Here’s what you need to know about the Tesla Model S charge time and the factors influencing the time.
One of the most recognizable names in the EV industry is Tesla. Some still place a higher priority on convenience even though many people purchase Teslas as a status symbol or to lessen the environmental damage they cause. How easy is it, for instance, and how long does it take to charge a Tesla?
The Tesla Supercharger station, where Tesla charging takes no longer than an hour, can be easily located with the help of the app if it’s nearby. Your Tesla Model S is ready to go for the entire night or 8–12 hours when using a level 2 charger at home or in public.
For more details on the Tesla Model S, continue reading. We also explore the charging time of the Tesla Cybertruck, Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model S P100D, Tesla Semi, Tesla Model X, Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model S Plaid, and Tesla Roadster.
How Long Does It Take to Charge a Tesla Model S?
Tesla electric vehicles are available with a variety of different battery options, which will affect how well the car performs and how long it takes to charge fully. The Tesla Model S 60, which has a standard 60 kW hour battery and can be charged using a Level 2 charger in 6.75 hours, is at the low end of the spectrum.
The Tesla Model S 85D is a step up with an 85 kW battery good for 242 miles and 6.5 hours to charge at 240 volts or 21 hours on 120-volt power, respectively.
Tesla Charging Time 220v
Tesla models now feature a 220v battery that offers a number of performance advantages. The 220v battery typically takes 7.5 hours to fully charge, but a Tesla Wall Connector can speed up the process to 85% in just 1.5 hours.
Tesla Charging Time 110v
The Tesla Model S typically needs 33 hours for the smaller 110v battery option. Your electrical supply’s amperage will determine how long it takes to fully charge the Tesla Model S; at 30 amps or more, the battery will fully charge in about 13–14 hours.
Factors Influencing How Long It Takes to Charge a Tesla Model S
At a high level, the answer to the question, “When charging my Tesla Model S, how long does it take?” is, “it really depends.” How long you’ll need depends on a number of factors. The accessibility of Superchargers, your location, the electrical configuration of your home and place of employment, and the age of your battery pack are a few of these factors.
Charging Location and Outlet
Additionally, external forces restrict the rate at which Tesla’s batteries can absorb electricity. The strength of the electrical current coming from the outlet and the location of the charger both affect how quickly the battery charges.
The Wall Connector and the Mobile Connector are the two options that Tesla offers its customers for charging. The former, which is more widely used and more effective, works in direct connection with your home’s energy system to deliver charge all night (or during any other downtime you may have).
The Mobile Connector, as its name suggests, is mobile and can be plugged into any regular electrical outlet to provide backup power.
Here’s an outline of the features that the Tesla Wall Connector:
- Compatible with Models S, X, Y, and 3
- Over 40 miles of range for every hour of charge
- Power level customization to match the spectrum of circuit breakers
- Residential and commercial power system compatibility
- 18-foot cable length
The electrical layout of the building and the kind of charging system being used will determine the maximum rate of charging.
Maximum Rate of Charging
The type of outlet the Tesla Model S is plugged into determines the maximum rate at which it can accept electricity. You can anticipate a charge to take between 12 and 15 hours on average, assuming you have a 110-volt outlet, the bare minimum needed to charge your Tesla at home.
This is because the majority of home outlets can only generate 10 amps of current, which will restrict the amount of electricity that can be transferred into your car’s battery during charging.
For those who commute frequently, the typical household 120-volt outlet is completely unworkable because it can only charge your battery pack by 5 miles of range per hour.
Your Tesla can charge much more quickly using outlets with higher amperage, such as 220 volts. These outlets, which are referred to as Level 2 Chargers, can produce 12 to 80 miles of range every hour.
One or more 50 amp circuits will typically be provided for your Tesla in commercial locations that offer electrical charging hookups in their lots, like the open parking areas at Tesla’s California Supercharger stations. The time it takes for your Model S to charge is significantly reduced by charging stations.
Tesla owners must understand the importance of using Superchargers sparingly, though. The longer charge times have a performance cost because repeated exposure to high voltage can quicken the rate of battery deterioration.
Temperature
Changes in temperature have an effect on the battery’s lifespan as well as how long it takes to charge.
It can take twice as long to charge your car in hotter climates—possibly even up to 48 hours. Batteries naturally warm up as they operate, as you’ve probably noticed with your phone or laptop. This is due to the fact that the lithium-ion batteries used in the majority of electronics are in the process of charging.
The battery itself heats up, but the environment can also generate heat that is transferred to the internal car parts. The amount of power consumed by all systems inside your car while you are charging will also directly affect how long it takes to charge.
It might take a little longer to charge if you’re in a cold climate. Cold climates invoke what industry experts call the battery’s “low-temperature performance.” When it gets cold outside, the chemical reaction inside lithium-ion batteries slows down.
The resistance that charged ions must overcome increases as the fluid they move through thickens. The battery may completely freeze as the temperature drops below -10 F.
Year of Model
The Tesla Model S has undergone numerous iterations since it was one of the first vehicles offered by the leading EV manufacturer. Performance has varied significantly between these models in a significant way. This is especially accurate when discussing the battery’s functionality.
The Tesla batteries were initially developed concurrently with the other parts of the vehicle, but they are now developed by a separate division of the business called the Gigafactory. Across residential and commercial use cases, these batteries satisfy a wide range of requirements.
For instance, the Powerwall, a battery, and generator for use in homes from Tesla was designed to work with its battery.
Can I Calculate How Long the Battery Will Charge?
You most definitely can! Volts X Amps = Watts is a formula you can use to start figuring out the capacity of your charging station. Consider 16 amps and a standard 120 V plug as an example to show how to perform this straightforward calculation.
Its power output is 1.9 kW or 1 920 watts. You can calculate the total charging time by dividing your net battery capacity by the capacity of the charger.
Let’s use the 2022 Tesla Model 3 as an example. Its battery capacity is 82 kWh; divide that by 1.9 kW of a basic Level 1 plug to get a charging time of about 43 hours.
Another key point: An EV cannot fully charge the battery at maximum speed. The speed starts to drop after 50% of the charge is used up, and it gets slower as it gets closer to 100%. This means that charging your Tesla at home using a basic outlet could take up to 4 days as the charging time increases by 1.5–2 times.
Summary
A standard lithium-ion battery pack with 60 kilowatt-hours or a more expensive, more potent 85 kWh unit are both available for the Model S electric car. Whether the Model S has one or two onboard chargers and the source of the electricity both affect how long it takes to recharge a discharged battery.
Having the app handy makes it simple to locate the Tesla Supercharger station, where charging takes no longer than an hour. Your car is prepared to go all night or for eight to twelve hours with a level 2 charger at home or in public.
