If you have a Tesla, you’re probably dying to know about the proper way to charge it and which practices are best for you.
You might even be curious if it is beneficial to charge your Tesla to 100 percent.
Here’s the answer to that question and several additional inquiries. Meanwhile, find out how long Teslas can sit uncharged.
Is Charging Teslas to 100% a Good or Bad Idea?
Charging Teslas to 100% is typically only recommended if you have a precise trip in mind and need the extra range. Charging them to 100% can actually wear the battery down faster than usual, which is why the manufacturers set them to charge to 90%.
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How Often Should You Charge Your Tesla to 100%?
Some models recommend charging the Tesla to 100% percent at least one time each week.
Certain models recommend this via the manual, so Tesla considers it a worthwhile practice. However, you should avoid doing that more than the manual recommends you do it.
Another rule-of-thumb practice is to charge your Telsa about three or four times a week and to never run it down more than 20 percent.
That’s how you will extend the battery life while still giving yourself plenty of range to go where you need to go.
One more tip is to keep your car plugged in when you’re not using it. You may have heard the opposite, but that is an excellent way to ensure that you always have great range whenever you’re ready to go on a trip.
You can see here what the absolute maximum range is for each Tesla when charged 100%.
Can Teslas Be Affected Negatively From Charging to 100%
Yes, charging your Telsa to 100% can cause a problem if you do it more than the manual recommends. It will reduce the battery’s longevity and give you less valuable time with it.
It’s more productive and better for the battery to charge it only to its default energy level of 90%.
You should only go up to 100% if you absolutely need the range for your trip and you don’t intend to stop along the way. Whatever the case may be, you’d need sufficient battery power especially if you’d be leaving your Tesla at an airport.
What Happens if You Charge Your Tesla to 100% Daily?
Many things can happen if you charge your Telsa to 100% daily when it isn’t necessary to do it.
For one, you can cause a depletion in your peak charging rate. Secondly, you can deplete its longevity in general.
When charging your Tesla to 100% every time you will eventually lower the total range of your car. That said, a Tesla will inevitably lose torque and speed over time.
It’s a wise practice to maintain as much battery life as you can because of the cost of a replacement. Therefore, don’t charge the battery to 100% every day. You can do it once a week if the manual recommends it, though.
Is It Better To Charge up to 80-90% Instead of 100%?
Yes, the manufacturer and experts recommend charging the Tesla to 70-90% for maximum benefit and the best life preservation.
They also recommend that you don’t run the battery down to zero.
We have a full guide here on the right percentage to charge your Tesla.
You should always monitor your battery life and think about heading to a location for a charge once you get down to 30 percent or below. Many Tesla models are programmed not to charge any more than 90% as the standard.
Of course, you can change the limit, but this setting works well for the battery’s health.
Does It Really Matter How Much You Charge Your Tesla?
It matters how much youcharge your Teslabecause the battery is designed to go through a limited number of cycles.
Therefore, unnecessarily charging it will cause it to have a shorter life than you might want.
For example, the Model 3’s battery will supposedly last for 1,500 charge cycles. That means you can go from 0 to 100% 1,500 times.
Thus, if you drained your battery entirely and recharged it to total capacity daily, it would last for four years. However, that number will change if you do anything to reduce the battery’s strength before then.
You can take certain measures and precautions to ensure that you preserve your battery life as much as possible, however.
Tips To Increase Battery Range
These are a few helpful tips.
#1 Don’t Run Your Battery to 0%
It’s not a good idea to wear your battery all the way down to 0%.
The best practice is to go no further down than 20 or 30 percent. This way, you will never use a full cycle, and you will be gentle on the battery.
#2 Use Regenerative Braking
Regenerative braking is a desirable feature that converts the car’s kinetic energy into stored battery energy.
If you keep moving forward, you can extend your battery’s range using the regenerative braking feature.
To maximize this energy, you’ll want to choose the “Standard” setting in your menu options. This will allow you to store maximum energy on your Tesla when you brake. This is how Teslas charge themselves when they drive.
#3 Use Heat and AC Features Minimally
Another way you can extend your battery life is by only using the heat and air conditioning when you absolutely need to. Instead of using these features, you can roll down the windows or wear more layers of clothing.
Every little bit of feature of use regulation will extend the life of your battery more.
You can read more here about how AC and heating work in electric cars.
#4 Keep Your Tesla Plugged In
It’s okay to keep your Tesla plugged in when you aren’t using it. In fact, some people encourage it, as it helps the battery retain some of its heat, which is good for its health.
It’s already programmed not to overcharge. Thus, you don’t have to worry about that.
#5 Stay Away From Extreme Temperatures
Try to keep your car away from extreme temperatures if you can.
For example, extreme cold can do a massive amount of damage to your battery.
Therefore, it would be wise for you to put your vehicle in a garage when you aren’t using it to avoid freezing the battery. Read more here about Teslas overheating.
#6 Baby Your Car When You Drive
Be gentle with your car when you drive, and you will indirectly be gentle on the battery.
There’s no need to use aggressive habits like punching the accelerator or slamming the brakes. The best practice is keeping everything at an even keel, so your battery drains and wears as intended.
#7 Use a Good, High-Quality Charger
Ensure that you always use the right charger for the job.
Ensure that the voltage is correct for the model you use and you use a high-quality charger. Tesla Motors manufactures and sells all the chargers you will need.
Thus, it’s smarter for you to invest in one designed by the OEM manufacturer than to try to save money on an aftermarket product.
#8 Watch Your Range
Always keep an eye on yourrangeto avoid going lower than the recommended battery life.
You can use the energy app on your Tesla’s dash to keep in touch with how much battery life you use.
#9 Stay out of the Sunlight
Just as you should stay out of the extreme cold, you should also avoid direct sunlight.
The sunlight can damage the cells in the battery if you leave it exposed. Teslas uses lithium-ion batteries that are highly susceptible to having chemical reactions in the sunlight.
These accelerated reactions can degrade the battery at a high pace, leaving you with the expensive problem of a necessary battery replacement.
A battery replacement for a Tesla is roughly $15,000.
That said, many of them have batteries that can last for 500,000 miles.
Always try to find a shady section to park your car while at home or work. Alternatively, you could use the garage when you’re at home and work as well.
There are more ways to preserve your battery’s life, but try these first and see how well they work for you.
Can You Check the Health Status of the Batteries?
You can check the status of yourTesla batterythanks to the modern technology provided in the apps. To do this, you’ll need to visit the Tesla app and then select “Vehicle” and “Battery Health.”
That will give you a comprehensive look at your battery and answer most of the questions you want to ask about it.
You’ll see your current charge, range, estimated charge time, etc.
You can check the “History” tab if you want to know how well your battery does over an extended period of time.
Keep an eye on that so that you’ll know if you’re caring for your Tesla the right way.
You now know some good arguments for why you should and shouldn’t charge your Tesla to 100 percent.
Do what you feel is the most effective for your Tesla, and try to keep the battery life high so you can roll with your Tesla for a long time.
