Tesla is adding a new type of gift card to its Chinese store, enabling owners to provide the gift of range ahead of the Chinese New Year. With the launch of these new Supercharger Charging Cards in China, you can now purchase blocks of range for yourself, a friend, or a family member.
These prepaid cards allow users to buy Supercharging energy in bulk. You can purchase several charging card tiers, each with a different amount of energy, resulting in varying levels of range for your vehicle.
What’s interesting is that this isn’t simply a gift card tied to X dollars of Supecharging; Tesla is selling specific energy amounts like 500 kWh. This means owners can purchase these cards ahead of time to lock in at the gift-card energy rate, rather than paying the going rate at a Supercharger.
Varying Editions
The program has launched with tiered options to suit different budgets and gifting needs. The Tesla shop currently lists three categories of cards.
The first card is the Enjoyable Edition*, priced at ¥599 (approx. $83 USD). This is the standard entry-level tier, designed for personal use or small gifts. This version includes 400kWh of energy, offering approximately 2,000 km of range on the Model 3 RWD.
The second card is the Commemorative Edition*, priced at ¥800 (approx. $110 USD). This premium tier also includes an additional limited-edition perk. The first 10,000 users who purchase this version can apply to receive a limited-edition magnetic bottle opener shaped like a Supercharger. This version includes 500kWh of energy, offering approximately 2,500km of range for the Model 3 RWD.
The final version is the Trial Version*, priced at ¥79 (approx. $11 USD). This trial card provides just 50kWh (or 250km of range on the Model 3 RWD), giving users a chance to try out the new prepaid Supercharging Card feature without any major investment.
By offering these specific price points, Tesla is positioning the cards as an ideal gift for the Lunar New Year gift-giving season - a bit more substantial than a trinket, but also more practical than traditional luxury goods. These cards are valid for 180 days.
* Please note that this text is the literal translation of the card names.
9 Designs to Choose From
After beginning the purchase process, you’ll be offered 9 different designs to select from:
Cybertruck
Model 3
Optimus
V4 Superchargers
Cybercab and Robovan
Happy Birthday Card
Romantic Optimus
Generic White Gift Card
Lunar New Year Firework (Limited Edition)
Utilization & Activation
Once you decide to purchase a card, you’ll have 30 days to activate your card. The Enjoyable and Memorial cards are valid for 180 days, with remaining energy on them expiring after the 180-day period. The Trial card is valid for just 30 days.
If you choose not to activate your card, you can also transfer it to another Tesla owner by entering their email address in the Tesla App.
Once a card is activated, it becomes your primary payment method for Supercharging. The Tesla App also prioritizes the card with the nearest expiration date, and if one card is used up, the next card automatically begins billing (or your regular payment method).
If you have other charging mileage, such as promotional mileage from a vehicle purchase, the Supercharger Card mileage is still used first. As the cards are tied to the account that activates them rather than the vehicle, they can be used on any vehicle on your Tesla account.
Gifting & Loyalty
While this program offers some convenience to owners, it serves a purpose for Tesla. It gets more people to try out Tesla’s Superchargers, and once users get used to charging at Supercharger sites, they’ll be more likely to return, even once their gift miles are up.
Plus, by incentivizing users to prepay for thousands of kilometers of range with commemorative cards, Tesla is effectively capturing that revenue upfront - especially if the cards go unused after activation. Once a driver has a prepaid balance of 500 kWh, they are financially motivated to bypass third-party chargers to find a Supercharger where their free energy applies.
