Whenever I leave the house, I never do so without my phone charger, even if my phone has a full charge. Having a charger on me helps me avoid energy anxiety—the feeling that my battery could run low or flat at a critical time.Most electric vehicle users experience the same feeling. Sure, there are superchargers everywhere nowadays, but it is still reassuring to know that you have your mobile connector in the trunk or frunk of your Tesla when you hit the road.However, Tesla has a different view and will no longer automatically include mobile connectors with every purchase of a vehicle. If you consider buying a Tesla, here's what you need to know about this decision.
Tesla Mobile Connectors No Longer Free, Now Sold Separately
Tesla quietly updated its website to indicate mobile connectors would no longer be complimentary and would retail at $275.
If Tesla hoped the change would go unnoticed, it was out of luck because Twitter user Tesla Adri caught it and not only let the world know of the change but also added the fact that mobile connectors are now out of stock.
The subsequent backlash caused Elon Musk to reduce the price to $200 and announce that the connector would be easier to order with every car purchase.
Although Tesla has made up its mind and will not reverse the policy, Electrek shared this Reddit post purporting to be internal communication from Tesla, indicating that all deliveries, for the next several weeks at least, will include the mobile connector.
Why Has Tesla Stopped Offering Complimentary Connectors
According to Musk, Tesla's data shows owners do not charge their cars at home or elsewhere using the mobile connectors frequently enough to justify inclusion with every car delivery.
Furthermore, he notes, you do not need the connector to charge your car at a Tesla Supercharger or if you have a Tesla Wall Connector installed at home.
Musk Is Probably Right
A Supercharger can add up to 200 miles of range in just 15 minutes, while a mobile connector only adds 2-5 miles of range per hour. It makes more sense to visit a Supercharger rather than charge your car all night and still end up with less than 50 miles of range.
So when Musk says Tesla owners don't use the connectors and adding them with the car is wasteful, he is probably right.
Tesla operates more than 3,500 Superchargers globally, with nearly 1,500 in the US alone. Thus, with the network of superchargers growing bigger every day, the mobile connector is probably obsolete.