What is this I hear about Tesla frowning on me when supercharging my Teslas all the Time? Why did they build the supercharger network if it is bad for my car to always charge with them?
Supercharging your Tesla every time will be bad for your battery and car at the same time. Tesla designed its batteries to charge at slower rates, which is optimal. Tesla also built its supercharger network to help Tesla owners charge on long road trips. You should rather use alternative charging methods to always charge your Tesla.
I know you still have some questions. I went into some detail below; check it out.
Why You Shouldn’t Supercharge Your Tesla All the Time
It sounds great to charge your Tesla in fifteen minutes and keep going with your busy life, but is this the best thing for your vehicle? Turns out it actually isn’t. Here’s why.
As your Tesla battery charges, it produces heat inside the battery. If you supercharge your Tesla frequently, the constant high heat will damage the battery cells. In the long run, this will cause the battery not to charge as quickly as it usually did.
That said, the damage of constant supercharging is so small that many owners won’t even notice it unless they’re really trying to max out their miles. The most noticeable effect will be that the peak charging rate of your battery will decrease slightly.
As you can see from the YouTube video below, the Ride Haling Company Tesloop has charged their Tesla Model S to 100% every time using a supercharger. This ultimately cost them, as they had to replace the battery pack after 192,000 miles. This is still impressive!
All About Supercharging
When it comes to Tesla, supercharging consists of charging your Tesla battery with a Supercharger. They are Tesla-owned and are high-capacity chargers that are capable of adding up to 200 miles of charge in only 15 minutes.
Superchargers have a current of 480 volts. Most home outlets have only 120-volt outlets, and even if you purchase a Wall Connector, it won’t go over 240 volts, which is only half of what a Supercharger can reach.
Naturally, you can’t just install a Supercharger in your garage. Superchargers require a complex infrastructure with high-current cables, which is why it’s only available in specific destinations.
There are 30,000 Superchargers distributed around the world. They are usually located strategically so that you can drive from one Supercharger station to the next in a single charge.
There Is More Than One Way To Charge a Tesla
Other than supercharging, Tesla offers several ways to charge your vehicle.
Home Charging
The wall connector is the fastest, most cost-efficient charging option for when you’re at home.
You simply have to plug in the car when you get home and charge until you leave the following day. Fully charging your Tesla can happen within thirty hours, which is a fast enough range for those who regularly commute and need to have the vehicle ready each day. But fully charging your Tesla is mostly unnecessary.
If you’d like to read more on this topic, check out Why Can’t I Charge My Tesla to 100%? In this article, I give you the most obvious reasons with added solutions.
If you don’t drive long distances daily and don’t want to rework the wiring of an outlet, your Tesla can charge at an ordinary three-prong outlet. This is often called trickle-charging, and it’s the slowest method of all—merely 3 miles of charge per hour.
As an added bonus to this article, I’ve created this easy-to-use charging calculator. Simply input your model, charging wattage, and charging percentage, and you will get the estimated time it will take to charge a Tesla in terms of hours. You can play around with numbers a bit just to see how charging time changes:
Destination Charging
Destination charging is a courtesy that many hotels and resorts offer. They will have wall chargers available for you to access while on vacation or traveling for business. You can use the ChargePoint app to locate the charging station closest to you in both rural and urban locations.
This YouTube video shows how to charge your Tesla at a Destination Charger:
Just make sure the connector is labeled J1772 or 240 volts. If you keep a mobile connector in your trunk, you should be able to connect to third-party charging with no issue.
Different Charging Methods Compared
If you need to charge a Tesla quickly, find a supercharger. However, if you want to take the best possible care of your battery, you may want to have other options at hand. Ideally, you should only rely on supercharging when you need to get back on the road quickly.
Trickle charging is slow and steady, but it makes a Tesla battery last longer.
| Charging Type | Volts | How Long | Driving Time on Full Charge |
| Regular three-prong outlet | 120 volts | Four days for a full charge | Approximately 375 miles or 604 km |
| Wall connector | 240 volts | 6 to 9 hours | Approximately 375 miles or 604 km |
| Destination Charging | 200 volts or more depending on the charger type | 1-12 hours | Approximately 375 miles or 604 km |
| Third-party Charging | 120 or 240 volts (with the Tesla mobile connector) | Up to 10 hours | Approximately 375 miles or 604 km |
| Supercharger | 480 volts | 15 minutes | Approximately 200 miles or 322 km |
The Best Home Charger for Your Tesla
Installing a wall charger at home is simply the best way to charge your Tesla. To start, a wall charger fills your battery almost fifteen times faster than connecting to an ordinary three-prong outlet.
On top of that, most utility providers charge less for electricity at night, when the demand is lower than peak usage times. This will save you money as you charge your Tesla at night so it’s ready to drive the next day.
Tesla Wall Connector
The Tesla home Wall Connector isn’t cheap, but it’s about the best you can get. Because it’s first-party, it’s probably the most reliable charger you’ll find for a Tesla. The wall charger also connects to your wifi, which lets it update automatically.
You will also need to factor in the installation cost of an electrician, which can be anywhere between $750 and $1000.
ChargePoint Home Flex Electric Vehicle Charger
The ChargePoint Home is also smart-enabled. After you download the app, the charger will update automatically.
The ChargePoint Home is more expensive than the first-party option, but it may be a good choice for a home with EVs from different manufacturers.
Pulsar Plus Level 2 Electric Vehicle Smart Charger
The cost is a middle ground between the Tesla Wall Connector and the ChargePoint Flex. If you plan on buying it in the US, you should get a CCS to Tesla adapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Maximize the Tesla Battery Life?
Is It Free To Supercharge My Tesla?
EV Speedy’s Take
Although it is no fun to be restricted to alternative charging methods, it is for the better. If you look at the bigger picture, we are still in the early development of batteries in general.
It will not take long before we can all charge at lightning speeds all the time. We just have to be a bit patient.
Check out these 20 great gift ideas for yourself or a Tesla fanboy.
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