What EV Charger Do You Need for a 2023 Tesla Model Y?
Wiring a 60-amp circuit requires hiring a licensed electrician because 48-amp charging demands a hardwired connection. This Model Y pulls 11.5 kW at its maximum onboard capacity. Plugs will melt at this draw. Plan for a permanent line run from the panel.
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 7.9 hours |
| Range added per hour (Level 2) | about 42 miles |
| Full charge on a 120 V outlet | about 63 hours |
| Range added per hour (120 V) | about 5.2 miles |
| EPA rated range | 330 miles |
| Energy for a full charge | about 91.2 kWh at the wall |
Why 48 amps and not more
Matching the 48-amp onboard charger requires a 60-amp circuit breaker. Installing a larger charger provides zero benefit because the vehicle onboard hardware caps intake at 48 amps. Pushing more amperage into the car is physically impossible. You hit the ceiling at 42 miles of range per hour of Level 2 charging. Recharging a completely depleted battery takes 7.9 hours at this maximum rate.
What the install involves
Code mandates a hardwired unit for any continuous 48-amp load. Do not look for a NEMA 14-50 wall outlet for this amperage tier. The electrician must run heavy copper wire directly from the breaker box to the Wall Connector. Local building permits are standard for this scope of work. Book a professional to handle the panel inspection and wire sizing.
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
- What connector does the car use?
- Tesla vehicles use the NACS connector. The Tesla Wall Connector has this plug natively. Third-party Level 2 units work using the J1772 adapter that ships with the car.
- Can I plug this into a standard dryer outlet?
- No. A 48-amp EVSE must be hardwired because no household receptacle is rated for it. Trying to use a standard outlet creates a serious fire hazard.
- How fast does Level 1 charging go?
- Standard household Level 1 charging adds 5.2 miles of range per hour. A full recharge takes 63 hours. Use Level 2 instead.
- Why does the EPA charge time differ?
- The EPA test does not always run at the car's peak AC rate. That official rating lists 11.5 hours at 29 miles per hour.
Other vehicles
Charging times derived from EPA data for the 2023 Tesla Model Y (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.