Tesla is expanding its new live Supercharger pricing system, extending the pricing model to 550 more stations across California, New Jersey, New York, Florida, and Illinois. The expansion significantly widens a pilot program that began earlier this year, shifting Supercharger rates from scheduled peak times to a model that adjusts pricing based on real-time site utilization.
Unlike traditional utilities that adjust energy rates by the hour or day, Tesla’s system focuses on availability. When chargers are busy, prices may rise slightly to encourage turnover and reduce congestion. When usage is low, drivers will see lower rates—sometimes even during hours that were previously considered “peak” under the old time-based schedule.
Importantly, Tesla has clarified that pricing is locked in at the moment a driver plugs in. “Based on when you plug in,” the company confirmed when asked if prices could shift mid-session. Once charging begins, the cost will not fluctuate.
Tesla Charging confirmed the expansion of the program on X, saying the rollout does not affect the cost of an average charging session. According to the company, the changes are meant to better match pricing with actual demand throughout the day, rather than relying on the fixed on-peak and off-peak assumptions used in the past.
Live pricing expanded to an additional 550 sites in California, New Jersey, New York, Florida and Illinois.
— Tesla Charging (@TeslaCharging) November 14, 2025
Currently the average price remains the same, peak prices are unchanged and will be paid by fewer sessions.
We'll keep iterating on getting it right, based on impact and…
Tesla has committed to listening to customer feedback and making changes to the program, and it has already led to strong reactions among owners. While some appreciate the transparency and the opportunity to save when stations are quiet, others worry it could encourage behaviour like “racing” to an under-utilized site before it fills up. One driver expressed frustration, saying, “now I’m looking for larger superchargers cause they’re more likely to be less busy/lower rate… wish you would be more transparent with your pricing and why prices are what they are.”
The expansion continues Tesla’s multi-year effort to refine Supercharger pricing while improving throughput across its growing network. Since 2016, the company has pushed regulators to allow kWh-based billing, arguing that it is the fairest billing method. Other major changes have followed: idle fees were introduced in 2017, 80% automatic charge limits at high-traffic stations arrived in 2019, and estimated on-peak/off-peak pricing launched in 2020.
In 2023, Tesla consolidated idle fees and high state-of-charge penalties into congestion fees, a model many other networks have since adopted.
Live pricing takes this philosophy a step further by using real-time occupancy instead of predictions. The company says it ensures accuracy, avoids unnecessarily high rates, and makes charging more affordable when capacity is available.
