Tesla has been implementing an idle fee for several years to keep its Superchargers available and avoid traffic jams at charging stations. This fee starts when a Supercharger station reaches 50% capacity. If a car remains plugged in after it is fully charged, the owner is charged 50 cents per minute. Once the station is completely full, the fee increases to $1 per minute.
Tesla owners can use the app to monitor their vehicle remotely, receiving alerts when the charging process is almost complete and again when the car reaches a specific charge threshold. If the vehicle is moved within five minutes of reaching the charge limit, the fee is waived.
To further improve Supercharger availability, Tesla has introduced a congestion fee that will replace the idle fee at certain locations. However, Tesla hasn’t specified on its website which stations will implement this new fee. The congestion fee kicks in when the station is busy, and your vehicle’s battery is charged beyond 90%.
Before the congestion fee is applied, you’ll get a five-minute warning through the Tesla app. If you disconnect your car and leave within this time frame, you can avoid the fee. If you remain connected after the grace period, you will be charged $1 per minute in the U.S.
This fee structure is designed to encourage drivers to charge only as much as they need for their journey, rather than filling up to 100%. By doing this, Tesla aims to make Superchargers more accessible for everyone who needs them. As more automakers start using the North American Charging Standard (NACS) adopted by Tesla, congestion at Supercharger stations could become a bigger issue. By urging drivers to move on once their battery is almost full, Tesla hopes to ensure a smoother and more efficient experience for all users at their charging stations.