Tesla Bundles

Frequently Asked Questions

Tesla bundles

Whatever Tesla model you have, getting the right accessories is important in ensuring you're tapping the fullest potential of your electric vehicle. You're already familiar with the standard charging options available to Tesla owners. But did you know that there are devices that can make EV charging even more convenient? From portable chargers to charger adapters, these Tesla bundles are must-haves in your collection of Tesla accessories.

Tesla home charging

One of the top-selling points of Tesla and other electric vehicles is the convenience of charging. Compared to traditional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles that need occasional trips to gasoline stations, EVs can be charged in the comfort of your own home. Most Tesla owners charge at home overnight.

Until April 2022, the company included a Level 1 Mobile Connector with a purchase of any Tesla model. You now have to purchase it separately for $230, and that already includes both a NEMA 5-15 and NEMA 14-50 adapter. The former can give your car a measly 3 miles of range per hour of charging, while the latter offers up to 30 miles of range per hour.

If you're driving within the national average of 40 miles a day, an overnight charge using a Tesla Mobile Connector could be enough. But if you need more juice for your daily commute, you might want to opt for the Wall Connector. The Tesla Wall Connector is a Level 2 charger capable of up to 44 miles of added range per hour of charging. However, this charging station has to be hardwired into your home's electrical system, which means additional costs for the installation and the possible need for an electrical panel upgrade.

What is the cost of charging your Tesla at home?

Despite the powerful features and top-of-the-line hardware, Tesla EVs surprisingly use a small amount of electricity. On average, a Tesla car uses around 34 kWh of electricity for every 100 miles, which translates to 34,000 kWh per 100,000 miles, or up to 170,000 kWh throughout its lifespan.

Tesla has a charging efficiency of about 94% and a discharge efficiency of around 90%, which means no little electricity is wasted in the process, so you don't need to worry about your electricity bill ballooning. To put things into perspective, based on the national average cost of electricity, the average cost to charge a Tesla is $13.96. That's around $0.05 per mile across all models.

The base Model 3, which has 267 miles of range, will cost around $9.62 or $0.036 per mile to fully charge at a rate of 62 kWh. The 405-mile ranger Model S on the other hand, will set you back $18.29 or $0.0452 per mile for a full charge. The Model X, with 351 miles of total range, will cost around $18.30 or $0.0521 per mile to charge, while the Model Y Long Range with 318 miles will cost $13.58 or $0.427 per mile.

Tesla vs non-Tesla Chargers

Tesla cars use a proprietary charger that's not compatible with other electric vehicles. The car manufacturer currently has three types of chargers in its lineup to cater to the three levels of charging.

The Tesla Mobile Connector is the most basic of the three, providing Level 1 charging at 3 miles of range per hour using the included NEMA 5-15 adapter and up to 30 miles the with the NEMA 14-50 adapter. The Wall Connector is a Level 2 home charging station providing 44 miles of range per hour. Similar to non-Tesla chargers, these two connectors use alternating currents to charge electric vehicles. The difference can be seen in the type of nozzle they have. Non-Tesla chargers use the 5-pin J1772 plug while Tesla chargers use a 3-pin plug. DC fast charging is the industry's answer to Tesla's Superchargers. DC chargers use the North American standard Combined Charging System (CCS) chargers to deliver power directly to the car's batteries, bypassing the onboard converter and effectively speeding up the charging process. These chargers are capable of up to 350 kW of charging, taking less than an hour to fully charge an EV.

All EVs sold in the US, Canada, Europe, and South Korea use the CCS connector. Meanwhile, Tesla Superchargers use the same 3-pin plug, but with a more powerful 250-kilowatt rating. Superchargers can give Tesla EVs up to 322 miles of range in just 15 minutes.

Tesla Adapters

Tesla adapters allow Tesla EVs to charge using non-Tesla connectors.

A J1772 to Tesla adapter is the key to 15,000 more EV charging stations nationwide.

These adapters let Tesla cars charge at any Level 1 or Level 2 chargers, greatly increasing the charging options for Tesla owners. To access DC fast chargers, there are CCS charger adapters that let Tesla charge at any of the 5,000 CCS fast chargers across the country. These adapters can support up to 150 kWh charging rates.