General

The Tesla Model S is an electrically powered vehicle. Energy is stored in the HV battery, which is a sealed unit containing Lithium-ion cells.

As the vehicle is driven, the HV battery is discharged. The touch screen, instrument cluster, and smartphone app inform the driver of the state of charge and the expected remaining range.

The vehicle can be charged using:

  • Mobile Connector: The mobile connector is included with the vehicle, and allows the vehicle to be plugged into a 240 volt outlet or a 120 volt outlet. The mobile connector charges at up to 31 miles of range per hour.
  • Wall Connector (WC): An optional wall connector is permanently installed on a 240 volt circuit and can supply up to twice the current as the mobile connector. The wall connector charges at up to 62 miles of range per hour.
  • Supercharger: Tesla Superchargers are used to quickly recharge the HV battery on long trips. A Supercharger can charge to approximately half the battery capacity in 20 minutes. Supercharging is an optional feature for some models.

Charging times vary based on the voltage and current available from the power source. Charging times also depend on ambient temperature and the vehicle’s battery temperature. If the HV battery is not within the optimal temperature range for charging, the vehicle will heat or cool the battery before charging begins.

The vehicle is designed to be plugged in when not in use. There is no advantage to waiting until the battery level is low before charging. The HV battery performs best when charged regularly. When plugged in and unattended, the vehicle wakes up as needed to automatically maintain an optimal charge level that prolongs the life of the HV battery.

Discharging the HV battery to 0% state of charge can permanently damage the battery. To protect against a complete discharge, the vehicle enters a low power consumption mode when the state of charge drops below 6%. In this mode, the battery stops supporting the onboard electronics to slow the discharge rate.

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Note
When the low power consumption mode is active, the auxiliary 15V battery is no longer being charged and can completely discharge within hours. If this situation cannot be avoided, disconnect LV power (refer to procedure) from the vehicle to preserve the 15V battery. If a complete discharge does occur then the vehicle will need to be jump-started and the 15V battery must be replaced.