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Cost Of Ownership For A Tesla Is Even Lower Than You Think: By The Numbers

With the fluctuating (and generally rising) cost of gasoline in the United States, of course it can be a strain on one’s patience and wallet to shell out the cash for a fresh tank of petrol. The cheaper running costs of plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles are one of many factors that are so appealing about them.

But according to the posted numbers of one Model S owner, the cost of ownership for a Tesla Model S may be even smaller than we had ever anticipated.

This personal testimonial originated over at Green Car Reports. The owner recorded his electricity usage over the course of 26,277 miles, reporting that the car had consumed 8,531 kWh of energy. If the consumption of electricity for all of these miles had been provided for by a home charger, then at the national average of 11 cents per kWh, that would equate to a paltry $938 total for fueling 2+ years’ worth of driving.

At this odometer count, the owner ended up replacing his tires as well, at a total expense of $1,131. That means that “fueling” the car cost almost $200 less than a new set of tires. Put another way, this owner found that a typical cost of ownership for a Tesla Model S was just 3.6 cents per mile for electricity, and 4.3 cents per mile for rubber.

That’s astonishing, no?

And remember: these figures assume that you aren’t hitting up one of Tesla’s many free supercharger stations, and that you are paying exactly the national average for electricity, no matter what time of day. But, according to the poster, many regions offer cheaper electricity at nighttime – at around 5 or 6 cents per kWh.

The cost of running an electric car, then, is ludicrously inexpensive. It is now a scientific fact. Plan your trips and your living situation just right, and the cost of ownership for a Tesla Model S could provide a very meaningful source of savings.

Just so long as you can stomach the original purchase price.

Aaron Birch is an automotive enthusiast and writer/filmmaker from Detroit, MI. As a rule, he only buys cars older than himself.

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