionally, Tesla introduced app features to defrost chargers in cold climates, addressing wintertime charging barriers for owners of newer models.
The response online to free Supercharging's return has been mixed. One Reddit user criticized Tesla for reportedly increasing the Model S price by $5,000, suggesting it "compensates" the perk. However, others praised the move, with one commenter calling it "great" for road trippers and apartment dwellers.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct that Tesla has previously offered lifetime free Supercharging in rare cases since discontinuing the main version of the program in 2018, and to include reporting around the Cybertruck Foundation Series' addition to the new promotion.
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