Are you planning a road trip with your Tesla? One of the most important things to consider is how much to charge your car before hitting the road.
You may have heard conflicting advice about whether or not you should charge your Tesla to 100% before a road trip. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons for and against charging your Tesla to full capacity before embarking on a long journey.
What Happens When You Charge Your Tesla to 100%?
When you charge your Tesla to 100%, it means that the battery has reached its maximum capacity. This can be beneficial for longer trips because it allows you to maximize your range and reduce the number of charging stops along the way.
However, charging your Tesla to 100% also puts additional stress on the battery, which can lead to faster degradation over time. This means that if you consistently charge your car to full capacity, your battery’s overall lifespan may be shortened.
Why Some People Recommend Charging Your Tesla to 100% Before a Road Trip
There are two main reasons why some people recommend fully charging your Tesla before a long drive:
Maximizing Range: As mentioned earlier, charging your car to full capacity can give you more range, which can be beneficial for longer trips where there may not be many charging options available.
Peace of Mind: Knowing that you have a full battery when embarking on a long journey can provide peace of mind and reduce anxiety about running out of power on the road.
Why Some People Don’t Recommend Charging Your Tesla to 100%
Despite the benefits mentioned above, some experts recommend against fully charging your Tesla before a road trip. Here’s why:
Battery Degradation: As previously stated, charging your car to full capacity regularly can lead to faster battery degradation over time. This means that your battery may not last as long overall, which could be a major concern if you plan on keeping the car for many years.
Unnecessary Stress: Charging your Tesla to 100% can also put additional stress on the battery, which can lead to other problems down the line. Additionally, if you will be stopping at charging stations along your route, it may be more efficient to charge your car to a lower percentage and then top off at each stop rather than charging to full capacity.
What’s the Best Approach?
So what should you do when it comes to charging your Tesla before a road trip? Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer because it depends on a variety of factors such as the length of your trip, how many charging options are available along the way, and how much wear and tear you’re willing to put on your battery.
However, most experts recommend charging your Tesla to around 90% before hitting the road. This provides a good balance between maximizing range and reducing unnecessary stress on the battery. Additionally, if you need more power during your journey, you can always stop at a Supercharger station or other charging point along the way.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are pros and cons to charging your Tesla to 100% before a road trip. While it can provide more range and peace of mind for longer journeys, it can also put additional stress on the battery and lead to faster degradation over time.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what approach works best for your specific needs and circumstances. Just remember that regularly charging your car to full capacity may have long-term consequences for its overall lifespan.