Ever since the arrival of Tesla’s Supercharger network, buyers that took possession of a Model S or Model X could simply roll up to the charging station and quickly add some juice to their batteries. Furthermore, this service was completely free.
With the imminent arrival of the Model 3, Tesla has a problem: the projected sales numbers are so high that their Supercharger network would simply be overloaded. The solution would be to install more chargers. However, this costs money.
In an effort to generate said money, Tesla just announced that people who will buy one of their cars after January 1st, 2017 won’t be able to charge up for free. The manufacturer hasn’t announced pricing for a full charge yet (it will depend on the Supercharger’s location and the time of year), but they said it should cost less than a full tank of fuel. The money raised will be used to develop the recharge station network.
If you already own a Tesla, you benefit from a Grandfather Cause, meaning your charge will continue to be free.
