Stop Killing Your Tesla Battery! How to Charge the Right Way

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Tesla charging tips to maximize battery life for Model 3, Model Y, Model S/X
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The worst thing that you can do as a Tesla owner is ignore the most expensive part of your car: the battery. It not only determines the distance you can travel which is arguably the most important feature of any electric car, but the battery also has a huge effect on the actual value of the car so you absolutely want to take care of it. However, the only thing you can really do to care for the battery as an owner is to optimize your charging. After driving my Model 3 for 135,000 miles and counting, it still has 95% of its original battery capacity which is really impressive, and I believe that is mainly due to me researching and practicing good charging habits to maximize battery life and knowing the best tips so I can be a responsible Tesla owner, all of which I’ll share with you in this video. I believe there’s a balance you have to strike when it comes to optimizing battery health while also getting the most convenience out of Tesla ownership.
There are more battery chemistries that Tesla uses in their vehicles now compared to when I got my Model 3 in 2018. The main difference is that the standard range models use a lithium iron phosphate or LFP battery compared to the long range and performance models which use Nickel based or NCA batteries.
Don't overspend on an expensive home charger if you don’t need it. When you first order your car you have two options for charging: The $230 mobile connector which is a 20-foot portable charging cable or the Wall connector that costs twice as much but looks nicer and is best suited for a more permanent installation inside a garage. If you have a large budget and want the fastest home charging in a nice clutter-free design, then go with a Wall connector. It can provide up to 44 miles of estimated range per hour of charge depending on your vehicle and circuit breaker.
In my opinion, the mobile connector is the best charging solution for most people because it’s not only less expensive but it’s more useful because you can take it with you when you need to charge away from home, just throw it in the frunk. The mobile connector allows you to charge your car on a normal outlet which is the slowest, but for many people who are on a tight budget & drive less than 50 miles per day it could honestly be all they need without spending more on charging equipment. A normal outlet can provide 60 miles of range for my Model 3 if charged for 12 hours overnight. However, if you’re like me and drive more than that each day, the mobile connector paired with a $45 adapter on a NEMA 1450 outlet is probably the best bang for buck solution for home charging. Not counting the cost for the actual outlet this is a $275 charging setup that can provide 30 miles of range per hour for my Long Range Model 3 which is fast enough for nearly anybody’s driving habits.
Use low voltage charging as much as possible and only Supercharge when necessary such as on long road trips. Home charging is one of the BEST benefits owning an EV. Not only is it much cheaper than Supercharging but it’s way more convenient and seems to be better for battery life.
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[@aslye]

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[@billybobbob3003]

charge your tesla the right way drive it into ocean!

[@malistema2933]

@@billybobbob3003lol

[@curthoaldridge507]

Electrician here. A huge advantage of the Wall Connector over the mobile connector is that it requires one less conductor than a regular 240V outlet. It has built in GFCI protection etc. that make this possible. Only need two hots and a ground instead of two hots, one neutral and a ground. I would recommend the Wall Connector all day long over the mobile connector.

[@PulsarAsh]

Just want to know what is the disadvantage for having an extra neutral wire?

[@curthoaldridge507]

Cost of Copper isn't cheap. Especially if you're using 4 gauge wire for a 60 amp setup.@@PulsarAsh

[@jeanbonneau6711]

​@@PulsarAshless unused copper

[@cosmin42]

@@curthoaldridge507 You are talking about saving money on cooper and also you mention using #4 Wire witch is rated for 80A ,#6 is rated for for 60A(according to Tesla manual also) , running a #4 will be a waste of money , Tesla wall charger/connector is pulling 48A (60A Breaker is required) . BTW i'm an electrician to ....

[@bradholben5891]

Bro commutes 50 plus miles one way and still finds time to give us great content. We salute you!! I need to up my Tesla content game😂

[@davidharris7816]

Thank you so much for the information provider in your video here. My wife just got a red '23 Model 3 Performance. We'll absolutely be taking your advice for properly charging the car. We've rarely had to use the supercharger unless we're traveling on long trips. She's absolutely in love with the car. Thanks again for the information!

[@user-xq1hw1gq6f]

GREAT INFO.....thanks so much for the education. I've been researching for my first Tesla buy, and your videos are extremely well done and informative

[@firozkabir88]

Find all your best practice videos very helpful. Thank you for making these.

[@RelativelyRichLife]

Thorough, high quantity video packed with clear and concise info. Thx for sharing.. 🙏🏽

[@anfmichael82]

Always love Andy’s videos, super informative, and keep my interest. Not gonna lie, he’s also easy on the eyes. 😊

[@myboyteo9]

Thank you for making this pro informative video. Very helpful.

[@casudhoff]

Coal powered (Northern Kentucky) - 2019 M3P here w/ 114K @ 87% health so far with charging each night with a Tesla L2 wall charger. I have been charging to 90% since delivery however I have adjusted to 80% as the car now recommends. I only supercharge when absolutely necessary when on road trips, etc. Ownership has been fantastic so far and I'm excited to see how long these things last!

[@NaughtyGoatFarm]

This is by far the best charging summary I have seen.

[@pattyterry6432]

Thank you. I really needed this information!! Excellent!!

[@jf1161]

Such a good video explanation.thank you!

[@fredbaker9046]

Great video by the way. Thanks for all the info.

[@jenniferning2945]

Many thanks , very informative !

[@jimparr01Utube]

Lots of good and sane advice Andy. Thank you.

[@jasoncurrington7793]

Thank you for another great video!

[@dancha6170]

Thanks Andy... great vid

[@troyperry1231]

Great advice thanks for sharing this information.

[@marklefler4007]

Note, the newer Mobile Connectors now come with both the 110 V cord, and a 240 V (NEMA 14-50 plug). You can also buy the NEMA 14-50 if you already have the Mobile Connector from a few years ago when they did not come with that.

[@trex2092]

Put a meter on it and then try to tell me you only have 110 volts in the house socket.

[@gdh613]

Thanks--great information--very helpful.

[@robertrigel9806]

Really informative video, Andy - thanks. FYI, my Tesla service center recommends "recalibrating" your Battery Management Unit every month or two months. This is done by charging to 100%, discharging to below 20%, then recharging to 100% again, which is then followed by normal driving and charging levels of 80%. They said doing this recalibrates the BMU controls on the car enabling it to make better estimates. Have you heard this before?

[@srmtn1]

I took delivery of my 2024 MYRWD 2 weeks ago. As I was wrapping up my paperwork I was told that Tesla had just issued recommendation to charge the battery to 100% once per week to ensure the algorithms for battery management retain ability to charge to 100% of the battery capacity. I’ve tried to independently verify this information and have not been able to do so but what you just said synchs mostly with what they told me. But the once a month makes more sense. Regardless, it seems there is something to this.

[@robertrigel9806]

Thanks for this. I find it's interesting the techs have similar recommendations. Perhaps Tesla should include this info in the app or on the Charging screen of the car. For the first two years I had my M3LR, the recommendation was 85% for daily driving. I had only one instance where the BMU went crazy; on a two-hour drive, the remaining charge level began to drop dramatically - like a leak in a gas tank. It freaked me out for a while, so I pulled over, put it in Park and rebooted the computer. When the car restarted, the BMU showed the correct percentage remaining. Now I reboot after every OTA update, just to be on the safe side.@@srmtn1

[@habaloneh]

Got mine 23 M3P a month ago. I’m happy to hear this it reinforces what I do. 12A no more than 80% I hardly drop below 55%. My driving habits (other cars also I own help) makes this trickle charge sufficient for me. I use the car 5-6 days a week as a DD

[@dpete5410]

One problem with charging at too low amperage is that it keeps the battery temp higher for longer because it takes longer to charge. There is a trade-off between amperage and length of charge. I read a white paper earlier this year that suggested that 30-32A provides a good balance, charging the battery at low enough amperage to not overly heat the battery pack while charging, but charging it quickly enough that the battery doesn't remain at elevated temperatures for hours-on-end while charging. I only use about 25% of my '23 MYLR battery pack on my commute, so I typically charge to 62% at 30-32A. When combined with scheduled charging, this keeps my average SoC at

[@mary2al]

The battery has an excellent cooling system 😊

[@MR.BAT33]

Try not to stress to much on your battery guys, tesla makes a durable battery pack... had my myp for 2 years now, never had a problem... that's great that your concious about the battery but don't over whelp yourself... if you want to super charge super charge or if you want to charge slow do that too whatever makes you sleep better... these cars were designed to handle super charging..

[@derick5556]

@@dpete5410 actually, adjusting to lower current generates less heat, which in effect contribute to longer battery life. but then again, Tesla batteries are designed to last long.

[@johnreese3762]

Great info Andy, thanks!

[@_PhoReal0510]

Thank you this is very helpful 🙏🏻 😊

[@Brianj162]

Thanks Andy, love you videos

[@TrendyStone]

The wall connecter is really nice to have AND I got a rebate from my local utility when I purchased it. That way I can keep the mobile connector in the car all the time. I actually have two Tesla's and installed two wall connectors running off the same breaker. They have a power sharing option where the talk to each other via wifi so they never exceed your breaker amperage, which is great.

[@cerrillosstore3913]

I would also add that if you have a high amperage wall connector that you can still charge at a lower rate. B y lowering the rate you push less energy into the pack and it just extends the time. So in Andy's case of needing a 40% charge, he could lower the amperage from 48 AMPS to 20 AMPS and still have a full charge by 7 am. I personally set my car to charge at 18 AMPS because that comes out to 15 miles of range per hour of charging.

[@Teslawalter]

I dial down my Level 2 charger all the way down to 12 AMPS.

[@The_DuMont_Network]

Please! A High CURRENT wall connector. Lower the CURRENT. And ensure the outlet into which you ar plugged (if not directly connected to your breaker panel is a quality brand. No Leviton or anything other than HUBBELL.

[@PurpleSideBlack]

@@The_DuMont_Network to further add to this - Hubbell 14-50 outlet is excellent but ensure it's an Industrial Spec. outlet. There are Residential, Commercial and Industrial. I've an industrial spec Hubbell 14-50 and unplug/plug daily for the past 2.5yrs with no issue.

[@dpete5410]

@@Teslawalter I read a white paper earlier this year that suggested 30-32A at 240V was optimal as it didn't overheat the battery, and charged the battery quickly enough so it didn't need remain warm so long during longer charging sessions required for lower amperage/voltage sessions.

[@Teslawalter]

@@dpete5410 You should post the White paper. There's been a lot of flip flopping.

[@rodneymcknight3767]

Good points Andy and thanks so much for your videos and time. I also feel it helps to decrease your amps to more of a trickle charge type charging. I have a 60 amp breaker (looks like you may also) and so I could charge at 48 amps (Tesla limits it to 80% of max) and get faster charging but I usually turn my amps down to 25-30 to sort of trickle charge..some people go lower and there is evidence that this helps battery health too. Thanks for all your research nd sharing

[@The_DuMont_Network]

To eschew obfuscation, you decrease the "CURRENT", not "decrease your amps", or "turn my amps down". And yes, a lower charge rate will decrease the temperature rise, with a concurrent salubrious effect on the battery.

[@rodneymcknight3767]

@@The_DuMont_Network Yes, but you decrease the current by decreasing the amps (the rate of the current flowing) in your app or on your screen under charging. There is no adjustment in the app or on the screen where you "decrease the current". This was a discussion on practical things to do to keep your battery healthy. Charge to 80 %, charge in cool weather, turn the amps down on the same screen the charge limit is adjusted. Keeping it simple. Most Tesla owners know this, some new to EVs don't.

[@MutucgenerationZ]

great information. Thank you!

[@billiexluxury]

Wonderful informative video thank you! I just got the Y so trying to learn all about it 😊

[@da_SpiffR]

Thanks for the great tips...

[@gbinman]

I have done nicely with the mobile connector on a 110v circuit with my 22 M3LR, and for grins, I schedule charging to 80% only between 3pm and 8am as my utility suggests to be kind to the grid. Even if I plug in weekly all is fine. I do have the advantage of being retired and most driving is local trips. Even for road trips, I don't charge to 100%. For road trips, it is optimum to keep the battery as low as possible for efficient charging. Before and after delivery, so many insist having a 220v optimum is mandatory. I didn't think so then or now. Understanding one's use case is essential. Contrary to common belief, it has nominal impact on my electrical bill which last month was 2813 kWh of which 88 kWh was my Tesla for 3%. Friends think the neighborhood lights dim when I plug in. :)

[@walkerdarin2003]

Right there with you. I haven’t had a moment where the 120 adapter doesn’t support my needs. I’ll eventually get a NEMA 14-50 but I’ve been dragging my feet.

[@michaelsmithers4900]

110v is definitely doable for most ppl but you have to plug in every day…

[@gbinman]

again, it depends on use. I seldom drive more than 90 miles per week. I know that's low, just one the benefits of being retired. So long as I plug in about once a week, I usually have over 200 miles of range. When I had my Dodge Ram, it was gassed once a month for at least 5x what I pay for juice.

[@ralanham76]

I have a 240v connection but I'm using the split volt box so it only charges when I'm not drying clothes. 😉 Also I have the charge the rate set really low 15 or 16 amps.

[@brysonfry9612]

It’s definitely much safer long term to install a hardwired EV charger versus using a mobile charger with a 120v or 240v plug. Much higher fire risk with utilizing the plug connection versus a hardwired connection, I believe this is well documented with other prominent KZbinrs.

[@Thunder7ga]

My 2018 Model 3 doesn't have as many miles (~80k), but I am at 95% of original battery capacity still. For the first 2 years, it was a high daily mileage driver (140 miles a day), but since 2020, it barely goes 200 miles a month. So I've been keeping it at about 55-60% SoC most of the time as my charge limits.

[@orbetobe]

Same here. Keep it around 40-60% and it will last forever. ..

[@stevemartin8994]

Great information for Tesla owners that are looking to maximize the range and health of their battery.

[@georgepelton5645]

The chart shown at 6:17 shows test results for battery *storage life* at different SOC levels and temperatures. It has absolutely nothing to do with battery charging (or discharging) rates.

[@jonnybonny4193]

I can confirm that charge speed doesn't affect battery capacity with a model S p90d with 130,000 miles of free supercharging. Keeping soc between 20-80% is key

[@GapRecordingsNamibia]

You are correct, Charging Lithium chemistries slower is a battery saver, Pushing the max amount of amps into the cells causes cathode swelling, this causes battery degradation. I've found this on stationary batteries which are the same concept....... LFP also does not like being charged to 100%, but if you compute the voltage needed to keep the cells in the flater part of the charge curve your LFP will last very very long.... With increased SOC's and High temps are a dendrite accelerator which is most certainly battery cell killers, sometimes even detonators....

[@Cybernatural]

So happy I got my Model Y right with the last mobile connectors as standard.

[@jckelley10]

Great info! We've been following the guidelines you cover and it's nice to have an example of how that will effect battery life.

[@deasunodonnachadha6408]

USed the Mobile charger on my Niro for the past 3 years. No issues. 95% of the time.

[@somecallmetimelderberries432]

Great advice, thanks!

[@StBernardFan]

My 2018 MX 100D has 77k miles and still shows 97% of original battery capacity (according to Tessie app). I do charge to 100% on road trips but only at the beginning of the trip. Otherwise I mainly charge at a level 2 charger at work and occasionally at home. I charge to 80% sometimes and 90% other times but mostly 80%.

[@HashP100D]

charging at work is a sweet life hack

[@DouglasJMark]

Happy wife AND happy Tesla battery = extra happy life 🤣 Thanks Andy. Lotsa love to all ❤❤❤

[@georgebrazeal6305]

Andy I have the same Tesla model 3/year as you and I have always tried to follow your charging/battery recommendations. I hope to reach 200K also!

[@helpm3h]

This is true, i even limit charge my phone until 85% for longevity of battery

[@ck17va]

I've leased a Model 3 RWD since March 2023, and put about 7,000 miles on it so far (December 2023 currently). My battery has lost 2.93% capacity since then. It started at 273 miles but now it caps at 265 miles. I've charged 90% of all charging on a small wall charger outlet because I'm a renter and they don't have the bigger/more powerful wall outlet.

[@CleverBryan1]

That seems high for such a short time

[@punkfingerboards6283]

SHHHH. The EVangalists here don't like the truth.

[@snakedog77]

Excellent Video. Thanks

[@georgesackinger2002]

Good advice Andy.

[@Roll_the_Bones]

Absolutely right, I've always followed that regimen with my early 2022 M3LR anyway, as it makes logical sense, and it's never gone over 90%, mostly 40-75% unless there's a specific requirement. Tbh, I don't think 100% charging is a great idea with LFPs either, and if I had one, I certainly would not be charging it more than 80-90% on a daily basis, whatever is said.

[@The_DuMont_Network]

Charging to 100% may be needed, but in rare cases. Remember, if you do that, you will have NO or greatly reduced regenerative braking until you draw down the charge so you have some rooom for the energy to be stored.

[@waynerussell6401]

@@The_DuMont_NetworkNot in cars like Tesla with a top buffer.

[@ejvyas]

Absolutely right. I plan to do this when my life is as perfect as I want my car battery to be. Till then...

[@alexius23]

Very informative

[@gavinlo4785]

Thanks for this video Andy. Since picking up my 20223 M3LR in April 2023 I have 2 weekly charging methods. 1. top up 40% (3hr@11kw) 2 sometimes 3 times a week (when down to 20% SOC . or 2. a 4-6 long charge taking me to 90% and setting me up for the forth coming week with SOC 10-15%. Which results in fewer charging cycles but a larger/longer top up. When I picked up the M3LR (78kwhr batt w/ 602km range) it showed 90% charge threshold for daily driving. Are you aware of any tests that have accommodated the SOC 10-90% for NMC battery tech and how it compares to your findings. Thanks heaps.

[@petersmith8765]

I agree...slow charge is much more gentle on batteries... I am sure batteries will last much longer..and use middle range of charge not to high not to low.

[@MarkPekala]

Hi Andy. Another great video. Don't know if you read these comments, but can you do a video primer on kWh/mi, Wh/mi, "reference consumption," and all the EV statistics that we need ro know? Thank you.

[@Kjetika]

Hey. Thanks for the info! Question: Charging over 80% (let’s say 95%) VS Supercharging 10-20% @ the halfway point so that the car arrives @ home with over 20%?? Which one saves the battery more? Thanks😊

[@CodyOsborne]

Andy I would recommend that owners choose a HARD WIRED set up like I have with my Bolt. An outlet, especially a poor quality outlet is adds another variable that can go wrong with charging. I’ve seen many outlets melted due to poor outlets or under torqued lugs holding the leads down. For owners that install an outlet, the least you could do is double check the outlet occasionally (yearly) to make sure they are still torqued. Simply feeling it for heat can give you an early warning if there is a potential issue.

[@ghost307]

I have always been confused about people who will spend thousands on a car, but cheap out at the outlet that costs less than $100. Hard wiring is preferred, but if you insist on plugging in, I strongly suggest looking for a receptacle that is "Hospital Grade". The retention strength of the metal inside the receptacle slots is much higher than the cheap ones.

[@hvachacker586]

Use the industrial duty Hubell one not DIY junk. One cost a lot more and has much better contacts and tension on blades of plug.

[@allanmurphy7474]

Great info, I put an extension from my dryer circuit, it is just 30 amps. I installed a 14 30 outlet with a plug in charging cable and it charges at 5.7 kW. It will charge the 78kWh battery overnight

[@mikeberth8499]

Very helpful video😉✌️

[@Nido17]

Its also important to charge at a lower amp. For my 2023 rwd standard, i charge at 25a

[@gregbaldock4822]

I am not up with all the technical details , but when i bought my Y ; 12 months ago I was going to install 3 phase and actually put the cable in the ground. After buying a Zappi charger (English) I was told I would be just as well off with single phase. Well I have had at least six months free charge on echo plus from sola. I have one advantage I am retired so I can leave my car charger on in inclement conditions and stiil get some charge, but we do have an advantage being in Western Australia.I have recorded a start date 1-09-2023 and intend to get 7 to 8 mnths of free charge at least.

[@halllwd94]

Great video. All of what you said makes sense. I've been telling people the easiest way to protect your battery is to charge with a 120V outlet for a while now. Keep your battery above 30% (why PHEV's don't let you "EV only" below 30%) and below 80% excluding road trips. Let's be real. Most drivers are home >12hrs per day. That means 24 - 36 miles a day. If you're only home 12 hours a day using a 120V outlet. Most people are home longer than that. Most people drive about the American average of 37mi/day. That means you'd need to use a level 2 charger roughly 1 - 3 times per year. But no one wants to talk about the feasibility of 120V charging. It's not cool. It's not expensive. And it's something everyone can do as long as they aren't in an apartment that has no outside plugs. Then, Plugshare has tons of free level 2 charging you can easily charge your weekly drive in 3-4 hours once a week.

[@147427]

I have a 2020 M3 and mainly charge with a level 1 charger, been able to manage that for 4 years

[@chozenson]

Informative video

[@ericv.3647]

I have had my 2018 Model 3 for 5 years and mostly charge at home with a Tesla Wall Connector to 80%. I only use Superchargers when I am travelling. After 75,000 miles I still have 300 miles range when charged to 100%, so that's less than a 4% drop from the 311 mile range when new.

[@cerrillosstore3913]

Same here. I also found that lowering the amperage in my wall connector to 15 AMPS to 25 AMPS and allowing a longer charge time was easier on the pack.

[@pete8516]

Great channel, learned so much…new Model Y owner

[@CookandBakewithSamer]

Thank you Andy for these tips to help with battery longevity. Good to know about the adapter if needed as well. (The one you used before the new house). Appreciate it.

[@_Paul.]

Great info thanks for all the tips. How can I apply that to my Honda

[@georgepelton5645]

I agree that 120 V charging can be sufficient for people who average less than 30-40 miles/day. Record your total milage for a week or two to see what your daily average is. If going that route, I highly recommend replacing the $0.64 "builders spec" outlet with a $1.89 "commercial grade" or "industrial grade" outlet. These outlets can handle the continuous high current needed for EV charging with less chance of burning or melting.

[@The_DuMont_Network]

If the outlet ain't HUBBELL, it AIN'T. Get them from Grainger. Pay them now or pay MORE later.

[@williamgrunzweig571]

​@@The_DuMont_Network 👍

[@babyyoda8195]

I've also been using the Leviton oven outlet for the last 5 years without issues

[@dusman3520]

Using mobile connector, successfully on a nema 14-30 and sometimes on a regular outlet when traveling.

[@GabeB5517]

I got both the mobile charger and the wall charger. With the blue faceplate. I went all out. I had my house builder install 2 14-50 outlets in my garage. So I didn’t have to pay after the house was built. Best 1200$ spent.

[@gyoung4597]

I charge my 2021 M3SR+ using 110v outlet which is good enough for my daily commute. Given the slow charge speed, do you suggest charging to 100% when I go on long trips and need the range about once/mth, or is it better to just max at 90% or 95% and use supercharging more? Thxs!

[@donaldstinnett5630]

Tesla now recommends NOT charging every day, and NOT keeping your battery pack at a high SoC. I recently had service done on my 2018 M3 and I was proudly telling the tech that I charged daily and was careful with the battery, and he told me this. He said the best practice is to charge to 80 or 85, then pull it down to 30 or below (percentages, of course) before charging. This utilizes the lower part of the pack which otherwise would always be charged and thus could affect the health of the cells. So I charge to 85 and drive to 25 or 20. I have done this from the beginning for my 2023 M3 and I hope the battery degradation will be minimal over the years. My 2018 has over 105,000 miles and it has lost 10-12% of range.

[@Roll_the_Bones]

That's about as good as I would have expected under the best possible circumstances. And the rate of loss will still be slowing down all the time. I do the same, and can only hope it will be as good as yours.

[@raychow5419]

Yep. I do the same. I use to always plug in but saw a lost of range due to the misbalance of the BMS. Since, I have gained back 11 miles of range.

[@S2kDude36]

You should understand there is no "lower part of the pack that doesn't get utilized" in your battery, it's not like a liquid filled tank, it's a battery with a state of charge measured in volts, not actually tank full of electrons. The charge is stored throughout the battery cell in layers upon layers of graphite and polyolefin. Not to mention, if you are taking the estimated range and dividing by the estimated SOC, that's very much only an estimate of battery degradation. The only accurate way to measure degredation is to have known the initial capacity of the pack in YOUR car (they are all slightly different) then fully charge and measure the capacity used on a full discharge. I designed li-ion batteries for the last 20 years, this is the only accurate way, not by using any type of electronic fuel gauge.

[@waynerussell6401]

@@S2kDude36And as Nyland advises, drive the car until it stops moving to determine how much of the buffer has disappeared as the manufacturer tries to 'hide' the degradation.

[@Jeddin]

Yeah… that’s not how any of that works. Lithion ions exist in a chemical solution, and at 50% SOC they are at equilibrium and relatively equidistant from both anode and cathode reducing chemical reactions at the electrodes. A battery is happiest at 50% charge and you want to maintain the band so that it is the most narrow around 50% what you were doing is increasing what’s called depth of discharge which is related to increased battery degradation.

[@timking2822]

Thanks.

[@hugofaria7611]

Hello, I have a Model 3 Long Range, and I usually charge the car at the beginning of the week at 80%, and I spend about 6% per day. I get to the end of the week with about 50%, do you think I should wait until I reach 50% to charge or should I charge every day to the 80% limit? Thanks for the great video.

[@DougD888]

Andy, Useful video. Thanks. You do miss an important point - Low amperage charging is less efficient. In other words, when you charge your car using a 120V 15amp outlet about 78% of the electricity ends up in the battery as useful charge. Using 240V 40amp outlet about 82% ends up in the battery. This information is from Teslafi regarding my 2021 LRY with 40K miles at this time. I admit it is a small difference, but it can add up.

[@mcoschiedam]

Great! ThankU!!

[@002mjr]

Great video!

[@joecoolioness6399]

Here in Michigan, in winter, take the estimated miles to empty and halve it.

[@jessicatison6741]

Hi Andy - so informative, thank you! I only go about 25 miles/day to/from work, maybe 35 if errands. I am aware one should keep a narrow charging range and regular charging schedule. Please confirm you think I should re-charge this low usage daily (over night) to keep a "regular" schedule, or if I should let it go a little more than 35 miles usage before recharging. I did see where one should keep the car plugged in when not in use, but I see that you can set to "no charging" during that time. Thank you.

[@georginadinabensen8687]

Great video. Question: where and how do I find out if my battery has degregation? Would love to know how to get that information. I'm 84 and have been driving my Tesla X seven years and feel I don't have the battery capacity I originally had....but I love to drive it!!!

[@AW66888]

I've seen data and research that supports the idea, supercharging regularly (or even exclusively) vs. home charging is not a huge difference in terms of the longevity of the battery. So there are different studies with different datas showing opposite things?

[@douglangemeier2407]

Thanks for your videos. Appreciate all your advice. Does preconditioning your battery before departure help with battery health or efficiency? Thanks

[@MrRaitzi]

It should help in cold temps to have battery temp higher from start. Then losses from driving should do the most after that. Same for preheating the whole car. I understand preconditioning is for charging mostly right.

[@mary2al]

@@MrRaitzi I precondition the batt so I have regen going down my 2 mile hill and then regular driving.

[@bardanation419]

Hey Andy! I’m also in the Louisville area. I’m looking at purchasing a used model 3 Spring 2024. Any recommendations when talking to a dealership about finding out about battery health? I hear you can find that info in the service menu but technically you aren’t supposed to go into that menu unless you are a technician?

[@DScottMoore]

Appreciate this video. According to what I learned from this video, there is a balance that must be achieve between one's enthusiasm for EVs and the day-to-day concerns required for optimal use. There are certain basic requirements that must be met for most of us before we take the EV plunge. Of course, as you described here, battery technology must improve before widespread adoption is feasible. Cheers to present-day owners willing to help test this technology.

[@sarahmaller8765]

Thanks for the super hot tip! I am moving to LA to my grandpas dated, empty rental he's kept for my mom (only child) and my siblings. I'll likely pay just utilities and I don't want to push him to let me install anything permanent. I will definitely try the mobile connector at home!

[@The_DuMont_Network]

Sarah, if you are driving 70 milrd or less a day (commuting), you will be fine with a standard wall outlet. BUT ( MAJOR BUT ). Make sure the outlet into which you plug is not worn. If it doesn't take a little effort to plug in, get the outlet replaced with a commercial grade (like HUBBELL, not leviton, or any Ah So brand). Make sure the conenction is tight, and make sure the plug/outlet doesn't feel warm after a charge session. If you can afford a higher current outlet and get the appropriate plug for your charging adapter (from Tesla),by all means do so. Even a 220V 20Amp Air Conditioner outlet will make your setup more efficient. And say Hello to Grandpa for me. I sure miss mine. And I'm a 76 year old grandpa.

[@sarahmaller8765]

@@The_DuMont_Network I have notifications on haha! Quick reply. I was already prepared to have to live on supercharging so I guess I will use the mobile connection as much as I can and SC as needed. All depends what job I end up with. Looking within 25 mile radius but in LA that could be a 1 hour 25 commute. I have the luxury of young grandparents (75-75) because they had my mom in college. Very sharp and good health

[@vincentrobinette1507]

Can you adjust the current draw for your level 1 charge rate? The last EV I rented gave me two options: 8 Amps,(960 watts) or 12 amps.(1,440 watts@120 volts). When I used level 2, the NEMA 14-50 plug, it pulled 30 amps,(7200 watts@240 volts) with no option to adjust. If it were possible, I would have chosen 12.5 amps, for an even 1,500 watts@120 volts. For maximum efficiency, I would measure the outlet voltage, and set the current so it doesn't cause any more than 3 volts of drop compared to unloaded voltage. The farther the outlet is away from the load center, the more voltage drop per amp of draw, just due to the extra length of wire from the breaker box to the outlet. Use an extension cord ONLY as a "last resort"!! An extension cord can greatly reduce your MPGe from "plug to pavement". What kind of extension cord, or even which outlet you choose to plug into can make a similar difference to your mileage per kWh, as adjusting tire inflation pressure. My cars built-in charger drew the same amperage, no matter what the supply voltage was. That amperage multiplied by voltage at the connector, is the ACTUAL wattage being supplied to the cars charging system. The more voltage drop, the lower the wattage, the longer it takes the charge, the more wattage drawn through the electric meter!

[@brainmasterist]

Great information, thanks for sharing. Does this mean it is OK for the battery to leave the car unplug as long as the HV battery stays within 50% to 80% SoC? I found myself leaving my car at the airport for a week unplugged. Thanks!

[@tdtesla]

Thanks Andy - as usual, really interesting. I wish there was a Mr Electric here in Spain - there is a dearth of specialists for EV charging. Do you know if the Tesla will change the amount of amps required by itself, or is that governed by the electricity company? I have a Tesla charger in my parking spot in the community garage & on the app, it varies between 32-16amps 🤷‍♀️

[@doobryw538]

You can set it yourself in the app, and in car. Under the charge limit in both places..

[@The_DuMont_Network]

You don't really need a "specialist" for EV charging. You need an electrician who is a "specialist" in his craft. Contact a qualified, reputable electrician. Ask what the maximum practical sized branch for your specific installation would be to install and at what price. Insist on commercial grade components. Then you can set the charge rate at whatever you find practical. Low current and slow charge may be a good idea for daily use. But if you suddenly need a fast charge, you are set. For example, I have a 60 ampere 240V circuit hardwired to my Wall Charger. I normally leave the charge rate set for 15 amps, and each morning I am al set with 85% State of Charge. But if I come in after a hard use day, and need to get up to full charge in case of a call out, I crank it up to full rate.

[@cyruslupercal9493]

No matter what you do battery will degrade as it is worn out. It's not a fuel tank. It's a reactor. A chemical reaction goes on it when you discharge it and the same in reverse when you charge it. Just like a combustion engine, it will ware out. But you burn the candle on both ends so to speak.

[@safebatteries8315]

A deadly chemical reaction that produces toxic fumes

[@briangilbride7596]

well done!

[@frankh7303]

very helpful. What if your Model Y is sitting in the front yard for many days wihtout use ? Whats the best charge % to leave it at ?

[@tomdesalvo]

Andy, always like your videos so thank you. Maybe you can weigh in on this comment. When I first got my 2021 MYLR, I charged every day to 80%. I noticed though at about 15k miles I started to lose battery health (via Stats app and TeslaFi). My daily commute is pretty short (20 miles) so I experimented with not charging every day and waiting until I had used up at least 25% of my battery in the commute (so down to 55%) before I plugged back in (I use a Tesla home charger). At least for me, my battery health almost immediately recovered and per TeslaFi I am back to about 321 miles of range. So, in my case anyway, with a short daily commute, not charging everyday seems to work better. Any thoughts on this?

[@Prodogy92]

Interested to see the response. I also don’t charge everyday but I haven’t gotten my level charger installed yet either. Doing the installation in a few days.

[@Kefkiruja]

That’s interesting, I thought battery degradation is permanent

[@aslye]

Yep I think that’s fine. If you want to be even more optimized you could set charge limit to 60-70% and charge everyday

[@dorvinion]

@@KefkirujaDegradation is indeed permanent. What changes is what the BMS thinks is the current estimated state of charge and capacity. Measuring a battery's capacity involves some amount of error. It is always an estimate. In our Model 3(4 years old now) we have noted the 'fully charged' range varying from as low as 270 miles to as high as 290 miles in the last two years(new it was between 315 and 322, though 315 is the highest I ever observed - I was not diligent in the beginning of noting such things). Our charging habits no doubt had some effect. The BMS needs the battery to 'rest' at various voltages in order to be able to have high confidence estimate of the battery capacity. Within the last 30 days I've seen as low as 276 and as high as 285 (I drove it a bit more than usual and had more opportunities to allow it to experience a variety of different states of charge) Over time I've come to realize a few things In daily driving can I get to the places I want/need to go easily. Even with only charging once a week most of the time. For day trips, how far can I go? On a daytrip, 200-300 miles is a pleasant driving day even with dedicating 3-7 hours to an activity. In winter 90% SoC usually allows 200 miles and so requires no special consideration and only remembering to set the charge limit to 90% the night before. 200 miles encompasses most day trips, and 200-300 miles requires only 2-5 minutes fast charging. Even in a largely rural state most day trips run closer to 200 miles, and most road trips beyond that amount require traversing a highway with at least one fast charger. For road trips, max range is not a huge concern. What matters more is can it go far enough to get to a convenient charger and recharge fast enough to get to the next convenient charger. Large batteries are what enable us to comfortably drive 100-140 miles between chargers in any weather condition (high heat/high wind/extreme cold) and to recharge enough to continue in 5-20 minutes usually. Our practice now is to recharge our Model Y once we get to below 40% unless we have a planned outing the next day. Our Model 3 I drive with varying degrees of regularity. Often I can get by on two charges a month. I really should probably only charge it to 60% actually.

[@JaeroXYO]

I came to the same realization, mobile connector + super chargers is plenty even in Idaho, which is more rural than most states.

[@comgenii]

For initial use, should I fully charge it at least once like other electrical such as phone etc?

[@meanboy2000]

2022 MYP 30k 5.5% degradation. Dropped to that about year and half ago and has held steady

[@seantiz]

How do you check your battery degradation? If I fully charge and it tells me a range, I assume it factors in my driving style. My 2021 MS still gets higher than the original EPA estimates, so I’m not sure if there is another way to measure the capacity. Thanks in advance.

[@eugeniustheodidactus8890]

My 15 month old '22 Model Y has 10k miles on it and has suffered only 2-3% battery degradation. I do 99% of my charging at home, and maintain the battery between 40-75%. I hardly never charge to 80%. There needs to be massive *level-2 charging garages* _for people without home EVSE,_ where they can leave their car for a few hours !

[@bruceperson7820]

I have a very early Model Y Performance (2020). How can I find out what type of battery I have? Service Menu?

[@NRV44]

That's a lot of thinking for Charging. Just plug and Play

[@ErgMaN_2point0]

Agreed, set to 80% for daily driving, more for long trips. Charge when needed, done…!