If you're considering buying a Tesla, you should probably act sooner rather than later. One of the perks of buying a Model S, Model X or a Model 3 Performance version is free lifetime access to Tesla's Supercharging network. This allows you to fill up or top off your battery at a Tesla Supercharger for free when you take that Tesla on the road. To get this perk, you need to order your car using a referral link from a current Tesla owner. Also, Tesla recently announced that this offer expires on September 16, 2018. Any eligible Tesla car ordered via a referral link after that date will only get the first year of Supercharging for free and will need to pay per use after that.
UPDATE: While the offer for free lifetime supercharging has ended, Tesla is still offering a free supercharging bonus with the purchase or lease of any Tesla Model 3, Model S or Model X. The same referral link can be used to take advantage of this offer. You can read more about the Tesla owner's referral program, including the current bonus offers here:
More About Tesla Supercharging
Tesla's High Speed DC Supercharging network is currently unique in that it enables convenient long distance travel in a purely electric vehicle through most parts of the world. At a Tesla Supercharger, you can get about 60% of your range back in less than half an hour or a full charge in about 60-70 minutes. Actual charging speeds vary depending on which car you have, which battery option you purchased, how full or depleted your battery is when you start charging and whether the Supercharger station is in heavy use at the time. But with Superchargers, you can drive a Tesla nearly unlimited distances with a fairly minor inconvenience in time spent charging. And with this offer, you can do that with no charge for the electricity used.
First announced in 2012 with just a handful of Supercharger stations in California, the Tesla Supercharger network has grown to over 1,300 Supercharger stations worldwide with close to 11,000 charging bays. Most Superchargers are conveniently located on or near major interstates and other popular corridors for long distance travel. It's important to note that Superchargers are intended for long distance travel only, not as a replacement for home charging. For regular daily or weekly charging, Tesla recommends installation of a 220 or 240 Volt jack or a dedicated EV charging station at home. This way you can just plug in when you get home and wake up to a "full tank" every morning. You can even charge your Tesla from a standard 110V/120V electrical outlet but that's not recommended as it will take a really long time for a full charge (measured in days, not hours).
Also, if you're hoping to run your Lyft or Uber business on Tesla's dime, you should know that Tesla's current ownership agreement specifically prohibits free Supercharging for commercial purposes.
Another good reason not to wait on ordering that Tesla (at least if you're a United States resident) is that the full federal EV tax credit of $7,500 will only be available on Tesla vehicles until the end of 2018. And you do have to pay for and take delivery of the car in 2018 in order to qualify for the full credit. In 2019, the tax credit reduces to 50% ($3,750) for the first half of the year and reduces again to 25% ($1,750) for the second half of the year. Orders for any of the eligible models placed by September 16 are very likely to be delivered well before the end of the year.
It's important to note that although all versions of the Model S and Model X are eligible for the free Supercharging offer, only the high-end Performance variant of the Model 3 is eligible. The base price of the Model 3 Performance version is $64,000. It includes dual front and rear motors, the extended range battery, with over 310 miles of range, a blazingly fast 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds, a premium sound system and several other premium upgrades.
Here's How to Lock In Free Lifetime Supercharging for Your Tesla:
We've had our Model 3 for a few months now, and I must say that it is an absolute joy to drive. You can read more about our experience on Clean Technica:
