My first Tesla supercharger experience.

[evowner]

The reason I charge to 90% is because this is what is the recommended when you are just driving around town, by Tesla and Kia, which is 95% of my journeys. Since the battery on my 2015 Model S can still charge to 100% 10 years later it seemed like it is good advice. I know on a long road trip you might want to charge to 100%. Mine cut off at 90% and I am still figuring out the app. Future long road trips I will change it to 100%.

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[carys98]

The reason I charge to 90% is because this is what is the recommended when you are just driving around town, by Tesla and Kia, which is 95% of my journeys. Since the battery on my 2015 Model S can still charge to 100% 10 years later it seemed like it is good advice. I know on a long road trip you might want to charge to 100%. Mine cut off at 90% and I am still figuring out the app. Future long road trips I will change it to 100%.

I had started to ask about the 90% but never finished the thought. Most of us stop at 80% when DC charging because the charge rate drops off a cliff at 80%. It will hold about 110-120 kW up to 80% and then drop quickly to around 50-60% and continue to taper down. @tommolog did a great video showing the charge curve.

Also, you had stated that you probably had enough range to make it home and you just needed a buffer. We’ve been conditioned by driving ICE vehicles to always fill up when you get fuel. With an EV the mindset should be to just get what you need. When I make my last stop before getting home I get just enough to arrive at home with about 20% charge.

 

[Firn]

The reason I charge to 90% is because this is what is the recommended when you are just driving around town, by Tesla and Kia, which is 95% of my journeys. Since the battery on my 2015 Model S can still charge to 100% 10 years later it seemed like it is good advice. I know on a long road trip you might want to charge to 100%. Mine cut off at 90% and I am still figuring out the app. Future long road trips I will change it to 100%.

The reason to not charge to 100% is for battery longevity with charging to 100% (and keeping it there) being relativly hard on the battery and reducing its lifespan. This is why the manufactures recommend only charging to 90%.

However battery degradation at 90% is still quite a bit higher than at 80%, and 80% is higher than 70%, etc.

If you do not need 100% then you should charge to the lowest number(above 50%) that you are comfortable with. Doing so will give you the longest lifespan.

Note, the battery will still charge to 100% if degraded, however the absolute range you can drive will be reduced (note, not the same as what the dash says).

 

[evowner]

Thanks for all of the help sorting this out. I will try to do best battery care I can.

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