The Supercharger network will provide over a terawatt hour (TWh) of electricity to Tesla drivers in the US during 2022. To put a "terawatt hour" into perspective, a terawatt hour is equal to a billion kilowatt hours. US households use on average around 11,000 kilowatt hours per year, which means that the Supercharger network delivers as much electricity as is used by around 100,000 American households during the year.
The Supercharger network is the only EV charging network that comes remotely close to delivering this much electricity. Within the rapid charging market, known as Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC), Superchargers have over 90% market share.
Tesla's ability to build out such a robust, convenient charging network has played a big role in it's success, since range anxiety is one of the biggest obstacles standing between people's decision to switch from gas guzzling internal combustion engine cars to electric vehicles.
A terawatt hour of electricity purchased across the Supercharger network costs the 1.6 million Tesla drivers in the US around $500 Million. If all these Tesla owners were driving the same amount of mileage in internal combustion engine cars, they would purchase nearly a billion gallons of gas per year, which would cost them $5 billion.
Of course, 100% of the charging for Teslas doesn't take place at Supercharger station. People charge at home, work and at other charging stations. So, sure, there are other electricity costs to keep EV's charged beyond Supercharging costs, but any way you shake it, EV driver's electricity costs are way less than the cost of keeping gas guzzling cars running.
This has resulted in the Supercharger business growing into a fast growing business for Tesla. It costs a few hundred thousand dollars to build a typical Supercharger station and millions to build the largest stations, like the station the 72 Supercharger station in Shanghai, the planned upgrade of the Harris Range Supercharger station in California to around 100 Superchargers or the 72 Supercharger Station & Lounge that Tesla is building in Santa Monica.
World's Largest Supercharger Station: Shanghai
Supercharger Carport & Lounge: Santa Monica, CA
Supercharger Station at Harris Ranch in Firebaugh, California (will be WorlD'S Largest After Upgrade)
The Supercharger Network will surpass 5 terawatt hours of electricity delivered per year in America, by 2027. This will be driven by a combination of:
Growth of the EV market (primarily driven by Tesla sales)
Tesla’s intention to open up the Supercharger Network to other car makes, which will qualify Tesla to participate in the $7.5 Billion buildout of a national charging network.
Tesla's plan to triple the size of the Supercharger network by 2024, after growing it 4X over the past three years.
Since Superchargers rely 100% on renewable energy, they play a vital role in combatting climate change. If the 1.6 Million Tesla drivers in America drove ICE cars, they would purchase around a billion gallons of gas per year, which would release over 9 million metric tons of C02 per year. 9 million metric tons of CO2 is equivalent to the amount of CO2 captured by 11 Million acres of forestland, nearly as much land as in all of Vermont and New Hampshire combined.
Preventing the release of 9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide while shifting the auto market to rely on renewable electricity is the crowning accomplishment of Tesla, and why Superchargers are top climate heroes.