By: Otaiba Ahsan
While engines require regular maintenance like oil changes to prolong their life, methods like charging limits can be put in place to help increase the lifespan of an electric vehicle (EV) battery. By taking care of your battery, it’ll help keep money in your pocket as evidence has shown that the longer you keep your EV compared to a gas car, the more savings you’ll have. Continue reading for steps on how to put a charging limit on your Tesla Model S and Model X.
Types of Battery Packs in a Tesla
Tesla typically ships the Model S and X with Lithium-Ion battery packs. Lithium-ion batteries are recommended to be charged to between 80% and 90% to avoid faster degradation of the battery. These two vehicles are also known to use 18650 cells.
To confirm what type of battery pack is in your Tesla, navigate to Controls > Software > Additional Vehicle Information using the touchscreen in your car. Next, if your car has a lithium-ion battery pack, it’ll display “High Voltage Battery” on the screen.
Benefits of Setting a Charging Limit
Why should we not charge our lithium-ion battery packs to 100% every time? Without getting into the details, the key thing to note is that your battery will degrade faster and lose capacity if you consistently charge past 90%. That’s why charging between 80-90% is recommended. If the battery loses capacity due to overcharging, then it’ll hurt your car’s overall range faster than the natural degradation schedule. Setting a charging limit will help extend the lifespan of your battery pack and will also help keep money in your pocket as you’re not overcharging every time.
NOTE: Although setting a charging limit is key to your Tesla’s battery health, it’s not the only factor to consider. If you’re not preconditioning your car before driving, or your vehicle is exposed to extreme temperatures, your battery can be affected over time.
How to Put a Charging Limit
Setting a charging limit for your Tesla is extremely simple and can be done in one of two ways:
- On-Screen: The first method is from inside your car. All you need to do is Open the Charging Screen > Tap ‘Set Limit’ > Drag the Slider to Set Desired Limit
- Tesla App: The second method is to do it from your Tesla App. Once your car is plugged in, you can drag the slider to set your limit.
TIP: Maintain a regular, everyday charging routine using a low-voltage method such as level 1 or 2 charging. Avoid allowing the battery to get under 20% as this will also contribute to faster degradation. Also, try not to use DC Fast Charging like Supercharging unless necessary, like on road trips.
The Bottom Line
The steps on how to put a charging limit on your Tesla Model S and Model X are simple. Either open the charging screen and tap ‘Set Limit’ when in your car, or instead drag the slider in the Tesla App after you’ve plugged in your car to adjust the limit. If you have a lithium-ion battery pack, it’s best to charge between 80%-90% to help preserve its life.