Tesla Cost Per Mile Calculator
Calculate the approximate cost per mile for your Tesla based on electricity cost and distance driven. This helps you understand the running cost of your electric vehicle compared to gasoline cars.
Enter Your Driving Data
Understanding Tesla Running Costs
The primary running cost for a Tesla, besides maintenance and depreciation, is the electricity used for charging. This calculator provides a simple way to estimate your cost per mile based on a specific charging session or period of driving.
Factors Influencing Cost Per Mile:
- Electricity Rate: The cost of electricity varies significantly by location, time of day (if using time-of-use rates), and even by the utility provider.
- Charging Location: Charging at home is typically cheaper than using Tesla Superchargers or third-party fast chargers. Supercharger costs vary by location and can include idle fees.
- Driving Efficiency: Factors like driving speed, acceleration, weather conditions (especially cold), use of heating/AC, tire pressure, and terrain all affect how much energy your car uses per mile.
- Battery Health & Vehicle Model: Older batteries or certain models might be less efficient.
Calculation Formula
The calculator uses a straightforward formula:
Cost Per Mile = Total Electricity Cost / Total Miles Driven
For example, if you spent $10 on electricity and drove 350 miles, your cost per mile is $10 / 350 miles ≈ $0.0286 per mile, or about 2.86 cents per mile.
Tesla Cost Per Mile Examples
See how different scenarios affect the cost per mile:
Example 1: Home Charging (Low Rate)
Scenario: Charging at home during off-peak hours with a low electricity rate.
Inputs: Total Electricity Cost = $5.00, Total Miles Driven = 200 miles.
Calculation: Cost Per Mile = $5.00 / 200 miles
Result: Cost Per Mile = $0.025 per mile (2.5 cents/mile)
Conclusion: Home charging, especially off-peak, is very economical.
Example 2: Supercharging (Higher Rate)
Scenario: Using a Tesla Supercharger on a road trip with a higher per kWh rate.
Inputs: Total Electricity Cost = $25.00, Total Miles Driven = 300 miles.
Calculation: Cost Per Mile = $25.00 / 300 miles
Result: Cost Per Mile ≈ $0.0833 per mile (8.33 cents/mile)
Conclusion: Supercharging is more expensive than home charging but convenient for travel.
Example 3: Mixed Charging
Scenario: Tracking costs over a month using a mix of home charging and Supercharging.
Inputs: Total Electricity Cost = $60.00, Total Miles Driven = 1500 miles.
Calculation: Cost Per Mile = $60.00 / 1500 miles
Result: Cost Per Mile = $0.04 per mile (4 cents/mile)
Conclusion: The average cost depends on the proportion of charging types and rates.
Example 4: Low Mileage Period
Scenario: Calculating cost for a week with minimal driving and a small top-up charge.
Inputs: Total Electricity Cost = $1.50, Total Miles Driven = 50 miles.
Calculation: Cost Per Mile = $1.50 / 50 miles
Result: Cost Per Mile = $0.03 per mile (3 cents/mile)
Conclusion: The cost per mile is independent of the total distance, assuming consistent rates/efficiency.
Example 5: High Efficiency Driving
Scenario: Driving efficiently (low speed, gentle acceleration) resulting in lower energy usage.
Inputs: Total Electricity Cost = $8.00, Total Miles Driven = 350 miles.
Calculation: Cost Per Mile = $8.00 / 350 miles
Result: Cost Per Mile ≈ $0.0229 per mile (2.29 cents/mile)
Conclusion: Efficient driving lowers the cost per mile.
Example 6: Low Efficiency Driving (Cold Weather)
Scenario: Driving in very cold weather with heating on, reducing efficiency.
Inputs: Total Electricity Cost = $8.00, Total Miles Driven = 250 miles.
Calculation: Cost Per Mile = $8.00 / 250 miles
Result: Cost Per Mile = $0.032 per mile (3.2 cents/mile)
Conclusion: Cold weather can increase the cost per mile due to higher energy consumption.
Example 7: Comparing to Gasoline Car (Hypothetical)
Scenario: Comparing the cost per mile to a gasoline car getting 30 MPG with gas at $3.50/gallon.
Gas Calculation: Cost Per Mile = $3.50 / 30 miles ≈ $0.1167 per mile (11.67 cents/mile)
Tesla (from Ex 1): $0.025 per mile (2.5 cents/mile)
Conclusion: The Tesla's cost per mile is significantly lower than the hypothetical gasoline car in this scenario.
Example 8: Free Charging
Scenario: Utilizing free charging (e.g., at work or a free public charger).
Inputs: Total Electricity Cost = $0.00, Total Miles Driven = 100 miles.
Calculation: Cost Per Mile = $0.00 / 100 miles
Result: Cost Per Mile = $0.00 per mile (0 cents/mile)
Conclusion: Free charging results in a $0 cost per mile for the miles covered by that charge.
Example 9: Inputting in Cents
Scenario: Calculating cost per mile but inputting cost in cents instead of dollars.
Inputs: Total Electricity Cost = 750 cents, Total Miles Driven = 250 miles.
Calculation: Cost Per Mile = 750 cents / 250 miles
Result: Cost Per Mile = 3 cents per mile ($0.03/mile)
Conclusion: The output unit matches the input cost unit (cents/mile in this case). Be consistent!
Example 10: Estimating Annual Cost
Scenario: Using an average cost per mile (e.g., 4 cents/mile from Ex 3) to estimate annual cost for 12,000 miles.
Calculation: Annual Cost = Cost Per Mile * Total Annual Miles = $0.04/mile * 12,000 miles
Result: Annual Cost = $480.00
Conclusion: This calculator can help estimate long-term costs based on your personal data.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tesla Running Costs
1. What is included in "Total Electricity Cost"?
This should be the total amount of money you spent on electricity that was used *specifically for charging the car* during the period over which you drove the "Total Miles Driven". If you're tracking home charging, you might need to estimate based on your car's reported kWh usage for that period and your home's electricity rate.
2. Why is my calculated cost per mile different from others?
Cost per mile is highly variable! It depends heavily on your electricity rate, whether you Supercharge or charge at home, and how efficiently you drive. Compare your inputs (cost and miles) with others, not just the final result.
3. Does this include Supercharger idle fees or taxes?
The "Total Electricity Cost" input should be the final amount you paid for the energy, which typically includes taxes. If a Supercharger session included idle fees, those would ideally be factored out if you want just the *energy* cost, but for simplicity, you could include the full session cost if you view it as part of the travel cost.
4. Can I use kWh and cost per kWh instead?
This calculator is designed for total cost and total miles. If you know your total kWh used and the cost per kWh, you would first calculate Total Electricity Cost = Total kWh * Cost per kWh, and then use that value here.
5. Does this include other ownership costs like maintenance or tires?
No, this calculator focuses specifically on the *energy* cost (electricity) of driving. It does not include maintenance, tires, insurance, registration, or depreciation, which are also part of the total cost of ownership.
6. How can I accurately track my total electricity cost for home charging?
Some third-party smart chargers or energy monitoring systems can track electricity usage for charging. Your car's trip meter might also show kWh used, which you can multiply by your electricity rate. Reviewing your electricity bill can also help estimate average rates.
7. What happens if I enter 0 miles?
The calculator requires "Total Miles Driven" to be greater than zero because dividing by zero is mathematically undefined. If you enter 0 or a negative number for miles, you will get an error.
8. Can I use kilometers instead of miles?
Yes, but you must be consistent. If you enter miles, the result is cost per mile. If you enter kilometers, the result is cost per kilometer. The calculation works for any consistent unit of distance.
9. How does this compare to a gasoline car's fuel cost per mile?
You can use a similar calculation for a gasoline car: (Price per Gallon / Miles Per Gallon). Comparing that result to the output of this calculator for your Tesla will show the fuel cost savings.
10. Is this calculator specific to Tesla vehicles?
While branded for Tesla, the calculation logic applies to any electric vehicle. You just need the total electricity cost for a charge/period and the total distance driven during that same period.
