2021 Tesla Model 3 Charging Instructions Owners Manual

The charge port is located on the left side of Model 3, behind a door that is part of the rear tail light assembly. Park Model 3 to ensure that the charging cable easily reaches the charge port.

With Model 3 unlocked (or an authenticated phone is within range) and in Park, press and release the button on the Tesla charge cable to open the charge port door.

You can also open the charge port door using any of these methods:

• On the touchscreen, touch Controls and touch the Charge Port icon (lightning bolt).
• On the touchscreen, navigate to Controls > Charging > Open Charge Port.
• Press the bottom of the charge port door when Model 3 is unlocked or an authenticated phone is nearby.
• On the key fob accessory (sold separately), hold down the rear trunk button for 1-2 seconds.
• Use voice commands to open the charge port door (see Voice Commands). You can also use voice commands to close the charge port door and begin or stop charging.

Note

The following image is provided for demonstration purposes only. Depending on the market region and date of manufacture, your charge port may be slightly different.

If desired, use the touchscreen to change the charge limit and the charging current (see Charge Settings).

To charge at a public charging station, plug the appropriate adapter into the vehicle’s charging port, and then connect the station’s charging connector to the adapter. The most commonly used adapter(s) for each market region are provided. Depending on the charging equipment you are using, you may need to start and stop charging using a control on the charging equipment.

If you are using the Mobile Connector, plug into the power outlet before plugging in Model 3.

Align the connector to the charge port and insert fully. When the connector is properly inserted, charging begins automatically after Model 3:

• Engages a latch that holds the connector in place;
• Shifts into Park (if it was in any other drive mode);
• Heats or cools the Battery, if needed. If the Battery requires heating or cooling, you may notice a delay before charging begins.

Charging status displays at the top of the car status screen when the charge port door is open.

1. Time remaining: The estimated time remaining to charge to your set limit (see Charge Settings).
   Note

   When charging to 100%, the vehicle may continue to charge with low power when charging is displayed as complete. This is expected operation. Because the added energy beyond this point is low, it is usually not beneficial to continue charging.
2. Charging: The current power of the charger.
3. Charging rate: The maximum current available from the attached charge cable.
4. Range gained: Estimated increase in driving distance achieved in the charging session.
5. Driving distance: Displays the total estimated driving distance or energy percentage (depending on your display setting) available.
   Note

   To change how energy units are displayed, touch Controls > Display > Energy Display.
6. Charge status: Charge status messages (such as Supercharging, Scheduled Charging) display here (see Scheduled Charging and Scheduled Departure).

During charging, the charge port light (the Tesla “T” logo) pulses green, and the touchscreen displays real-time charging status. The frequency at which the green charge port light pulses slows down as the charge level approaches full. When charging is complete, the light stops pulsing and is solid green.

If the charge port light turns red while charging, a fault is detected. Check the touchscreen for an alert describing the fault. A fault can occur due to something as common as a power outage. If a power outage occurs, charging resumes automatically when power is restored.

Stop charging at any time by disconnecting the charge cable or touching Stop Charging on the touchscreen.

To disconnect the charge cable:

1. Press and hold the button on the connector handle to release the latch.
   Note

   You can also release the latch using the touchscreen or mobile app, or by pressing and holding the rear trunk button on the key fob.
2. Pull the connector from the charge port. The charge port door automatically closes.

To disconnect the charge cable when using an adapter at a public charge station:

1. Unlock Model 3.
2. While holding the public charging handle in one hand and the adapter in the other hand, press and hold the button on the public charging handle and pull both outwards, removing the handle and adapter at the same time.
   Note

   If the charging station handle separates from the adapter, leaving the adapter in Model 3, use the touchscreen to unlock the charge port.
3. Press and hold the button on the charging handle again to release the adapter from the public charging handle.

Access charge settings by touching Controls > Charging when Model 3 is in Park. You can also touch the battery icon on the touchscreen to access charge settings.

1. Driving distance: Displays the total estimated driving distance available.
2. Set limit: Adjust the charge limit by dragging the arrow below the battery to indicate the level of charging you want. The setting you choose applies to immediate and scheduled charging sessions.
   Note

   If your vehicle is equipped with an LFP Battery, which you can determine by navigating to Controls > Software > Additional Vehicle Information, Tesla recommends you keep your charge limit to 100%, even for daily use, and that you also fully charge your vehicle to 100% at least once per week. See Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries for more information.
   Note

   A portion of the battery image may appear blue. This indicates that a small portion of the energy stored in the battery is not available because the battery is cold. This is normal and no reason for concern. When the battery warms up, the blue portion no longer displays.

You can further adjust charge settings:

• Open Charge Port, Unlock Charge Port and Stop Charging: When not charging, touch Open Charge Port or Unlock Charge Port to open the charge port door or to unlock the charge cable from the charge port. Use Stop Charging when you are finished charging.
  Note

  In cold ambient temperatures below 41° F (5° C), the charge port (if equipped with early generation charge port hardware) remains unlocked whenever the vehicle is not charging.
• Charge current at this location: The current automatically sets to the maximum current available from the attached charge cable, unless it was previously reduced to a lower level. If needed, touch – or + to change the current (for example, you may want to reduce the current if you are concerned about overloading a domestic wiring circuit shared by other equipment). It is not possible to set the charging current to a level that exceeds the maximum available from the attached charge cable. When you change the current, Model 3 remembers the location. If you charge at the same location, you do not need to change it again.
  Note

  If Model 3 is charging and detects unexpected fluctuations in input power, the charging current is automatically reduced by 25%. For example, a 40 amp current is reduced to 30 amps. This automatic current reduction increases robustness and safety in situations when an external problem exists (for example, a home wiring system, receptacle, adapter or cord is unable to meet its rated current capacity). As a precaution, when Model 3 automatically reduces current, it saves the reduced current at the charging location. Although you can manually increase it, Tesla recommends charging at the lower current until the underlying problem is resolved and the charging location can provide consistent power.
• Schedule: Depending on the setting you select by touching Switch to Scheduled Departure/Scheduled Charging, this displays either a departure time for when the vehicle should be preconditioned and/or charged by or a time to start charging (see Scheduled Charging and Scheduled Departure).
• Supercharging: Displays supercharger usage fees, the location, the time that charging started, and a cost estimate for the session (see Supercharger Usage Fees and Idle Fees).
  Note

  To reduce congestion at high-usage supercharger sites, you may be limited to a maximum charge of 80% when not using Trip Planner (see Trip Planner).

Toggle between Scheduled Departure and Scheduled Charging by touching Controls > Charging > Switch to Scheduled Charging/Scheduled Departure when Model 3 is in Park.

Think of Scheduled Charging as “When do I want charging to start?” compared to Scheduled Departure Off-Peak Charging which is “When do I want charging to be complete?”

Scheduled Charging can be used together with Scheduled Departure Preconditioning but not with Scheduled Departure Off-Peak Charging.

Scheduled Charging/Scheduled Departure settings are automatically saved for each location.

When charging at a Tesla supercharger, information about the charging session displays at the bottom of the charging screen. This includes the location, the time that charging started, and a cost estimate for the session. When you stop supercharging, the estimated cost of the session displays until a new supercharging session begins.

When charging at a Tesla supercharger, you are subject to idle fees. Idle fees are designed to encourage drivers to move their vehicle from the Supercharger when charging is complete. Idle fees are in effect only when half or more of the Superchargers at a site are occupied. The Tesla mobile app notifies you when charging is almost complete, and again when charging is complete. Additional notifications are sent if idle fees are incurred. Idle fees are waived if you move your vehicle within five minutes of when charging completed.

Log into your Tesla account to view fees and details about Supercharger sessions, set up a payment method, and make payments. Once a payment method is saved, fees are automatically paid from your account.

If the usual methods for releasing a charge cable from the charge port (using the charge handle release button, touchscreen, or mobile app) do not work, carefully follow these steps:

1. Ensure that Model 3 is not actively charging by displaying the charging screen on the touchscreen. If necessary, touch Stop Charging.
2. Open the rear trunk.
3. Pull the charge port’s release cable downwards to unlatch the charge cable.
   Warning

   Do not pull the release cable while simultaneously attempting to remove the charge cable from the charge port. Always pull the release cable before attempting to remove the charge cable. Failure to follow these instructions can result in electric shock and serious injury.
   Note

   The release cable may be recessed within the opening of the trim.
4. Pull the charge cable from the charge port.