Tesla Debuts Supercharging Cards in China, Allowing Drivers to Secure Supercharger Pricing
Tesla has introduced a new Supercharger charging card to its China online store, letting owners gift charging credit ahead of the Chinese New Year. These cards provide a practical, travel-ready present that helps recipients top up their Supercharger balance and makes holiday travel more convenient.
Tesla has added Supercharger Charging Cards to its China online store, letting owners buy blocks of charging energy as gifts or for personal use ahead of the Chinese New Year.
Unlike a traditional gift card tied to a monetary value, these prepaid cards sell specific energy amounts—such as 500 kWh—so buyers can lock in an energy allocation at the card rate rather than paying per-use pricing at a Supercharger.
Tiered options
Tesla launched three card tiers:
- Enjoyable Edition — ¥599 (approx. $83): 400 kWh, roughly 2,000 km of range for a Model 3 RWD. Entry-level option for personal use or modest gifts.
- Commemorative Edition — ¥800 (approx. $110): 500 kWh, roughly 2,500 km of range for a Model 3 RWD. Includes a limited-edition perk: the first 10,000 purchasers can apply to receive a magnetic Supercharger-shaped bottle opener.
- Trial Version — ¥79 (approx. $11): 50 kWh, roughly 250 km of range for a Model 3 RWD. Low-cost way to try the prepaid feature.
By offering discrete energy amounts and clear price points, Tesla positions these cards as practical, occasion-appropriate gifts for the Lunar New Year. (Card names above are literal translations.)
Design options
During purchase buyers can choose from nine card designs:
- Cybertruck
- Model 3
- Optimus
- V4 Superchargers
- Cybercab and Robovan
- Happy Birthday Card
- Romantic Optimus
- Generic White Gift Card
- Lunar New Year Firework (Limited Edition)
Activation, use and transfer
- Cards must be activated within 30 days of purchase.
- Enjoyable and Commemorative cards are valid for 180 days after activation; the Trial card is valid for 30 days. Any remaining energy expires at the end of the validity period.
- Unactivated cards can be transferred to another Tesla owner by entering the recipient’s email in the Tesla app.
- Once activated, a card becomes the primary Supercharging payment method on the account. The Tesla app prioritizes the card with the nearest expiration date; when one card is depleted, billing switches automatically to the next card or the account’s regular payment method.
- Prepaid card energy is consumed before promotional mileage tied to a vehicle purchase. Cards are linked to the activating Tesla account, not a specific vehicle, and can be used by any vehicle on that account.
Strategic rationale
The cards encourage more drivers to use Tesla Superchargers and let Tesla capture revenue upfront—particularly effective if some prepaid energy goes unused. By prepaying for hundreds of kilowatt-hours, drivers have a clear incentive to choose Superchargers over third-party chargers while their balance remains.
Unlike a traditional gift card tied to a monetary value, these prepaid cards sell specific energy amounts—such as 500 kWh—so buyers can lock in an energy allocation at the card rate rather than paying per-use pricing at a Supercharger.
Tiered options
Tesla launched three card tiers:
- Enjoyable Edition — ¥599 (approx. $83): 400 kWh, roughly 2,000 km of range for a Model 3 RWD. Entry-level option for personal use or modest gifts.
- Commemorative Edition — ¥800 (approx. $110): 500 kWh, roughly 2,500 km of range for a Model 3 RWD. Includes a limited-edition perk: the first 10,000 purchasers can apply to receive a magnetic Supercharger-shaped bottle opener.
- Trial Version — ¥79 (approx. $11): 50 kWh, roughly 250 km of range for a Model 3 RWD. Low-cost way to try the prepaid feature.
By offering discrete energy amounts and clear price points, Tesla positions these cards as practical, occasion-appropriate gifts for the Lunar New Year. (Card names above are literal translations.)
Design options
During purchase buyers can choose from nine card designs:
- Cybertruck
- Model 3
- Optimus
- V4 Superchargers
- Cybercab and Robovan
- Happy Birthday Card
- Romantic Optimus
- Generic White Gift Card
- Lunar New Year Firework (Limited Edition)
Activation, use and transfer
- Cards must be activated within 30 days of purchase.
- Enjoyable and Commemorative cards are valid for 180 days after activation; the Trial card is valid for 30 days. Any remaining energy expires at the end of the validity period.
- Unactivated cards can be transferred to another Tesla owner by entering the recipient’s email in the Tesla app.
- Once activated, a card becomes the primary Supercharging payment method on the account. The Tesla app prioritizes the card with the nearest expiration date; when one card is depleted, billing switches automatically to the next card or the account’s regular payment method.
- Prepaid card energy is consumed before promotional mileage tied to a vehicle purchase. Cards are linked to the activating Tesla account, not a specific vehicle, and can be used by any vehicle on that account.
Strategic rationale
The cards encourage more drivers to use Tesla Superchargers and let Tesla capture revenue upfront—particularly effective if some prepaid energy goes unused. By prepaying for hundreds of kilowatt-hours, drivers have a clear incentive to choose Superchargers over third-party chargers while their balance remains.
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