How to Charge a Tesla — The Best Practices

Yes charging your Tesla car is as easy as ABC but what if I tell you there are best practices to follow that can make a big difference in your charging experience.

That’s is what I will be talking about in this article so make sure you read till the end so that you don’t miss anything.

Types of Tesla Charging Options

You can use various charging options to charge your car, each of them have different speed and convenience. Let’s talk about these options:

1. Level 1 Charging (Standard Outlet): This is the regular 120V household charging outlet and Tesla Mobile Connector. It added 2-3 miles of range per hour which means for it to charge your car to 100% it will take 3-4 days. It’s best for occasional charging or if you are not driving far from your house.
2. Level 2 Charging (240V Outlet): This 240V outlet is similar to what use to power your large home appliances like dryer, non inverter AC, freezer and more. It adds 25-30 miles of range per hour which is way faster than the 120V outlet. It’s best for overnight charging, you wake up in the morning with full charge.
3. Tesla Wall Connector: This is a dedicated home charging station designed by Tesla for Tesla cars. It adds up to 44 miles of range per hour. This is best for you if you what fast and convenient charging solution in your home.
4. Superchargers: This is Tesla’s owned network of fast-charging stations. It can add upto 200 miles of range in 15 minutes depending on your Tesla model and it’s battery capacity. Superchargers are best for long trips and quick stops don’t use it every time to avoid your battery wearing out quickly.

Setting Up Home Charger

If you ask me, I will say that charging your Tesla at home is one of the most convenient way to charge your car. Is not only convenient it also cost effective. If you are thinking of installing a home charger I recent wrote an article about that you can read it here. Meanwhile, below are few tips you need to know before setting up your home charger:

• When setting up a home charger I recommend installing Tesla wall connector because it’s faster and integrates with your Tesla app for monitoring and charge schedule. Don’t forget to hire licensed electrician for the setup.
• But if you are on a budget choose 240V outlet. It’s a cheaper than wall connector but don’t forget to use Tesla’s Mobile Connector and the correct adapter to charge your car.
• Do you want to save money? If yes then I suggest you should charge during off-peak hours. It can save you lots of money. Check your utility company for rates.

Charging Your Tesla on the Road

As a Tesla car owner there are various charging options for you when you are on the road. The most popular option are Tesla Superchargers which is owned by Tesla for Tesla car owners. Apart from that are are still other options which I will be discussing below

• Tesla Superchargers: Superchargers are located on major routes and high ways. You can easily use your Tesla navigation system to find Tesla supercharger close to you. Please note that Superchargers are perfect for road trips. Don’t use it for your everyday charging.
• Destination Charging: Apart from Tesla Superchargers, Tesla also partners with businesses like hotels, restaurants, and malls to provide charging stations for Tesla owners to charge their cars. They are slow in charging compared to Tesla superchargers but good for small top ups while you eat or shop.
• Other public Chargers: Also, Tesla car can also get charged with third-party charging stations but make sure you are using the right adapter.

How to Charge a Tesla — Step-by-Step

1. Locate the Charge Port: Tesla charge port is on the left rear side of your Tesla, near the tail light.
2. Open the Charge Port: You can open Tesla charging port in several ways either by tapping on the button on your Tesla charger, using the touchscreen inside the car, or opening it via the Tesla app. Just do it anyhow you like, lol.
3. Connect the Charger: When you plug in the charging cable to start charging you will see different light indicators. Flashing green light means that your Tesla car is charging, Solid green means that charging is complete. If you see Amber or red color check your Tesla display screen for error messages.
4. Monitor Charging: You can monitor your car charging progress using your Tesla app. Don’t allow your car to charge more than 80 or 90% use the Tesla app to set charge limit. The app can also be used to schedule off-peak times charging.
5. Disconnect the Charger: Unplug the charging cable from the port immediately your charging is complete. To unplug press the button on the charger to unlocked the cable, then you remove it from the port.

Best Practices for Charging Your Tesla

• Set a Charging Limit: One of the best practice of charging your Tesla is not charging it more than 80 to 90% for daily use. The range is recommended to make your battery last longer and to get the best of your Tesla. Only charge to 100% if you are planning a long trip.
• Precondition Your Battery in Cold Weather: Preconditioning your Tesla car before charging during winter is highly recommended. It help to improve your battery life and capacity to avoid range related issues.
• Don’t let your Tesla battery run below 10%. It causes strains and thereby causes the battery slowly wear off when you make it a habit.

How Much Does Charging A Tesla Cost?

There is no direct answer to how much charging a Tesla cost because the charging cost depends on where you are charging it and how you are charging it.

Let’s me explain, destination charging offen offer free charging to customers, home charging is very cheap compared to gas especially during off-peak time while Tesla Supercharging is per kilowatt-hour(kWh). I recent wrote an article on how much it is cost to charge a Tesla you can read it for full details.

Tesla Charging Etiquette

• Don’t Hog Superchargers: Once you done charging your car, don’t wait to cause trouble, move your car to make space for others to charge.
• Respect Public Chargers: Once your time ends up please leave the station for next driver. Everybody is in haste, follow time limits and don’t waste somebody’s time.

Can I charge my Tesla in the rain?

Yes, You can charge your Tesla in all weather conditions including rain and snow. Tesla chargers are designed to work in all seasons.

How long does it take to charge a Tesla?

Charging time depends on the kind of charger you are using. 120V outlets take between 3 to 5 days to fully charge your Tesla, 240V can take 5 to 7 hours to charge to 100% while Superchargers can charge your Tesla upto 80% within 30 minutes. For more details read this article I wrote about how long it take to charge a Tesla.

Is charging cheaper than gas?

Yes, charging your Tesla car is very cheap when compared to fueling a gas car even more cheaper when charging during off-peak hours.