Charging is simply part and parcel of electric cars. To make the whole process as safe and convenient as possible, here are five tips for the perfect charging experience with a Tesla - quick and compact.
Charging tip 1: Precondition the battery
With electric cars, it is advisable to bring the battery to a certain temperature for charging. If you want to charge at a Supercharger, it is best to enter the station as the navigation destination, even if you know the way. Then your Tesla will automatically bring the battery up to temperature as soon as it recognizes that the destination is about to be reached.
Unfortunately, manual preheating is currently not possible. So if you want to charge at home, the only option is to preheat the vehicle completely in the app, as this activates the battery heater as well as the air conditioning.
Charging tip 2: Use your own charging station
If possible, you should always choose your charging station at the Supercharger so that you have a charging station to yourself - at least with old V2 charging stations, i.e. those with two cable types (type 2 and CCS). Otherwise, you will have to share the charging power with the other vehicle, which can prolong the charging process. New V3 stations, on the other hand, do not have this problem.
Charging tip 3: (If necessary) buy a charging adapter
Older Tesla models (S and X) may still have a type 2 charging port. However, this is not compatible with the Supercharger V3 stations and many public stations. It is therefore advisable to purchase a Type 2/CCS adapter, which is also available directly from Tesla. If your vehicle already has CCS, you do not need an adapter.
Charging tip 4: Open the charging socket easily
Official Tesla cables and Superchargers have a button that can be used to open the charging flap. All you have to do is press this button when the charging plug is next to the charging socket of your Tesla - simply and conveniently.
Charging tip 5: Charge properly at home
If you charge at home, you should consider using a wallbox instead of a household socket, both for safety reasons and for charging speed. Studies have also shown that the gentlest charging power is between 11 and 16 kW and that the charging current for Model S and X should ideally be reduced to 12 amps (instead of 16).
