When it comes to electric cars, consumers have one main concern—charging. After all, nothing is scarier than running out of battery in the middle of a long road trip.
In checking your options, you may have wondered whether your Tesla is better off charging with a Destination charger or with a Supercharger. I looked into it and here is what I found!
Tesla Destination Charger Vs Supercharger
Tesla Destination Chargers and Superchargers are both public charging stations designed for Tesla owners. However, Tesla Destination Chargers are reserved for the customers of the businesses that installed them and are therefore free of charge. Meanwhile, Superchargers are available to everyone, but with a corresponding cost. Additionally, Superchargers have a faster charging speed than Destination Chargers.
In case you are interested to learn more about the differences between a Tesla Destination Charger and a Tesla Supercharger Station, keep on reading!
Are Tesla Destination Chargers Superchargers?
Tesla Destination Chargers are not Superchargers. Instead, Tesla Destination Chargers are charging stations installed by businesses and land owners in partnership with Tesla.
Additionally, Tesla Destination Chargers have a slow charging speed because businesses expect that you will be preoccupied with their facilities for hours.
This is especially true for restaurants, events places, resorts, and hotels where you can park and charge for a long time while doing other things.
Is Destination Charging Tesla Free?
Destination Charging is free for Tesla owners who are using the facilities of the business that owns the Destination Charger.
However, businesses may choose to charge Tesla owners a parking fee, and certain stipulations may apply regarding the free use of Tesla Destination Chargers.
Can Anyone Charge At A Tesla Destination Charger?
Anyone can charge at a Tesla Destination Charger, even those with electric vehicles belonging to other brands.
Typically, Tesla Destination Chargers come in pairs that have two different signs. One is dedicated for Tesla owners, and the other is for other electric vehicles.
Nevertheless, non-Tesla owners can only use the Destination Charger if they have a Type 2 connector.
How Long Does It Take To Charge A Tesla At A Destination Charger?
How long it will take to charge your Tesla at a Tesla Destination Charger depends on your Tesla model and how much battery your Tesla has left.
Typically, a Tesla will take anywhere from one to twelve hours to fully charge.
Can I Use A Tesla Destination Charger At A Hotel?
You can use a Tesla Destination Charger at a hotel if you are staying there overnight or are using their facilities.
When you make a booking, the hotel will let you use their Tesla Destination Chargers for free. However, you may be charged a parking fee.
Are Tesla Destination Chargers Only For Guests?
Typically, Tesla Destination Chargers are only available to the guests of the business that installed the charging station.
By limiting the use of Tesla Destination Chargers to guests, businesses have better control over their electric bill and profit.
Do You Have To Stay At The Hotel To Use A Destination Charger?
You do not necessarily have to stay at a hotel to use the hotel’s Tesla Destination Charger. Usually, hotels have other amenities you can use that will give you access to free charging.
Generally, these amenities include function halls and restaurants, but different hotels may have different provisions regarding the use of their Tesla Destination Charger.
How To Reset Tesla Destination Charger?
Tesla Destination Chargers may sometimes fail to charge. When this happens, you have to reset the HPWC by unplugging the car and holding the reset button of the HPWC.
Keep pressing down until the light at the front of the HPWC goes out. After a minute, the light should return to normal, and you can plug your car again to charge.
How Much Does It Cost To Charge A Tesla With A Destination Charger?
As long as you are a customer of the establishment that installed the Tesla Destination Charger, you will not be charged any fees.
Generally, this is because Tesla Destination Chargers act as a perk that attracts customers and enhances the profit they generate from their products and services.
Is It Free To Charge Your Tesla At A Supercharger?
Supercharger Stations are only free for Tesla owners with a Model S or X that was purchased before January 2017.
Additionally, Tesla has Referral Programs that can give you free Supercharging miles depending on the success of your participation.
Moreover, Tesla used to have campaigns that rewarded customers with free Supercharging for life. For these customers, Supercharging is still free for their Tesla’s entire lifetime.
How Much Does A Tesla Supercharger Charge?
Tesla Supercharging Stations may charge Tesla owners two ways. First is per-kWh of Supercharging, and the second is per-minute of Supercharging.
Regardless, the estimated cost of charging your Tesla from 0% to 100% at a Supercharger will only cost around $25.
However, you have to watch out for idle fees. If the Supercharger Station is 50% full and your Tesla is fully charged but idle, you will incur idle fees per minute.
How Fast Does A Tesla Charge At A Supercharger?
How long it would take to fully charge a Tesla at a Supercharger station depends on the amount of battery you have left and the model of your Tesla.
Generally, you can expect to top off your current battery with 200 miles in just 15 minutes.At the thirty-minute mark, you may already have a full battery.
Can You Fully Charge At A Supercharger?
You can fully charge at a Supercharger. In fact, doing so is the fastest option, since Superchargers are known to fully charge Teslas within 30 to 60 minutes.
Nevertheless, you should unplug your Tesla once the battery reaches 100%. Otherwise, you will start incurring idle fees.
How To Use A Tesla Supercharger?
To use a Tesla Supercharger, all you have to do is to plug the connector into your Tesla’s charge port.
You will know when the charging begins because the charge port LED will turn green. Afterwards, you can monitor your Tesla’s battery levels through your Tesla app.
Conclusion
Tesla Destination Chargers and Tesla Supercharger Stations are conveniently located across America for public use.
However, Tesla Destination Chargers are reserved for patrons of the establishments that installed the chargers.
Meanwhile, Supercharger Stations can be used by everyone, but at a cost. Additionally, Supercharger Stations have a more impressive charging speed than Destination Chargers.
Also Read:
