Tesla's One-Day Gift: Free Supercharger Access for All EVs in Europe

author: FutureCar Staff    

Tesla recently made an exciting announcement on its CEO's social media platform regarding free high-power charging for electric vehicle (EV) owners in Europe. This offer, available for only 24 hours, is intended to celebrate the expansion of Tesla's fast-charging infrastructure in the Old Continent.

The news was shared on Twitter by Tesla Europe, stating that Supercharging in Europe would be free for all EVs, including locations accessible to other brands. This move comes as Tesla continues to enhance its charging network across Europe, with 90% of Norwegians now living within 320 km of a EuroSupercharger station.

For EV owners who possess a CCS Combo 2 port, there is an opportunity to visit a Supercharger station as part of a pilot program allowing charging for non-Tesla vehicles. However, this option is only available until midnight.

Tesla's initiative to offer free DC fast-charging for a day was confirmed via their official Twitter account. The company's Supercharger stations, with their futuristic design and V4 stalls, currently offer an output of 250 kW. Although they have the potential to reach charging speeds of 350 kW, similar to their competitor Ionity, Tesla's units operate at a voltage range of 500V to 600V, limiting their ability to fully utilize the higher-capacity stalls.

Despite this limitation, Tesla's Superchargers still provide a quick charging experience, with owners typically spending around half an hour plugged in. Reaching around 80% battery capacity during this time is sufficient to travel approximately 250 miles on average.

While some EVs with 800V+ battery architectures may not fully benefit from 350 kW DC fast chargers due to a decrease in extraction rate as the battery level increases, Tesla's decision to maintain their voltage range has proven to be wise.

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of Tesla's entry into Europe, the company decided to make Supercharging free for a day. This milestone began with the opening of the first high-power charging station in Norway a decade ago, followed by the launch of six more locations that served 90% of the Norwegian population. Today, Tesla's Supercharger network in Europe spans over a thousand stations across 36 countries.

It is worth noting that Tesla's global expansion is still ongoing, with South America being the only continent where they have yet to establish a presence. However, the company has already built high-power charging stations in Morocco, Africa. Before taking advantage of a free battery refill, EV owners should check the Tesla app to ensure compatibility, as not all Superchargers in Europe are open to all EVs.

FutureCar Staff