With state-of-the-art tech and, most importantly, convenient charging, Teslas are currently in the leaderboards. And when it comes to charging, you have three options.
Tesla Level 3 charger is one of them. But what exactly is it?
Otherwise known as a Supercharger, Tesla Level 3 charger is a high-powered charging station. Tesla designed it specifically for its electric vehicles. And it can offer hundreds of miles of range with just a few minutes of charge.
But that’s not all you need to know about the Level 3 charger of Tesla. There are many other interesting things around it. Stick around to know all about it.
What Is a Level 3 Charger?
Tesla Level 3 charger is the fastest charger available for Teslas. As mentioned earlier, it can add hundreds of miles in an extremely short amount of time.
To be exact, it enables users to get 170 miles from 0 in just 30 minutes.
But what about battery percentage?
Tesla Level 3 chargers can get the battery to 80% from 0% in 40 minutes. Afterward, the charging will slow down to ensure the battery is not damaged.
Still, 80% in 40 minutes is fantastic!
In comparison, it takes Tesla Level 2 chargers an hour to offer anywhere from 18 to 28 miles of range. So, the Tesla Level 3 chargers are about 13x faster than the Level 3 charger.
Nonetheless, if you want to know the technical details, the Level 3 chargers use 400 to 900 volts. On the other hand, the Level 2 chargers utilize 240 volts, and the Level 1 charger uses 120 volts.
So, what about charging Tesla at 110 volts?
Well, in short, you can. But you will need the best tesla charging adapter. Without the adapter, you will be putting your EV and charging station at risk.
Is Tesla Level 2 or 3 charger?
All the Teslas can charge at Level 2 and Level 3. However, depending on the model and the battery it has, you might not be able to reap the full benefits of Level 3 charging.
Wondering what drawbacks will you have if your battery is not fully compatible with Level 3?
Well, some of the batteries can take up to 350 kW from the Level 3 chargers. The others can only take up to 50 kW.
In other words, if you do not have a compatible battery, you will not get a superfast charging speed with a Level 3 charger.
What Are the Differences Between Tesla Level 3 and Level 2 Chargers?
There are mainly two differences between the Tesla Level 3 and Level 2 chargers. They are –
Charging Power
The Tesla Level 2 chargers can offer anywhere from 3.3 to 17.2 kW of power. That enables the electric vehicles to get 9 to 52 miles of range with an hour of charging.
On the other hand, Tesla Level 3 chargers can offer 202 to 413 kW of power. This high range of power translates to getting up to 170 miles in just 30 minutes.
That means, theoretically, it can offer up to 240 miles of charge in just an hour.
Charging Speed
It goes without saying that the Tesla Level 3 chargers are much faster than the Level 2 chargers. With higher powers, the Level 3 charger can make your Tesla go from 0% to 80% in just 40 minutes.
On the contrary, it can take anywhere from 8 to 12 hours to get a full battery on your Tesla with a level 2 charger.
Can Tesla Use Level 3 Charger? Do All Models Support It?
All the Tesla models will be able to charge with Tesla Level 3 and Level 2 chargers. However, there’s a caveat.
As stated earlier, not all Tesla models will be able to get superfast charging from the Level 3 charger.
So, which Teslas can fully go with Superchargers?
Well, all the Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles that came after May 1, 2019, have the technical capability to utilize the high-power delivery rate of Level 3 chargers.
How Much Does a Level 3 Tesla Charging Cost?
The Level 3 chargers are fairly advanced. They require high-end power delivery systems, access to high-voltage ranges, and require professional installation and maintenance.
And even though it is not easy to put a single number on the cost, one thing that is certain is that they cost higher than Level 2 chargers.
But in general, Level 3 charging stations can cost anywhere from $40,000 to $1,75,000 for each unit.
Now, when it comes to how much you have to pay for Level 3 charging, it depends on the Tesla Model. For example, you have to spend around $7.65 to fully charge the 2021 Model 3.
On the other hand, if you have Long Range or Performance Version, you can expect to pay around $12.54. Basically, it depends on the total capacity of your Tesla.
And it works out to about $0.03 for each mile of charge.
Can You Install a Level 3 Charger at Your Home?
It is possible to install a Tesla Level 3 charger at your home. However, as you know by now, these charging stations have soaring price tags.
And let’s not forget that the installation is much more complex than the Level 2 chargers.
Yes, Level 3 charging stations are appealing as they can offer extremely fast charging speeds. But they are not an ideal solution for Tesla home charging.
Final Words
So, long story short, the Tesla Level 3 charger is the fastest charger available for Teslas. It can get you hundreds of miles in just an hour.
And, if you want to get your battery percentage up quickly, the Level 3 Superchargers are the way to go.
However, Tesla Level 2 charger makes the most sense for home charging. The Level 3 Superchargers are just expensive and will require an advanced installation.
