Tesla has introduced a new version of its free Supercharging incentive in the US — this time, for those who trade in an old car (gas or hybrid) and switch to an electric one.

2,000 Miles for 2 Years

The offer (see Tesla’s current offers here) says that trading in an old car for a new Tesla will result in 2,000 free Supercharging miles. That’s a nice thing to have for long-distance travel, especially considering the size of the Supercharging network.

Tesla offer: Switch to an EV, Get 2,000 Free Supercharging Miles. (Source: Tesla)

The “Supercharging miles” must be utilized within two years of delivery, or they will expire:

“Terms & Conditions
Promotion requires completed trade-in of a gas or hybrid vehicle and is subject to change or end at any time. Supercharging miles expire two years after delivery date and cannot be postponed, assigned or redeemed for cash. Supercharging-related fees, like congestion fees, still apply. Used cars and B2B sales not eligible. Promotional miles may be revoked if the trade-in cannot be completed for any reason. Actual miles may vary and is dependent on factors like driving behavior and environment. Terms and conditions apply.”

What Models?

Tesla already offers Free Lifetime Supercharging for the Model S and Model X as part of the Luxe Package (standard on all versions). The same concerns the top-of-the-line Tesla Cybertruck Cyberbeast.

This means that the latest incentive will only apply for the Model 3, Model Y, and regular Cybertruck AWD. These are less expensive Tesla EVs, so the incentive is also much smaller compared to Free Lifetime Supercharging.

The Value of Free Supercharging

It’s always tricky to estimate the value of free Supercharging. The prices of energy vary significantly between states, and there are different use cases.

If we assume a Tesla Model Y with an energy efficiency of 3.5-4 miles/kWh, then 2,000 miles should result in 500-571 kWh. The numbers might be slightly lower for the Model 3, and noticeably higher for the Cybertruck AWD.

We are not sure how Tesla calculates the number of kWh a user should get (most likely based on the EPA test cycle), but assuming 570 kWh and roughly $0.40/kWh, the incentive’s value is $228. It might be closer to $200 for the Model 3 and closer to $350 for the Cybertruck AWD.

That’s a relatively small perk, good to have when switching to an EV, but definitely not a game-changer.