I'm Paying More to Charge My New Model Y Than I Did for Gas, Tesla's App Shows Savings Using Inflated Gas Prices

Tesla has muscled its way to the front of the automotive pack, claiming the throne as the digital kingpin of the car world. Their website is a masterclass in Silicon Valley minimalism - clean, ruthlessly efficient, devoid of anything resembling traditional automotive excess. The sales pitch hits you like a sledgehammer: dump the dinosaur juice, plug into the future, and fatten your wallet while saving Mother Earth. 

How Minimalism Drives EV Innovation

The formula works, and the converts line up with their credit cards ready. But the savings, according to Peter Cirillo, aren't holding up for everyone. Cirillo didn't mince words when he took to Facebook with some uncomfortable math that Tesla's marketing department conveniently forgot to mention. 

“We recently took delivery of our Model Y, approximately three weeks ago, and have been underwhelmed by the experience. The potential for gas savings was a significant factor in our decision to purchase a Tesla.

However, after driving around 500 miles, it appears that we will not achieve any gas savings and may even spend more than we would on gasoline. The charge statistics displayed on the app are misleading. While we did input our cost per kWh of $0.33, the app's default cost per gallon of gas is nearly a dollar higher than the current market price. Is anyone else experiencing a similar cost discrepancy?”

This isn't some fossil fuel crusader with an axe to grind against EVs. This is a genuine Tesla convert who's discovered the hard truth behind the glossy promises. The problem isn't the technology, it's the math. 

Tesla's app operates in a parallel universe where gas prices hover suspiciously above street reality, while conveniently downplaying what it actually costs to juice up at their Supercharger network.

When Cirillo punched in his actual electric rate, a wallet-draining 33 cents per kilowatt-hour, the promised savings evaporated faster than quarter-mile bragging rights. 

Tesla’s Calculator Under Scrutiny

The calculator app that's supposed to vindicate your purchase decision turns out to be as reliable as dyno numbers at a manufacturer press event. Tesla's selling a financial revolution that, for some owners at least, simply doesn't compute when the rubber meets the road.

Tesla’s website and in-app savings calculators operate on what we can generously call 

“best case scenarios.” 

The estimated fuel savings are factored directly into the sticker price like some baked-in coupon code. But those numbers are pegged to assumptions so idealistic they might as well be fiction. 

Tesla Model Y Milestone: Record-Breaking Sales & Unmatched Performance in 2023

• In 2023, the Tesla Model Y achieved a significant milestone by becoming the world's best-selling vehicle, surpassing traditional internal combustion engine cars like the Toyota Corolla. This achievement marked the first time an electric vehicle led global sales, with Tesla delivering approximately 1.2 million Model Y units that year. The Model Y's popularity contributed to Tesla's total delivery of 1,704,093 Model 3 and Model Y units combined in 2024. ​
• The Model Y offers a blend of performance, range, and technology. The 2025 Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive variant, for instance, boasts an EPA-estimated range of 320 miles per charge and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds. It features a panoramic glass roof, a minimalist interior with a 15.4-inch touchscreen interface, and advanced safety features, including Tesla's Autopilot system. These attributes have garnered positive consumer feedback, with 73% of owners rating the 2025 Model Y five out of five stars. ​
• The Model Y has received accolades from reputable organizations, reflecting its impact on the automotive market. Consumer Reports named the Model Y the best electric car of 2024 and included it in their top ten cars overall. The app doesn’t allow you to fine-tune the gas price or account for Supercharger usage. It assumes you're charging at home with rock-bottom utility rates and that gasoline is some villainous $5.50 per gallon specter haunting your budget. Reality, of course, has other plans.

But in the digital town square, the community had answers.

“Charge at home, problem solved,”

wrote one owner. Another, Dustin Smith, drove the point home with real numbers:

“I pay 16.4 cents per kWh. The superchargers are usually double or more than what I pay at home. I drive part-time for DoorDash ~2500 miles a month.

It costs me approximately 1/3 of what I was paying driving a manual 2014, 4-cylinder Chevy Sonic the same distance. Take the near-monthly oil changes into account, and it’s even better. The problem isn’t the EV, it’s your method of charging it.”

And that’s the bitter truth Tesla won’t say out loud: your experience with a Model Y will vary wildly depending on how you charge it. Use a Supercharger regularly, and you're paying a premium for convenience, sometimes to the point of erasing your expected savings. Home charging is the holy grail here, but only if you have the infrastructure in place. A standard 120V wall outlet? Forget it. Charging a Model Y on that setup is like trying to inflate a hot air balloon with a bicycle pump. It’s possible, but you’ll age in the process.

Level 2 Home Charging: Unlocking True EV Savings

Enter the Level 2 charger, the real MVP for any EV owner looking to save money and time. This 240V setup turns your garage into a personal fueling station, giving you a full charge overnight instead of over the course of a long weekend.

But it’s not free. Installation can run upwards of $1,500 to $2,000, and that's before you factor in permits, electrician visits, and any upgrades to your home’s wiring. For apartment dwellers or folks without access to a private garage? You're stuck in the Supercharger lane and stuck with the premium rates that come with it.

Tesla’s Expanding Supercharger Network Across the U.S.

• As of March 2025, Tesla operates nearly 30,000 individual Superchargers across the United States, with stations in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. This widespread distribution ensures that Tesla owners have convenient access to fast charging, facilitating long-distance travel and daily commutes. ​
• Tesla's Supercharger network features V3 Superchargers, which are capable of delivering peak rates of up to 250 kW per car. This allows a Tesla Model 3 Long Range to recover up to 75 miles of charge in just 5 minutes, significantly reducing charging time. The V3 Superchargers utilize a new 1 MW power cabinet, supporting faster and more efficient charging sessions. ​
• Tesla offers a Supercharger Site Host program, allowing businesses and property owners to apply for hosting Supercharger stations. This initiative not only expands the Supercharger network but also benefits hosts by attracting new and repeat customers to their locations. Tesla manages the construction and operation of these stations, ensuring a seamless integration with minimal effort required from the hosts.

Tesla’s real mistake isn’t the tech. It’s the illusion of simplicity. They tell you it’s cheaper. Cleaner. Easier. And to a degree, it is, but only if you fit the mold. Only if you charge at home, don’t drive like your pants are on fire, and live in a region with sensible utility rates. Their calculator doesn’t let you toggle real-world variables. It doesn’t show what happens if you move, if electricity spikes, or if your only charging option is the fast-charger on the corner that charges more per kWh than a cup of Starbucks.

So here we are, 500 miles into ownership, wallets lighter, expectations bruised. The Model Y remains an impressive machine, quick, capable, clean. But as Tesla continues to market dreams with optimistic math and nonadjustable apps, owners are learning that savings aren’t guaranteed. Like everything in the auto industry, the most important information is hidden in the fine print. And if you’re not doing the math yourself, rest assured someone else is, and they’re rounding up.

Image Source: Tesla Model Y Owner Club Facebook Group, Tesla Media Center

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.