How Long Does It Take to Charge a Tesla?

Tesla’s sedan and crossover models have become a fixture of the electric vehicle (EV) market since the company’s Model S debuted in 2012. Its extensive charging network—these cars’ “fueling” stations—is widely considered the best of all the different companies offering EV charging.

How long it takes to charge a Tesla vehicle depends on a number of factors. This article details what those factors are and explains what a Tesla owner can expect when it comes to EV charging.

Battery Capacity

To determine how long it would take to charge a Tesla, it’s important to first understand the fundamentals behind Tesla’s batteries and how they charge. 

Even if the car says its battery is at full capacity, it’s not entirely available to use. That’s because they have what’s called gross and net capacity; the former is how much charge the battery can theoretically hold, while the latter refers to the amount that can actually be used, which is per every manufacturer’s own specifications. This is because allowing for 100 percent usage often causes increased battery degradation, which gradually cuts down on the amount of charge it can hold over time.

A common rule of thumb to reduce degradation over the life of the vehicle is to not allow the battery to dip below a 20 percent charge and not charge up past 80 percent.

How much energy a battery can store and use depends on its size, which is measured in Kilowatt-hours (kWh). Simply put, this is how well the battery delivers a set power output, measured in kilowatts, over the course of an hour. These battery outputs also vary by the amount of space allowed—the higher the kWh rating, the larger the battery. A compact EV may possess a 40-kWh battery, whereas a larger SUV may possess a 90-kWh unit.

Charging Rate

Knowing a car’s charging rate is key to understanding how long it takes to power up a Tesla. This rate is measured in Kilowatts (kW), and there are three levels:

• Level 1 is the lowest and is essentially what one would get from a common 120-volt electrical outlet. This level is typically around 1.9 kW, and, in general, this level of charging will provide up to three miles of range per hour of charging. A full charge takes 20 to 36 hours. Level 1 is convenient and easy as you simply plug it into any wall outlet. This works well for cars that might not get used every day or are only driven very short distances.

• Level 2 is the middle charging level, which maxes out at around 20 kW and is powered by 240 volts. These types of chargers are becoming increasingly common in consumers’ homes, although because of the increase in voltage, they require planning and coordination with local utilities companies. A Level 2 charger returns, on average, 44 miles of range per hour of charging, and fully recharge a Tesla’s battery in eight to 12 hours. This makes it great for at-home charging, as well as the ability to plug in and recover some energy while out and about running errands. Meaning, one could recuperate the range traveled to the grocery store (and then some) in the amount of time it takes to buy said groceries.

• Level 3 is what’s commonly known as DC Fast Charging. The voltage can reach as much as 480 volts and charge a Tesla’s battery in as little as half an hour; it takes just 15 minutes to gain 200 miles of range. This type of charger isn’t found in private residences because the power draw and equipment needed is quite substantial, but it’s becoming increasingly more common at public charging stations. In fact, Tesla was the first to offer Level 3 charging with its Supercharging stations. One of the drawbacks of DC fast charging is it doesn’t bode well for battery life; quick charging tends to wear out the batteries more quickly.

The Math Behind Charging Time

It’s pretty easy for someone to calculate their EV’s charging time. It involves knowing these variables: Volts x Amperes = Watts. These figures can be found on the charger’s displayed specs. 

For example: a 120-volt basic plug that’s drawing 16 amps works out to 1,920 watts, or 1.9 kW.

Then follow this formula: The amount of charge needed (in kWh), divided by the charger’s rate (in kW), which then leads to the time it takes to get there.

For example, if a Tesla with an 80-kWh battery is at 50 percent, it needs 40 kWh to reach 100 percent. If a Level 2 charger is humming along at 20 kW, it’ll take two hours to get there.

However, charging doesn’t always happen at the same maximum rate. To minimize battery degradation, the car’s onboard charging system may reduce the rate.

Summary

A Tesla, like every other EV on the road, propels itself far differently than an internal combustion engine-equipped car. It takes a bit more education and research to properly own and maintain a Tesla, but with a little know-how about its battery, battery capacity, and charging principles, ownership can be easy to get used to. As technology progresses and charging times decrease while battery capacities increase, Tesla and overall EV ownership will become even easier.

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