Tesla can now bill you for taking too long at a busy Supercharger in Australia

Australia is the latest nation to be hit with “congestion fees” when motorists use certain Tesla Superchargers in peak times.

Detailed on Tesla’s Australian website, the congestion fees now apply at Supercharger stations where there’s high demand and when an electric vehicle’s (EV’s) battery reaches 80 per cent charge, or when its charging session ends.

Australian EV drivers will be charged up to $1 per per minute after this occurs, encouraging motorists to only charge for how much they need rather than all the way, as EV charging speeds slow down after 80 per cent to preserve the battery.

The fees also apply not only to Tesla vehicles but also EVs from different brands which can use the chargers, after some – but not all – locations were opened up to these in recent years.

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Tesla notes the “typical” congestion fee will be 50 cents per minute, with prices to depend on the charging location.

The congestion fees will replace idle fees at some yet-to-be disclosed Supercharger stations, with the Tesla app advising if these fees apply.

Idle fees still apply at some stations to motorists who keep their EV plugged in after the charging session is finished.

Motorists are charged 50 cents per minute if the Supercharger station reaches 50 to 99 per cent capacity and their session is finished, and $1 a minute when it’s 100 per cent occupied.

For both idle and congestion fees, the surcharge won’t apply if drivers move their vehicles within five minutes, with Tesla offering a grace period.

Both of these types of fees also apply to those who purchased their Tesla EVs before 2017 when the company was offering free charging to incentivise sales.

Just as Tesla’s Superchargers aren’t exclusive to its own vehicles, idle fees aren’t limited to the brand’s chargers.

Fellow EV charging specialist Chargefox also applies a $1 per minute fee in Australia, which is waived if a vehicle is moved within 10 minutes of reaching 80 per cent charge.