I drove 30,000 km in an electric car—here’s the true cost shock

You’ve seen it everywhere—on highways, in supermarket parking lots, maybe even in your dreams—the Tesla Model Y Propulsion. But what does it really cost to put 30,000 kilometers under its wheels? Buckle up, because the real financial journey is a bit more surprising than just plugging in at night and saving the planet before breakfast.

One Year, Four Seasons, 30,000 Kilometers: The Experience

The Tesla Model Y Propulsion isn’t just popular—it’s the best-selling car in Europe for 2023, regardless of fuel type. And as 2024 begins, it’s clear this affordable Tesla is still riding high, especially in France. Throw in the coveted 2024 ecological bonus (for Berlin-made models), a refresh looming, and suddenly the Model Y is stealing attention from rivals like the Model 3.

After a full year—through frosty winters and sunbaked summers—our Model Y hit the 30,000 km mark. Consumption varied wildly with weather and those eternal traffic jams. An earlier check-in, back at 10,000 km, focused on the Tesla ecosystem’s quirks. But now, it’s time to pop the hood on actual costs: what does 30,000 km really mean for your wallet?

The Charging Equation: Home Advantage and On-the-Go Changes

While having home charging isn’t strictly required in 2024, let’s be honest—it spoils you. Still, with widespread public chargers (be they lightning-fast DC or leisurely AC), electric mobility is accessible to almost anyone. Yet, the sweetest deal comes at home. Take the French EDF Tempo subscription: it’s like a cheat code, letting you pay under 2 euros per 100 km—while gasoline drivers cough up over 10 euros for the same distance.

Consider this:

• Most at-home charges cost just 0.11 euros/kWh, making it the best deal unless you get free charging via Tesla Supercharging perks or your workplace (lucky you!).
• Back in summer 2022, Tesla Supercharger prices were sky-high, sometimes making long electric road trips more expensive than their gasoline counterparts. Fast forward to 2024, and Superchargers now hover around 0.30–0.35 euros/kWh nationwide.
• Even so, rapid charging can cost three times more than at home, but compared with other fast-charge operators (Ionity, Totalenergies, Fastned all hit 0.59 euros/kWh), Tesla Superchargers remain a bargain.

One catch: Tesla Superchargers are often just off the highway, not on service areas, so you might factor in a few minutes’ detour to save.

Free Charging: A Fading Memory

Remember the glory days of widespread free charging? Yeah, us neither. By 2024, that’s a rare unicorn. Some Tesla owners can still nab free miles via referral programs (convert your “Tesla points” into free charging), but for most, it’s pay-as-you-go.

So what’s the real bill for driving 30,000 km? To cover that distance in 2023, exactly 6,000 kWh went into the battery. That works out to an average of 20 kWh/100 km—significantly higher than Tesla’s stated 15.7 kWh/100 km. Why? Those hearty highway trips at the speed limit gobble up more energy. Urban commuters might do better.

Dashboard displays can flatter to deceive, showing 17.8 kWh/100 km—because they ignore idle consumption and charging losses. Specialized apps (like Teslamate) are better for tracking the true numbers.

• Half the charging was at rapid chargers (Superchargers, highway stations).
• Half came from work, home, or opportunistic slow charging while out and about.

For realism, consider average rates: 0.40 euros/kWh for fast, 0.15 euros/kWh for slow charging. The total for 30,000 km? A cool 1,650 euros.

How Electric Savings Stack Up—And Where Teslas Really Win

This works out to 5.5 euros per 100 km—a gasoline equivalent of just 3 liters/100 km (at 1.80 euros/liter). Or, put another way, 30,000 km in a Model Y costs as much as driving 13,000 km in a petrol car. Own a garage and charge mostly at home? Your 100 km cost can dip below 3 euros—making the switch to electric financially delicious.

Comparing SUVs, the Peugeot 3008 (gasoline, starting at 33,560 euros) goes up against the cheapest Model Y (37,990 euros with bonus). Sure, the Tesla costs 4,430 euros more upfront. But with Peugeot using 6.1 L/100 km (11 euros/100 km), each kilometer is double the cost of the Tesla (with our usage). That price gap disappears after just over 80,000 km—less than three years at 30,000 km per year. Someone charging mostly at home will break even after 60,000 km (roughly six years of typical use).

And don’t forget, the Tesla basically sidesteps the usual combustion car maintenance: no periodic service, no frequent fluid changes. Yet, don’t overestimate your savings—total costs always depend on your own charging habits and financing.

It’s worth noting: this kind of comparison is only truly relevant if you’re swapping your household’s last gas car for its first electric. The more widespread EV ownership gets, the more it’ll make sense to compare electric models to each other, particularly their consumption differences. Here, smaller EVs might soon outshine their heavyweight SUV siblings.

Final thoughts? The Model Y Propulsion shows that electric driving can really punch line by line through a petrol budget—even if the savings hinge on where and how you charge. So plot your charging strategy, check your rates, and enjoy the ride—free charging unicorns no longer guaranteed.