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Tesla wants owners of the Model S/X with free, unlimited Supercharging to trade in their EVs for an additional $5,000 credit, but the offer isn't that great.
Tesla is increasing the trade-in value of Model S/X customers' EVs by $5,000 when they have free access to Supercharging, but is the financial reward worthwhile? Offering consumers free Supercharging for life was a component of Tesla's original sales-boosting strategy. Since superchargers are known for their quick charge times, drivers would see significant cost savings thanks to limitless usage.
Is $5,000 enough for you to give up Free Unlimited Supercharging?https://t.co/ka4nWFMscI by @KlenderJoey
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) February 19, 2023
We received photos from a reader showing Tesla Superchargers in California receiving the Magic Dock.
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) February 24, 2023
The reader just informed us Tesla was testing compatibility with the Chevrolet Bolt, BMW iX, Volkswagen ID.4, and other EVs! https://t.co/7aZH8tAKXB pic.twitter.com/4VUYoi8lFN
Tesla is currently emailing owners of the Model S and X urging them to trade in their vehicles in exchange for the benefit of charging. A screenshot of the email was posted on the Tesla Motors sub-reddit by user u/noahio. In the email, Tesla offers an additional $5,000 on the trade-in value of the EV in exchange for the customer giving up unlimited Supercharging access. Unsurprisingly, few early Tesla owners are interested in utilizing this offer. User u/havingsaidthat replied to the message by saying, "They want that Unlimited supercharging back. Till the end of time, I will provide free transportation. Other commenters in the thread mirrored that sentiment. Tim Kulogo, the owner of Tesla, similarly stated on Twitter that he would not accept the offer due to two reasons: giving up a "vintage" Model S in addition to not being able to buy a new Model S/X.
What's Wrong With Tesla's Trade-In Offer?
Customers were drawn in droves by unlimited supercharging because it allowed for anytime top-ups at a stall. Because to its speed and facilities in some locations, Superchargers are in greater demand as more Tesla EVs hit the road. They are more expensive than home charging, though. Users of Tesla who have unrestricted access should not be concerned, though. It doesn't make sense to give up this benefit for $5,000, especially if the automobile is in decent shape.
Also, Tesla has received a lot of flak for its poor trade-in values. The inability to transfer Full Self-Driving (FSD) subscriptions from an older vehicle to the new one is another drawback of Tesla's trade-in scheme. This means that the first $15,000 purchase will have to be made again for a new Tesla car. It also doesn't help that the Model S/X are not eligible for an EV tax credit.
Affected drivers would have to choose more home charging if they gave up Tesla EVs with free Supercharging. Getting the Tesla Wall Connector, which can deliver up to 44 miles of range each hour, will make this simple to arrange. One of the quickest ways to charge an EV at home, while not being as quick as a DC fast charger. Nevertheless, for those who already have access to free Supercharging, the combined cost of giving up this benefit and spending an additional $5,000 on a new Tesla may not be worthwhile.
Source: u/noahio/Reddit, Tim Kulogo/Twitter
