What EV Charger Do You Need for a 2021 Tesla Model S?
A full charge takes 9.9 hours at maximum Level 2 speed. That turnaround easily fits an overnight sleep schedule. You need a 48 amp EVSE to hit that pace. Hire an electrician to put it in.
The numbers
| Maximum AC charging rate | 11.5 kW (48 A) |
|---|---|
| Charger size to buy | 48 A |
| Circuit breaker required | 60 A |
| Outlet / connection | hardwired (a 48 A EVSE must be hardwired -- no household receptacle is rated for it) |
| Charge port | NACS |
| Full charge on Level 2 | about 9.9 hours |
| Range added per hour (Level 2) | about 41 miles |
| Full charge on a 120 V outlet | about 79 hours |
| Range added per hour (120 V) | about 5.1 miles |
| EPA rated range | 405 miles |
| Energy for a full charge | about 114.1 kWh at the wall |
Why 48 amps and not more
The car accepts up to 48 amps of current, pulling 11.5 kilowatts. Pumping more amperage into the car does nothing because the onboard charger maxes out right there. Buying a bigger charger wastes money. Going smaller only slows down your daily recharge.
What the install involves
The circuit needs a 60 amp breaker to feed the 48 amp load safely. Hardwire the unit directly to the wall because no household receptacle handles 48 amps continuously. Call a licensed electrician for this work. They will pull the proper permits and run heavy gauge copper wire.
Chargers that match this car
Your car has a NACS port. The NACS units below plug straight in; any J1772 unit works with the adapter supplied with the car.
Native NACS plug, no adapter needed.
Dual plug: works with NACS and J1772 cars.
Tesla's own unit. Native NACS, hardwire only.
Worth having as well
Common questions
- Can I use a standard wall outlet?
- Level 1 charging takes 79 hours for a full tank from a standard 120 volt outlet. It only adds 5.1 miles of range per hour. You want Level 2 instead.
- What plug does this car take?
- Tesla vehicles use the NACS connector. The Tesla Wall Connector is native, and a J1772 adapter ships with the car for third-party Level 2 units.
- Why does the EPA charge time show 15.0 hours?
- The EPA test does not always run at the car's peak AC rate. Real charging at the maximum Level 2 speed finishes in 9.9 hours.
- How much range do I get per hour on Level 2?
- You add 41 miles of range for every hour plugged into a 48 amp supply. That speed keeps your battery full with hours to spare every night.
Other vehicles
Charging times derived from EPA data for the 2021 Tesla Model S (covering 3 EPA trim listings). Electrical requirements follow NEC 625.41, which sizes a circuit at 125% of a continuous load. Always have a licensed electrician verify your panel.