Charging Instructions
Which Charger for Tesla Model 3/Y and How Fast Will It Charge?
Home Charging (AC)
What Do We Need to Know?
When choosing a charger for an electric vehicle or a Plug-In hybrid, we consider two factors:
- Power Source: For example, a standard power socket or a high-power socket.
- On-Board Charger: Built into the car, it allows us to transfer energy from the power source to our battery. We need to know how much maximum power the charger can handle and how many phases it uses.
Tesla Model 3/Y has a maximum charging power of 11kW.
Model:
- Maximum Charging Power Based on Vehicle Capabilities
| Model | Maximum power | Maximum Power Per Phase |
| Tesla 3 | 11kW | L1 - 32A L2 - 16A L3 - 16A |
| Tesla Y | 11kW | L1 - 32A L2 - 16A L3 - 16A |
Example 1:
- Power Source: We have access to a 400V high-power socket (CEE16A5P or CEE32A5P)
- Car: Tesla 3 Long Range
The Tesla 3 Long Range has an on-board charger capable of transferring 11kW across 3 phases and has a total battery capacity of 75kWh.
Formula to Determine the Maximum Power of the Charger:
- Voltage x Current (Amps) x Number of Phases
230V x 16A x 3 = 11,040 W = 11.04kW ≈ 11kW
Formula for Charging Time:
- Time = Capacity to Be Filled / Charging Power
Time = 75 kWh / 11 kW = 6 hours 48 minutes
Answer: In this case, the best charger for the Tesla 3 Long Range is an 11kW charger, which will charge the car in under 7 hours.
Recommended Charger: Q11, available with a high-power plug or a standard socket - click here.
Example 2:
- Power Source: We have access to a standard power socket (230V)
- Car: Tesla 3 Long Range
Our power source can deliver a maximum of 230V 16A from one phase, meaning we can't utilize the maximum power of the on-board charger in the Tesla 3 Long Range.
230V x 16A x 1 = 3,680 W ≈ 3.7 kWh
75kWh / 3.7kWh = ≈ 20 hours
Answer: In this case, we can charge the Tesla at a maximum speed of about 3.7kWh, which will take around 20 hours.
Recommended Charger: Q37 - click here.
Example 3:
- Power Source: We have access to a socket with high power of 32A, but it's single-phase. For example, we have a photovoltaic system with a single-phase inverter or a camping socket.
- Car: Tesla 3 Long Range
Tesla allows charging at 32A, but only from one phase (L1).
230V x 32A x 1 = 7,360 W ≈ 7.4kW
75kWh / 7.4kWh = 10 hours
Answer: In this case, we can charge the Tesla at a maximum speed of 7.4kW, which will take about 10 hours.
Recommended Charger: Q74 - click here.
Fast Charging at DC Charging Stations
At this level of power, additional conditions become important, including:
- Ambient Temperature and Battery Preparation for Charging: Your car will automatically prepare the battery optimally for the charging process. To ensure this happens, make sure your car's navigation indicates the charging station as a waypoint or destination.
- Charging Curve: It’s normal for the first and last 10% to deviate significantly from the maximum capabilities of both the charging station and your Tesla. It's not uncommon for the last 10% of the charging process to be around 50 kW or less. Your car controls the safe and healthy charging intensity for your battery.
For this reason, the suggested (and fastest) charging range is from 10% to 90%.
How to Properly Connect the Charger?
Opening the Charging Port
The charging port is located on the left side of the Model 3/Y vehicle under a flap that is part of the rear light assembly (see photo). Park the Tesla to ensure the charging cable can easily and safely reach the charging port.
You can also open the flap using any of the following methods:
- On the touchscreen, tap Controls, then tap the charging port icon (lightning bolt icon).
- On the touchscreen, go to Controls > Charging > Open Charge Port.
- Press the charge port flap or its lower part when the Model 3 is unlocked or an authenticated phone is nearby.
Connecting
Align the charger with the port and insert it into the port precisely. Once the charger is correctly connected, charging will begin automatically when the Model 3/Y:
- Engages the latch holding the charger;
- Engages park mode (if another mode was on);
- Cools or heats the battery as needed. If the battery requires cooling or heating, charging may start with a noticeable delay.
