How much does it cost to charge a Tesla with solar panels?
Tesla offers some of the most popular electric vehicles on the market. One of the most important things people want to know before they purchase a Tesla is how long does it take to charge?
It can take anywhere from one hour to seven days to fully charge a Tesla, depending on the model, the charge you use, and how full the battery is at the start.
We’re going to take a look at how long it’ll take a Tesla to charge based on these factors.
Key takeaways
-
The most common home charging options for a Tesla are using a Tesla mobile charger with the NEMA 5-15 outlet adapter, a 14-50 outlet adapter, or installing a Tesla Wall Connector, which Tesla recommends.
-
A Tesla Model 3 will take anywhere from 40 minutes to 5 hours to charge after a 30-mile commute, depending on the type of charger used.
-
After a 30-mile commute, a Tesla Model S will take about 1 hour to charge with a Wall Connector and about 6 hours using a NEMA 5-15 charger.
-
A Tesla Model X will take roughly 7.5 hours to charge after a 30-mile commute, while it will take less than an hour using a Wall Connector.
-
A Tesla Model Y will only take about 45 minutes to recharge after a 30-mile commute when using a Tesla Wall Connector.
What types of charging stations are there?
Tesla Superchargers are super fast
Tesla has their own network of public vehicle chargers known as Superchargers. These 480-volt vehicle charging stations are designed to charge Teslas with incredible speed.
Superchargers recharge at different rates for each of the Tesla models:
Tesla model | Miles of range per 15 minutes of Supercharging |
|---|---|
Model 3 | 175 miles |
Model S | 200 miles |
Model X | 175 miles |
Model Y | 162 miles |
Keep in mind, the demand for certain Tesla models is higher than others. If you are choosing a specific model based on charging speed, the current Tesla delivery times can vary. Be sure to check with a Tesla representative for availability.
Charging your Tesla at home
Superchargers have an incredibly fast charging speed, but they can put a lot of stress on the car’s battery. So, using an at-home charger is best for everyday recharging. Charging at home also gives you the lowest Tesla charging costs. There are a few different options for charging your Tesla at home.
The most popular home charging options for Teslas are:
NEMA 5-15 charging
NEMA 14-50 charging
Tesla Wall Connector charging
NEMA 5-15 chargers
Image courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
A NEMA 5-15 charger can be plugged into any standard 120-volt outlet. These are the standard household outlets, like the ones that you plug your phone or laptop into.
A NEMA 5-15 charger will add about 3 miles of range per hour of charging. This is the slowest way to charge your Tesla, making it best suited for overnight charging.
NEMA 14-50 chargers
Image courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
You can purchase charging adapters so you can charge your Tesla by using some other types of outlets you may have in your home. Besides the standard 120-volt outlet, many homes will have 240-volt outlets. These are usually used to power washing machines and clothing dryers.
Tesla’s NEMA 14-50 adapter will charge your Tesla much faster than the NEMA 5-15 charger, as it uses a more powerful outlet.
Wall Connectors
Image courtesy of Tesla Inc.
Tesla also offers the option to install a charging unit in your home, which is called a Wall Connector. Wall Connectors are the fastest way to charge your Tesla in your home. Your Tesla will receive a maximum of 44 miles of range per hour of charge using a Wall Connector.
It’s important to note that Wall Connectors cost more than the charging adaptors. A Wall Connector costs $500 to install and it must be installed by a Tesla-qualified electrician.
Tesla recommends Wall Connectors as the best way to charge your vehicle.
Tesla charge times, based on the model
How long does it take to charge a Tesla Model 3?
Image courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
The Model 3 is Tesla’s highest-selling vehicle. There are two different versions of the Model 3 currently on the market: the Model 3, and the Model 3 Performance.
The Model 3 Standard Range Plus has a battery range of 272 miles.
The following table represents how long it will take to charge each version of the Model 3 using various charging options, assuming the vehicle’s battery is completely empty:
At-home charging option | Model 3 Standard Range Plus charge time | Model 3 Performance charge time |
|---|---|---|
NEMA 5-15 | 1.8 days | 2.2 days |
NEMA 14-50 | 9.1 hours | 10.5 hours |
Wall Connector | 9.1 hours | 7.2 hours |
Being that the average American’s commute is only 30 miles roundtrip, recharging your Tesla Model 3 after a long day of work will take 10 hours using a NEMA 5-15 charger, one hour to recharge using a NEMA 14-50 charger, and only about 40 minutes using a Wall Connector.
How long does it take to charge a Tesla Model S?
Image courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
The Tesla Model S has the longest range of any electric vehicle on the market.
It comes in two different versions: the Model S and Model S Plaid. Each version of the Model S has a range of over 300 miles, with the Model S coming in at 405 miles of range and the Model S Plaid at 396 miles of range.
The following table represents the charge time for the three versions of the Model S using different charging options, assuming the vehicle’s battery is completely empty:
At-home charging option | Model S charge time | Model S Plaid charge time |
|---|---|---|
NEMA 5-15 | 3.4 days | 3.3 days |
NEMA 14-50 | 15 hours | 10 hours |
Wall Connector | 9.9 hours | 9.7 hours |
To charge your Tesla Model S after a commute of 30 miles, it would take about 6 hours using a NEMA 5-15 charger, approximately 1.1 hours using a NEMA 14-50 charger, and less than one hour using a Wall Connector.
How long does it take to charge a Tesla Model X?
Image courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
Tesla’s SUV model, the Model X, is offered in two versions: the Model X and Model X Plaid. The Model X has a range of 351 miles, while the Plaid has a range of 333.
The following table represents the charge time for both versions of the Model X using different charging options. This assumes the vehicle’s battery is completely empty:
At-home charging option | Model X charge time | Model X Plaid charge time |
|---|---|---|
NEMA 5-15 | 3.6 days | 3.5 days |
NEMA 14-50 | 15.2 hours | 10 hours |
Wall Connector | 10 hours | 9.5 hours |
In order to charge your Tesla Model X after a commute of 30 miles, it would take about 7.5 hours using a NEMA 5-15 charger, approximately 1.3 hours using a NEMA 14-50 charger, and less than an hour using a Wall Connector.
How long does it take to charge a Tesla Model Y?
Image courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
The Model Y is Tesla’s newest vehicle. The compact SUV comes at a cheaper price than the Model X, while still having great range. There are two different versions of the Model Y: the Model Y Long Range and Model Y Performance.
The Long Range Model Y has a range of 330 miles. The other Model Y versions has 303 miles of range.The following table represents the charge times for the different Model Y versions using different charging options.
The following table represents the charge times for the different Model Y versions using different charging options.
At-home charging option | Model Y Long Range charge time | Model Y Performance charge time |
|---|---|---|
NEMA 5-15 | 2.75 days | 2.5 days |
NEMA 14-50 | 12.2 hours | 7.5 hours |
Wall Connector | 7.5 hours | 6.8 hours |
If you were to charge a Model Y after a 30-mile commute, it would take about 6 hours using a NEMA 5-15 charger, approximately 1 hour using a NEMA 14-50 charger, and about 45 minutes using a Wall Connector.
How long will my Tesla usually charge for?
No matter which charger you decide to use, it will never take more than three days to fully charge your car. However, since very few people will deplete their Tesla’s battery down to zero, it’s unlikely you will ever use all three days charging your car.
For most people, it will take anywhere between one and eight hours to charge their Tesla, depending on the charger they use and how much their battery is already charged.
Although it may take a little more time than filling up at the gas pump, it’s cheaper to charge an electric vehicle than it is to purchase gas in all 50 states. This means that even though Teslas can have a high upfront cost, they will save you money in the long run. Charging your Tesla will cost you even less if you have solar panels on your home.
An overnight charge will almost always get your Tesla right where you want it to be and you can rest assured knowing that the next morning, your Tesla will get you to wherever you want to go.
Catherine has been researching and reporting on the solar industry for five years and is the Written Content Manager at SolarReviews. She leads a dynamic team in producing informative and engaging content on residential solar to help homeowners make informed decisions about investing in solar panels. Catherine’s expertise has garnered attention from leading industry publications, with her work being featured in Solar Today Magazine and Solar ...
Learn more about Catherine Lane