If you’re considering buying a Tesla vehicle, you’re probably wondering how long it takes to charge a Tesla’s battery?
Charging time depends on the charging method:
- 110v Wall Outlet: 25 hours per 100 miles of charge
- 220v Wall Outlet: 3 hours per 100 miles of charge
- Tesla Destination Charger: 3 hours per 100 miles of charge
- Tesla Supercharger Station: 10 minutes per 100 miles of charge
In short, you can use a standard 110v wall outlet at-home to charge your Tesla, however it is the slowest charging method. A 220v wall outlet will charge much faster, and is the best at-home charging option. And the fastest charging method is a Tesla Supercharger Station which can charge a Tesla battery 100 miles in about 10 minutes.
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Both the 110v and 220v wall outlet will require the Tesla Mobile Connector to use. Previously, all Teslas came with this cable upon delivery, however as of April 28, 2022 all new Tesla’s do not include the cable, so it must be purchased seperately.
Tesla Destination Chargers are 220v chargers located in public places (typically hotels, shopping plazas, parking lots, city parking spaces, and sometimes at Superchargers Stations). These are intended for guests to use while enjoying the destination. Most commonly, these are found in hotel parking lots so guests can charge their Tesla battery overnight, and are typically free to hotel guests.
Tesla Supercharger Stations are 440v chargers located near exits along major highways, and other heavily traveled areas. They are by far the fastest charging method, and come at a cost. The cost of charging at a Supercharger varies by location but is typically about $0.30 per kWh, or $9 per 100 miles.
Assuming a gas vehicle gets 20 miles per gallon, and gas is $4.50 per gallon, it cost about $0.23 per mile for gasoline. The cost equivalent for a Tesla owner is only $0.09 per mile at a Supercharger, and that’s the most expensive way to charge. Charging at-home lowers the cost down to only $0.04 per mile with a 110v or 220v wall outlet.
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How To Use a Tesla Supercharger
To use a Supercharger, Tesla owners back their vehicle up to the charger and press the button on the handle of the charger to open the charge port on the vehicle via bluetooth. Then upon inserting the charger handle into the vehicle, the Tesla battery will start charging automatically. Once the Tesla owner is satisfied with the amount of charge received, they press the button on the handle to stop charging and remove the charger from the vehicle. The Tesla owner is automatically billed to the credit card on their account, and can check this amount in the app or on Tesla’s website.
For more information on charging a Tesla, and battery maintenance, please read how to maintain a Tesla and the costs.