The growing shift to electric vehicles has many considering a Tesla for their next vehicle. But how do you charge one? Many have no initial way to charge a Tesla at home and will have to rely on either workplace charging or public charging stations. Most owners will have to figure out a home charging solution in the future. 

Charging a Tesla

With the goal of accelerating the transition to sustainable energy, Tesla set out to show that EVs were a better solution. They offer quick acceleration, thrilling driving experiences, and don’t rely on fossil fuel. Tesla designed and produced the Model S, the first-ever premium electric-only sedan, and remains an EV market leader. 

Today, people are more interested in electric vehicles but have questions. How do you charge them, and how long does it take? How much does it cost?

There are public charging stations around the country, and many more will be appearing in the next few years. How much it costs will depend on where you charge the vehicle and current electricity rates in your part of the country.

If you charge a Tesla at a Tesla supercharger, it typically costs $15.29 or around 4 cents a mile to fully charge a Tesla Model X, according to SolarReviews. For Tesla Model 3, a charge costs approximately $7.65 depending on which model you have.

Can you charge Tesla from home?

According to CleanTechnica, there are a few options you can consider for charging a Tesla at home. One of the more popular solutions is setting up a charging station in your garage.

There is some cost involved, which will vary depending on several factors. You will likely need the services of an electrician, and that cost will vary depending on where you live. The price will also depend on how your garage is laid out and your home’s power capacity.

Many find it convenient to set up a home charging station. For those with few to no local charging station options at the current time, it could be a necessity.

A Level 2 Tesla charger installed in your garage runs between $1,000 and $7,000. Depending on the complexity of the installation, it could cost thousands more. That estimate doesn’t include the charger itself.

Depending on which Tesla model you have and your home’s electrical configuration, a $500 Tesla home charger can give your car’s driving range a boost of as much as 44 miles per hour. 

What is Tesla doing about ICEing?

As more EVs are produced, automakers like Tesla are expanding electric charging networks to keep pace with increasing demand. Tesla has over 25.000 charging stations across the world. It’s also exploring ways to partner with other companies so that in certain places, you can charge your electric Porsche next to Tesla’s offerings.

But a frustrating trend has developed called “ICEing.” It means internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles are being used to block Tesla charging stations. Issuing fines for ICE vehicles parking in supercharging spots helped address early problems. However, in China, a more significant problem has surfaced.

The use of floor locking devices is the latest trend. According to CarBuzz, these mechanisms render a parking space unusable until it’s unlocked. You have to download a third-party app to scan a QR code to unlock the device. Somehow, this can be set up on the app without proving you’re the owner of the vehicle.

Last month, Tesla integrated the unlocking system into its native mobile app in China. The media platform has put out information showing users the simple process of using the unlocking function on the Tesla app. The system isn’t yet available on the U.S. app, but if ICEing becomes a problem domestically, it will be.