Gas prices are rising, and if you fancy an electric car, you can purchase a Tesla.
The primary issue most Tesla owners have is charging their vehicles.
While most people can charge their Teslas at home, the 120v domestic chargers take a long time to fill up the battery. So how do you make your Tesla charge faster, especially if you’re stuck with a Level 1 or Level 2 charger?
Let us check some tips for charging a Tesla faster.
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1. Use a Tesla Trip Planner App
Use the Tesla Trip Planner app to check the number of charging stops. This is important before you embark on a trip, and some experts have recommended ABRP, a better route planner app.
The app helps you to know the charging expenses, alternative routes, the number of charging stops, the charging duration at each charging halt, and other factors.
On the other hand, the Tesla route planner is likely to take more time due to the long charging stops.
The ABRP ensures fast charging, and you are likely to make more stops, and your charging does not take much time. Meanwhile, find out how long Teslas can sit uncharged.
2. Charge From 10% to 80%
Ensure your battery is on a low charge when you want to embark on a long trip. Let your battery be on 10% when you get to your next supercharging point.
We have more here on exactly how much percentage to charge your Tesla.
Your Tesla battery is likely to charge faster when it is not over 10% charged. However, avoiding driving with a 10% charge on hills or during cold weather is better.
EVs often require more energy for the cold season and while driving on hilly terrains.
If you fail to do this your Tesla will drain the battery too quickly.
3. Precondition Your Battery
You can precondition your Tesla battery by setting your destination or the next supercharger point as the final destination.
It helps your battery to charge faster when you get to your next supercharger, particularly while driving in the cold season.
4. Leverage Supercharging Options
Ensure you use V3 superchargers as they are reliable and the best for fast-charging Tesla vehicles.
Here’s how much it costs to use superchargers to charge your Tesla.
These superchargers do not split the 250kW between cars and have a maximum charging rate of 250kW.
You must know your vehicle’s capacity to receive the 250kW power. This will prevent it from maxing out.
While on a road trip, you may need to check the available supercharger in the charging station to reduce your charge time.
Avoid using shared superchargers to ensure your charging does not take long. Use the unoccupied charging spot to charge your Tesla.
Try to check the labels on each supercharger, and the best method to know the type of supercharger is by clicking on the supercharger location from your navigation.
That said, it doesn’t always cost money to use Tesla’s supercharging.
How Do You Charge a Tesla At Home?
Most Tesla owners charge their vehicles at home overnight. You can get a mobile connector that plugs into a conventional wall outlet, and the price is around $200.
You should also find out whether you can charge a Tesla at any house.
This connector adds about 2-3 miles of range per hour.
You can upgrade to a Level 2 charger, which costs about $400 or more if you want faster charging.
These chargers can deliver a full charge overnight is less time, but they’re more expensive and drain more power.
How Much Does It Cost to Charge a Tesla At Home?
According to Electrek, it costs about $3 to $5 for 100 miles of charge when you’re charging at home.
Note that the cost will vary based on the size of your Tesla’s battery, the cost of power in your area, and several other variables.
At $3 per 100 miles of range, the Tesla Model 3 is the cheapest to charge at home.
What Is a Tesla Supercharger, and How Do You Use a Tesla Supercharger?
Tesla supercharger is a type of charging station that provides the fastest rate of charge.
Superchargers are unique devices that can add between 162 and 200 miles within 15 minutes, depending on the Tesla car.
The good news is that Tesla has a reliable Supercharger network sprawled around major metropolitan areas and major highways across the globe.
There are over 30,000 Superchargers, and they are seen as single stalls, not as charging stations.
There are about 1,500 Tesla Supercharger stations in the United States. It is essential to use the in-vehicle navigation system to find available superchargers. You can make payments online with your Tesla account.
Related: Do Teslas Come With Chargers & Charging Stations? (Explained)
How Much Does Charging At a Supercharger Cost?
Supercharging is more expensive than home charging because of the extra fees and taxes.
Some supercharging stations charge per minute in tiers based on the charge rate. It is crucial to note that Tesla can charge an idle fee gauged for each minute the Tesla is not charging.
Based on the estimate of cars.com, the cost of charging per kWh for supercharging is $0.30.
It would cost you around $7.50 to add 100 miles of range to the Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD. However, a full charge will cost you about $15.
Though some Tesla cars are eligible for free unlimited supercharging, some customers also receive free supercharging as part of promotions.
Related: Do Tesla Superchargers Cost Money To Use? (Explained)
Are There Other Alternatives Apart From Supercharging?
Besides Superchargers, the company also has Destination chargers. Tesla has more than 4,500 Destination chargers in North America, usually located around restaurants and hotels.
How Much Should You Charge a Tesla?
Charging your Tesla vehicle fully every time is not recommended, and keeping it at 90% is better.
The default setting on superchargers will get you to 80%, and it is a smart move to avoid charging fully always.
Do Teslas Charge Faster When Off?
Tesla cars charge faster when they are off, just like other EVs.
This is because the car isn’t drawing power from the battery when it’s off, which allows the battery to charge rapidly.
Related: Do Teslas Charge Themselves While Driving? (Explained)