Tesla to charge customers for Supercharger use

Customers who order a new Tesla electric vehicle (EV) after January 15 will have pay to access the company's network of Supercharger stations, while existing owners will continue to receive free recharging for the life of the vehicle.

However, new Tesla customers will get the first 400kWh free each year (equivalent to about 1609km of driving range), and from then will pay a fee of 35 cents for every kWh topped up after that.

Unused kilowatt hours will not roll over into another year, which is dated by the anniversary of the delivery of the vehicle.

The new policy means that all future owners of Tesla's newest model – the upcoming Model 3 – will have to pay for Supercharger use.

In the event of a Tesla being sold to a new owner, the allowance reset date will change to the date of the transfer of ownership.

Tesla's Supercharger stations have the ability to top up around half of a Model S or Model X's battery in around 20 minutes through its 120kW charging ports. Some stations also feature amenities for long-distance travellers.

The American tech start-up's Australian Supercharger network now stands at 11 stations, ranging from Melbourne to Knockrow in New South Wales' north. Locations of stations in between include Euroa, Gundagai, Goulburn, Port Macquarie and two stations in Sydney.

According to the company, "Tesla is committed to ensuring that Supercharger will never be a profit centre" and that the new fees will be used to expand the charging station network further.

"As we approach the launch of Model 3, this update will enable us to greatly expand our supercharger network, providing customers with the best possible user experience and bringing sustainable transport to even more people," it said.

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