Supercharger Tesla, is the kWh 66% more expensive after the holidays?

The fluctuation of the per kWh tariffs in the Tesla network is intriguing, especially on Sundays when returning from holidays, with costs that can skyrocket.

Could this be a new scam even bigger than the gas prices on the highway? Forced to refuel without leaving the motorway network, drivers resign themselves to a proper racket, with SP95 still costing nearly 2 euros per liter today.

But upon closer inspection, behind announcements of a decrease in the cost per kWh in its network that make the headlines, we see that the cost of recharging at Tesla has not decreased. If anything, it has increased.

Unjustified fluctuations?

The outrage is growing on forums of Tesla owners, where good deals for cheap on-the-road charging are now plentiful, just like trying to find gas stations with wholesale prices…

Our media Mobiwisy has notably found a testimony from an owner pointing out that the kWh at the Superchargers station in Parly2, Île-de-France, can sometimes display energy at 15 cents during off-peak hours. And up to 35 cents during peak hours with high traffic. This screenshot was taken on Thursday, February 8, 2024.

On Sunday, February 18, 2024, the return day from holidays, prices skyrocketed: now 23 cents during off-peak hours (+53% increase), 27 cents in the late afternoon, up from 19 cents during the week (+42%), and 43 cents during the day (+22.8%).

Same observation almost everywhere!

Similarly at the Roissy station, north of Paris, where the kWh price varies from 12, 27, and 35 cents during the day depending on the hour and traffic at the beginning of February 2024, following Tesla’s tariff reduction announcement.

On the same Sunday, February 18, 2024, prices soared dramatically. They now start at 20 cents (+66.6%), then go up to 35 cents (+29.6%), and finally reach 43 cents (+22.8%).

Near the A6 highway, which sees skiers heading back from the Alps, prices have also increased:

Fontainebleau: from 36 to 40 cents per kWh
Auxerre: from 40 to 45 cents per kWh
Avallon: from 34 to 38 cents per kWh
Beaune: from 34 to 38 cents per kWh
Chalon-sur-Saône: from 37 to 41 cents per kWh
Mâcon: from 41 to 46 cents per kWh
Lyon Aire de Manissieux: from 39 to 43 cents per kWh
Bourg-en-Bresse: from 39 to 43 cents per kWh
Albertville: from 39 to 43 cents per kWh
Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne: from 40 to 45 cents per kWh

After the rollercoaster of prices at service stations, Tesla will it do the same with energy costs, a sector where billions of euros can indeed be made by playing on inflation. The American manufacturer purchases its energy in bulk, paying much less for its kWh and at a stable price over several months.

Now, it remains to be seen whether the French government will also regulate this recharging market, possibly through taxation. The impact of energy prices on markets, especially for private consumers at home, could quickly be affected by manufacturers’ and energy providers’ practices. The idyllic world of electric cars will soon be tarnished.