There’s no denying that Tesla is one of the most popular EVs on the market. And if you are eyeing one of the models, you might have many questions right now.
For example, how many kWh to charge a Tesla?
The maximum rate at which a Tesla will charge is from 1.3 kW to 250 kW. And Tesla batteries can store anywhere from 50 kWh to 100 kWh. All these ratings depend on some factors, such as battery size, charging rate, and state of charge.
But what is the difference between kWh and kW? Aren’t they the same thing?
If you want to learn more about it, you should keep reading!
What Is the Difference Between kW and kWh?
Kilowatt (kW) and kilowatt-hour (kWh) are units of measurement. They are used to state the power and energy required for electricity.
And even though they might sound the same, they are different.
First of all, kW is a unit of power. It states the rate at which the energy is generated or used by an electrical device or equipment.
In other words, it says the rate at which the energy is being transferred.
Secondly, a kilowatt-hour is also a unit of energy. However, it describes the energy used or generated as a whole.
In simpler words, it states the total amount of energy. To get this, you need to multiply kW by the time in hours (h).
For example, if you see 1 kW on the label of the device, that device will use 1 kilowatt of energy in one hour.
On the other hand, if a device uses 2 kW of power for 2 hours, the device has consumed 4 kilowatt-hours of energy.
In short, the chargers do not have a kWh rating as they do not consume or store energy. They have a kW rating.
On the other hand, the batteries have a kWh rating as they can store energy.
How Many Kilowatts to Charge a Tesla?
Teslas can charge at a rate that is anywhere from 1.3 kW to 250 kW. And as you know, kW here states the rate at which the energy is being transferred.
So, what is the charging rate of each Tesla charger?
The Tesla level 3 charger can offer a maximum of 250 kW of charging power. It is the fastest.
And that is the reason why it can lower the overall charging time and offer you up to 100 miles of range in an hour.
On the other hand, the Tesla level 2 charger can deliver anywhere from 3.3 kW to 17.2 kW of power. That means you can get 10 to 52 miles of range per hour by charging the Tesla with the level 2 charger.
What about the level 1 charger?
This is the standard charger, which offers anywhere from 1.3 kW to 2.4 kW of power. And as you can guess, it is the slowest of the three.
This charger can offer 3 to 5 miles of range per hour.
On that note, the level 1 charger is meant for homes, as home grids can only offer 120 volts. But what about 110V?
Can you charge Tesla on 110V? Technically, yes. However, you will need to resort to a workaround.
How Many kWh Does It Take to Fully Charge a Tesla 3?
The amount of kWh required to charge your Tesla 3 fully will depend on some key factors. For example, if you are using the standard battery, it will be 50 kWh.
Now, what does 50 kWh mean here?
It means that if you are using a level 2 charger, which can offer 17.2 kW max, it will take two to three hours to fully charge the Tesla 3.
Home chargers can take anywhere from 8 to 10 hours for the battery to charge up fully.
On the other hand, a 50 kWh battery will charge quickly with a Supercharger, also known as a level 3 charger. In that case, the battery will be fully charged within 20 minutes!
How Many kWh Does It Take to Charge a Tesla Y?
The Tesla Model Y comes with a 74 kWh battery. So, how many kWh to charge a Tesla Model Y?
Well, if you are using a level 2 charger, which maxes out at 17.2 kW, it will take around 4 hours.
On the other hand, if you are using a level 1 home charger, you will need to resort to overnight charging. Why so?
It is the slowest charger. The Model Y will take around 20 hours to charge up fully.
Finally, as you might have guessed, the Supercharger is the fastest. You can fully charge up the Model Y in 25 minutes.
How Many kWh to Charge a Tesla Model X?
The battery capacity of the Tesla Model X 60D is 60 kWh. However, if you have a 90D, it will be 90 kWh.
Some of the later models, which are named trims, can even have 100 kWh batteries.
So, what is the charging time like for these models?
Let’s consider the 60D as it is more common than the others. You can get a fully charged battery within 15 minutes with a Supercharger.
On the other hand, it can take around 6 hours to charge the Model X with a level 2 charger. Finally, with a standard charger or level 1 charger, the battery will take anywhere from 20 to 40 hours to fully charge up.
Final Words
So, that is all about how many kWh to charge a tesla. In short, the kWh will depend on the battery capacity of the battery.
On the other hand, the kW rating will rely on the charger you are using.
Do not confuse these with how many watts a tesla use. That is more about depleting the battery instead of recharging it.
