Tesla Passive Supercharger Opportunity

[jghall00]

If you mostly drive on long trips, the energy cost savings from driving an EV compared to a fuel efficient vehicle may be pretty marginal. There is less maintenance on an EV for the first couple of hundred miles but it seems unlikely that anyone is going to go 300,000 miles or more with an EV without replacing the main battery. If you're going to do that, the math might change again.

If someone is looking for a project, it would be interesting to compare the total cost of driving a Toyota Camry Hybrid vs a Tesla Model 3 for 100,000, 300,000 and 500,000 miles.

Who is driving a Camry to 500,00 or even 300,000 miles? If I had to guess, I'd say most of the vehicles reach end of life well before that. Yes, there are many that last to that mileage, but I'm sure 300K is far higher than the average or median before the car is scrapped.

This math is very difficult because it depends in part on the person's driving habits. For example, the math would probably shake out in favor of the Tesla if road trips are rare and the vehicle is charged at home. Many modern EVs have packs that are designed to last over 200,000 miles or that employ modular designs in which a module is replaced rather than the entire battery.

Considering that the Model 3 was released in 2018, there just aren't going to be a ton of high-mileage examples on the road.

My Blazer EV is $101/month and my 2014 BMW X3 is $82/month through State Farm (bundled with home).

https://electrek.co/2025/08/28/chevy-blazer-equinox-evs-are-most-affordable-to-insure/

My Blazer EV is $131 through State Farm.

Depreciation on the Blazer is really high. But I have zero intention of getting rid of it any time soon. I have several children that drive, so eventually it will probably go to one of them.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Sounds very much like another Tesla rules don’t apply to us scam. Would like to see the fine print. Still waiting on FSD. Been waiting on that for what 10 years? Elon shouldn’t be trusted, nor should his company.

 

[JHZR2]

Solar panels suck in the CA sun... Dirt cheap energy!
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Powers my parking lot and I charge all the locals...
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Not really.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Not really.

Just a little Supercharger humor... That's a pic of a Supercharger location in Petaluma (American Graffiti) CA. I think it's the only drive thru lot I have ever seen. Usually you back in.

This is a car town, lemme tell ya. Classic Harleys too. You name it.

 

[ecotourist]

Who is driving a Camry to 500,00 or even 300,000 miles? If I had to guess, I'd say most of the vehicles reach end of life well before that. Yes, there are many that last to that mileage, but I'm sure 300K is far higher than the average or median before the car is scrapped.

I think you're right. Most cars don't make to 200,000 miles. [Mine don't anyway.]

And my bet is the Tesla wins hands down in that situation, as long as the owner uses a home charger consistently and does most of his/her driving within 100 miles of home.

 

[ecotourist]

I found a video on very high mile Tesla Model 3s. Their batteries are holding out better than I expected. I'm impressed.

 

[Torrid]

Makes way more sense to sit at Starbucks than sit at a charger.

If these things propogate beyond a small percentage people in apartments and such will need a place to charge.

That's how it always is. They're in shopping centers with food. Many here are in Culver's parking lots. I've yet to see one in a standalone empty parking lot in my travels.

 

[SC Maintenance]

That's how it always is. They're in shopping centers with food. Many here are in Culver's parking lots. I've yet to see one in a standalone empty parking lot in my travels.

Its not exactly like that here. There near restaurants and such - maybe a block - but clearly separate - not owned by the restaurant.

However there aren't many superchargers here yet. Only a couple in the city. The one I noticed is on the wrong side of the interstate - although there is a Zaxby's in the same general area. Lots of destination chargers at hotels and such.