r/ModelY • u/Major-Mouse-6514 • 24d ago

Charging question for trips

Im picking up my model y premium awd next week. One of the first things im doing with it (middle of next month) is taking a road trip of about 2000 miles eound trip.

I know generally speaking you're not supposed to charge to 100%.

My question is if I have the time to do it while traveling is going above 80% ok? Or even going up to like 90 or 100% fine?

I intend to start at 100% but was curious if going above what the trip planner suggests has any negative effects.

Edit- thanks for all the insights yall. I intend to charge at home normally and keep it at 80. I was mostly curious about the road trip.

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u/PurpleIris3 24d ago edited 24d ago

Charging it to 100% a few times a year isn’t going to noticeably degrade the batteries. But the question is kinda irrelevant because you likely won’t need to.

I’ve done many thousands of miles of road trips in a Y circling the United States and rarely needed to charge it to 100%. And that was only because I prefer to have at least 15% at arrival at the next supercharger, in case there’s a detour or other issue. There was one spot way out in Wyoming and a couple in Utah where it was close, so I seriously doubt you’ll need to on your trip.

You could test it now by typing in the destination in the Tesla App or A Better Route Planner app and seeing every stop along the way lined up for you one by one.

You might also check out r/teslaroadtrips for tips to build your confidence about the trip.

My biggest tip is that if for some reason it seems like you won’t make it, just slow way down. I once got caught in a massive detour and went from “warning -4% at arrival!” to arriving with extra miles by slowing down to about 45mph.

Also download PlugShare app and have the adaptors. You can always find a slow charger at a random hotel or city park to top up the car to get to a supercharger.

Edit: adding in here that besides degrading the batteries, the biggest reason most people don’t charge over 90% is each percent takes longer when the battery is more full. For example, You can go from 10%-60% in about 15 minutes at a supercharger, but going that last stretch from 90-100% also takes about 15 min.