Supercharging a Tesla vehicle is charging the battery at a higher current than the regular charging current. Although some myths surround supercharging an EV, there is no doubt that it allows the EV to regain its lost current after been used quicker than regular charging, but is supercharging bad for it?
Supercharging isn’t bad for Tesla. Tesla owns the highest number of superchargers, about 25,000+. It is safe to say that the company operates the biggest network of superchargers. Superchargers help you to stay on the road for extra hours and reach your destination without being stranded.
Does Supercharging Hurt Tesla Battery?
Supercharging doesn’t hurt the Tesla battery. Tesla utilizes NCA Li-ion type of batteries. Unlike LFP batteries that degrade fast when subjected to heat, NCA Li-ion batteries don’t degrade with high charge and discharge rates.
Tesla even confirms that supercharging doesn’t hurt the battery if it’s charged moderately. However, regular charging is better for the battery in the long run. This supports a study from the Netherlands, in which it revealed most Model S cars lose about 6% of capacity after 50K miles. So, while car owners praise the supercharge abilities, a regular charger still wins based on battery and longevity.
Note that supercharging your Tesla to 100% all the time will result in reduced battery retention capacity. Unless you want to attain maximum range, you should avoid charging o 100%. A charge of up to 90% would suffice, and if you wish to balance charge levels, I recommend draining the battery to zero and charging it back to 100%. This should be done every three months. Balancing charge levels is a way of restoring lost capacity.
Supercharging is bad if you do it all the time. Charging a battery 50% of the time will have just 75% retention capacity after 300 cycles. Compared to a battery charged 30% of the time, the charge retention is 80% after 600 cycles. This implies that its retention decreases over time with more charging sessions.
How Fast do Tesla Superchargers Charge?
Tesla confirms that its supercharger V3 charges a Model 3 of 1000 miles in sixty minutes and 75 miles in around five minutes. Of course, how fast a supercharger charges an EV depends on the kWs. The higher the rating, the shorter the time it will take to refill the battery. A supercharger Version 3 has a 250kW peak charge rate.
If you are charging at home, you will get about an hour’s charge for 30 miles of range. It means that if you charge overnight, you could get a full battery.
How long a charge lasts depends on the distance covered. Typically, Tesla vehicles come with different battery sizes, and this determines the range. A fully charged battery will cover a range of between 230 miles to 360 miles. To get a rough estimate of how long your battery lasts, divide the total range of the vehicle by the number of miles driven each day. For example, if the battery is 300 miles range and you drive about 60 miles every day, the battery will last you for five days before recharging. The good thing is you don’t need to do all that calculations since Tesla displays all that information on the dashboard.
Is it OK to supercharge Tesla all the time?
No, it’s not okay to supercharge Tesla all the time. While Tesla superchargers are meant to keep drivers on the road at all times and reduce the number of times drivers use in charging, they are not ideal for daily needs. They are best used for long-distance travel. Supercharging daily or frequently will only reduce the battery life, as I have mentioned in this article.
The peak charging rate decreases after several charging sessions. This is why you need to charge only when necessary. To maximize driving range and ensure battery safety, avoid allowing the battery to get too cold or hot while charging it. Temperature changes affect a battery’s lifespan, resulting in more charging time. Your battery charges faster when in a low state. As it fills up, it gets slower.
One big benefit of supercharging is that you can go anywhere, provided that there are charging stations available along your route. However, it doesn’t mean you should abuse their availability by charging your car whenever you see a station. It will only result in reduced battery performance.
Remember, charging your battery 100% all the time with a supercharger isn’t recommended. Supercharging is meant to provide enough power that will take you to the next charging point. This is the main reason for manufacturing superchargers. Call them the “power bank” of Tesla EVs.
Typically, Tesla batteries have a warranty of eight years. Like all Lithium-Ion batteries, they degrade over time so that the maximum capacity decreases. However, you don’t need to worry so much because the degradation is slow. It degrades by just 5% after attaining 50k miles of driving. This implies that the battery loses 5% of the initial range, and it occurs subsequently. However, the degradation rate isn’t linear.
How Much Does it Cost to Supercharge a Tesla?
When buying a Tesla vehicle, the first thing that most EV owners ask is, “how much does supercharging a Tesla cost?.” Supercharging a Tesla depends on the state, the electricity rate, and how much energy you are consuming. Commercial energy prices are cheaper than the rates offered by Tesla. Of course, you should expect that considering that Tesla is privately owned.
Charging at a supercharger will cost about $0.25 per Kilowatt if the vehicle is a Model S or Model X. Vehicles purchased before January 2017 are supercharged for free. The cost of charging at home is slightly cheaper than a supercharging station. Although the cost is determined by the commercial cost of electricity. For example, if your vehicle’s battery is 75kW and the electricity rate is $0.135 per kWh, the charging cost will be $10.25.
Charging a vehicle to about 250 miles of range will cost you an estimated $22. So, a half charge would be $11. As I said, costs vary by state, country, and the electricity rate of the jurisdiction.
Is it Cheaper to Charge Tesla at Home or Supercharger?
Charging your Tesla at home is more convenient than charging at a supercharging station. You don’t need to move to get a full charge if you have a charging station installed at home. Cost-wise, is it better to charge at home or a supercharging station?
From the example I gave in the last subheading, the cost of the local electricity rate is about $0.135. Multiply that by the battery capacity of your vehicle to get the fee. At a supercharger, the cost per kW is $0.25. Looking at this, you will realize that charging at home is cheaper than a supercharger.
Owners are billed per kilowatt-hour, although pricing may vary by location, and costs may change from time to time. Tesla also bills per minute for their services. The billing is in two forms – Tier 1 account and Tier 2. Car charging below 60 kW belongs to Tier 1 and is billed at half the cost of Tier 2. Tier 2 cars are vehicles charging above 60 kW.
For your daily needs, it’s recommended that you use regular chargers. That is, those used at home. But if you are always on a road trip, superchargers are ideal. Supercharger stations are strategically located near Wi-Fi hotspots and restaurants.
You’ll need to install the station in your house to charge your Tesla by seeking help from an electrician. The electrician will run a 240V-50A circuit from an electrical service box to the point where you want to install your charging cable. Then he installs a NEMA 14-50 outlet and plugs a Universal Charging Connector into it.
Related Question
1. Can you charge a Tesla with a regular outlet?
Yes, you can charge a Tesla with a regular outlet. The recommended regular outlet for Tesla vehicles is a 240v NEMA 14-50 outlet. This outlet is mostly used for electric stoves. When installed with a 50-amp circuit breaker, the outlet allows a recharge rate of about 37 kph. It is quite slow compared to superchargers. You can also use a 120v outlet with a 120v adapter.
2. How much does a Tesla home charging station cost?
The cost of installing a regular outlet like this ranges between $1700 – $5000.
3. Is there a portable charger for Tesla?
Tesla has a portable charger. In January 2019, Tesla launched a wall connector with 14-50 plug that offers 25% faster charging than other connectors like the Gen 2 Mobile Connector. This is also more portable than other Tesla chargers.
Conclusion
Superchargers are great and can help you on your long trips. However, utilizing them frequently will affect the battery’s lifespan. Plus, it’s slightly more expensive than regular chargers. To maximize the battery’s longevity, you need to cut down on how frequently you use the superchargers and install a home charging outlet. The regular charging outlet is slow but can help the battery stay healthy.