Are the charging stations for tesla free

Tesla operates two different networks – Destination and Supercharger. Destination chargers are installed at locations such as hotels where drivers are likely to spend a longer period of time, while the Supercharger network allows Tesla drivers to rapid charge on the UK’s major trunk roads.

In 2022, Tesla opened up a small number of its Superchargers to other brands. Drivers can find these chargers using the network filter under ‘Tesla Public Supercharger’.

For drivers of older Tesla models, use of both networks is free. Any Tesla ordered after 15th January 2017 will need to pay to use the rapid Supercharger points, though each vehicle has 400 kWh in Supercharging credits a year, enough for around 1,000 miles annually.

Destination chargers are free to use by all Tesla drivers who are customers of the destinations where points are located. The Fast chargers – typically 22kW – are intended to top up the Teslas over the course of several hours, as opposed to the high power 120kW or 150 kW Superchargers.

How much does the Tesla network cost?

Tesla Supercharger

Membership cost: None

Cost per charge typically: 47p/kWh

Non-Teslas on Public Superchargers: 67p/kWh

Tesla Destination

Membership cost: None

Cost per charge: Free

Parking charges may apply

To discover how much it will cost to charge an EV from a Tesla Supercharger charge point, head to Zap-Map’s Public Charging Calculator. This allows you to select any new or used Tesla, and tailor elements – such as electricity cost and charge required – for personalised results.

How to use the Tesla network

No separate RFID card or smartphone app is required to access Tesla Supercharger or Destination points. The units communicate with the car to ensure the vehicle is a Tesla, before commencing the charging process. Costs are charged to an account linked to the car.

Finding Tesla chargers on Zap-Map

All Tesla points – Supercharger, Tesla Public Supercharger, and Destination – can be found on Zap-Map using the network filter. You can use this on both the Zap-Map app and our desktop map.

For open-access Tesla Destination points (see below in “Accessing points on other networks”), Zap-Map users can also filter by connector type. To find Tesla Supercharger or Destination charge points, select the “Tesla 7kW/11kW/2kW” Type 2 option under connector types filters.

Non-Tesla drivers wishing to find open-access Tesla Destination points can search by Tesla Destination on the network filters, while also selecting the generic “Type 2 7kW/22kW” options under Connector types.

Charging types and speeds can be filtered too, showing only those points that are compatible with users’ cars.

Accessing Tesla Destination charge points

Because access is dependent on car-to-charger communication, for non-Tesla drivers there is no Supercharger or Destination cross-network compatibility. To use other network points, they must first follow the same processes as any other customer.

However, Tesla often installs a non-Tesla specific Type 2 charge point alongside its Destination chargers. These are available for any EV driver to use, providing they have a Type 2 inlet on their car, since the units come with tethered cables.

The open-access charge points do not have a cost to use, as with the Tesla Destination units, and look identical. Often installed alongside the Tesla-specific points, signage is added to differentiate between the units for ease of use.

On Zap-Map, these charge points are listed as being under the Tesla Destination network. However, where Tesla-specific points are listed as ‘Tesla’ (below left), open points are listed as ‘Type 2’ (below right).

About Tesla

The Tesla Supercharger network is one of the UK’s fastest, with Supercharger speeds of either 120 kW or 150 kW available. This is more than twice as fast as the majority of the CHAdeMO or CCS rapid units.

The manufacturer considered providing a network of charging points essential in the promotion of electric vehicles as viable alternatives, and Tesla drivers can use Supercharger points in any country without the need to sign up for different national standards etc.

Destination chargers allow for the same international usage, and often Fast charge at 22kW. The purpose of the Destination points is to expand Tesla’s reach beyond the main motorway network where its Superchargers are located.