Get Charging and Energy Consumption -> Charging Instructions Guide for Tesla Model-Y SUV 2023

Charging Instructions

Opening the Charge Port

The charge port is located on the left side of Model Y,

behind a door that is part of the rear tail light assembly.

Park Model Y to ensure that the charge cable easily

reaches the charge port.

With Model Y in Park, press and release the button on

the Tesla charge cable to open the charge port door.

NOTE: The Tesla "T" lights up when you open the charge

port door. If you do not insert a charge cable into the

charge port within a few minutes after opening the

charge port door, the charge port door closes. If this

happens, use the touchscreen to open the charge port

door again.

You can also open the charge port door using any of

these methods:

NOTE: In extremely cold weather or icy conditions, it is

possible that your charge port latch may freeze in place.

Some vehicles are equipped with a charge port inlet

heater that turns on when you turn on the rear defrost in

cold weather conditions. You can also thaw ice on the

charge port latch by enabling preconditioning using the

mobile app. To prevent this from occurring, use the

Schedule settings, available on both the charging and

climate control screens, to set a departure time and

enable preconditioning (see Scheduled Charging and

Scheduled Departure on page 174).

• 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 Y is unlocked.

• 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 on page 136). You can also use

voice commands to close the charge port door, and

begin or stop charging.

CAUTION: Do not try to force the charge port

door open.

Plugging In

NOTE: The following image is provided for

demonstration purposes only. Depending on 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 on

page 171).

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 Y.

Align the connector to the charge port and insert fully.

When the connector is properly inserted, charging

begins automatically after Model Y:

• Engages a latch that holds the connector in place;

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Charging Instructions

• Shifts into Park (if it was in any other drive mode);

4. Range gained: Estimated increase in driving distance

achieved in the charging session.

• Heats or cools the Battery, if needed. If the Battery

requires heating or cooling, you may notice a delay

before charging begins.

5. Driving distance: Displays the total estimated driving

distance or energy percentage (depending on your

display setting) available.

NOTE: Whenever Model Y is plugged in but not actively

charging, it draws energy from the wall outlet instead of

using energy stored in the Battery. For example, if you

are sitting in Model Y and using the touchscreen while

parked and plugged in, Model Y draws energy from the

wall outlet instead of the Battery.

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

on page 174).

CAUTION: The connector end of the charge cable

can damage the paint if you drop it onto Model Y.

During Charging

Charge Port Light

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.

• WHITE (OR LIGHT BLUE): The charge port door is

open. Model Y is ready to charge and the connector

is not inserted, or the charge port latch is unlocked

and the connector is ready to be removed.

• BLUE: Model Y detects that a connector has been

plugged in.

NOTE: If Model Y is locked, the charge port light does

not light up.

• BLINKING BLUE: Model Y is communicating with the

connector. Either Model Y is preparing to charge, or a

charging session is scheduled to begin at a speciﬁed

future time.

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.

• BLINKING GREEN: Charging is in progress. As Model

Y approaches a full charge, the frequency of the

blinking slows.

• SOLID GREEN: Charging is complete.

NOTE: The thermal system may produce steam under

certain conditions. For example, odorless steam can

come from the front of your vehicle while charging at a

Supercharger in cold temperature. This is normal and

not a cause for concern.

• SOLID AMBER: The connector is not fully plugged in.

Realign the connector to the charge port and insert

fully.

• BLINKING AMBER: Model Y is charging at a reduced

current (AC charging only).

NOTE: It is normal to hear sounds during charging.

Particularly at high currents, the refrigerant compressor

and fan operate as needed to keep the Battery cool.

• RED: A fault is detected and charging has stopped.

Check the touchscreen for an alert.

NOTE: Air conditioning performance is generally not

aﬀected by charging. However, in some circumstances

(for example, charging at high currents during a

particularly warm day), the air coming from the vents

may not be as cool as expected and a message displays

on the touchscreen. This is normal and ensures that the

Battery stays within an optimum temperature range

while charging to support longevity and optimum

performance.

Charging Status

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 on page

171).

WARNING: Never spray liquid at a high velocity

(for example, a pressure washer) towards the

charge port while charging. Doing so can result in

serious injury or damage to the vehicle, charging

equipment, or property.

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.

Stopping Charging

2. Charging: The current power of the charger.

3. Charging rate: The maximum current available from

the attached charge cable.

Stop charging at any time by disconnecting the charge

cable or touching Stop Charging on the touchscreen.

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NOTE: To prevent unauthorized unplugging of the

charge cable, the charge cable latch remains locked and

Model Y must be unlocked or able to recognize your

authenticated phone before you can disconnect the

charge cable.

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

lightning icon on the car status overview on the

touchscreen or mobile app, or by pressing and

holding the rear trunk button on the key fob.

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.

2. Pull the connector from the charge port. The charge

port door automatically closes.

NOTE: For vehicles with Lithium Iron Phosphate

(LFP) high voltage Batteries, 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. To determine if your vehicle is

equipped with an LFP battery, navigate to Controls >

Software > Additional Vehicle Information. If your

vehicle has an LFP Battery, "High Voltage Battery

type: Lithium Iron Phosphate" is listed. If your vehicle

does not have an LFP Battery, the high voltage

Battery type is not speciﬁed. See Lithium Iron

Phosphate Batteries on page 167 for more

To disconnect the charge cable when using an adapter

at a public charge station:

1. Unlock Model Y.

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 Y, use the

touchscreen to unlock the charge port.

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.

3. Press and hold the button on the charging handle

again to release the adapter from the public charging

handle.

NOTE: The charge port door automatically closes within

approximately 10 seconds of removing the connector

from the charge port.

You can further adjust charge settings:

CAUTION: Tesla strongly recommends leaving

Model Y plugged in when not in use. This

maintains the Battery at the optimum level of

charge.

• 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. You can also touch the lightning icon near the

charge port on the car status overview. Use Stop

Charging when you are ﬁnished charging.

CAUTION: Model Y does not shift out of Park if the

charge port is unable to determine whether a

charging cable is plugged in. Ensure the charging

cable is unplugged and follow the instructions on

the touchscreen to proceed (see Park on page 56).

• 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 Y remembers the location.

If you charge at the same location, you do not need

to change it again.

Charge Settings

Access charge settings by touching Controls > Charging

when Model Y is in Park. You can also touch the battery

icon on the touchscreen to access charge settings.

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• 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 on

page 174).

• Charge the battery to the appropriate charge limit for

Model Y based on the installed battery (see Electric

Vehicle Components on page 165). To adjust the

charge limit, navigate to the charging screen and

select Set Limit or use the mobile app to drag the

charging slider.

• For RWD vehicles: Tesla recommends you keep your

charge limit to 100%, even for daily use, and you

regularly charge your vehicle to 100%. If Model Y has

been parked for longer than a week, drive your

vehicle as you normally would and charge to 100% at

your earliest convenience.

• 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 on page 172).

NOTE: To reduce congestion at high-usage

supercharger sites, you may be limited to a maximum

charge of 80% when not using Trip Planner (if

available in your market region). See Trip Planner on

page 157).

• For AWD vehicles: keep the full charge limit of the

battery to under 90% for Daily use. If you need 100%

of your battery for a long-distance trip, increase the

limit for Trip as needed.

Manually Releasing Charge Cable

Supercharger Usage Fees and Idle

Fees

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, try pressing

and holding down the rear trunk button on the key fob

accessory (if equipped) for 1-2 seconds. If it still doesn't

release, carefully follow these steps:

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.

1. Ensure that Model Y is not actively charging by

displaying the charging screen on the touchscreen. If

necessary, touch Stop Charging.

NOTE: Estimated cost may not reﬂect the ﬁnal cost of

the supercharging session. Final pricing for

supercharging sessions can be found in your Tesla

account.

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.

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.

Charging Best Practices

• If you are able, maintain a regular charging routine

using a low-voltage charger such as a Wall Connector

at your home.

• Avoid allowing the battery to get too low.

NOTE: The release cable may be recessed within the

opening of the trim.

• Only use DC Fast Charging (such as Supercharging)

when necessary, such as during long road trips.

4. Pull the charge cable from the charge port.

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CAUTION: Use the release cable only in situations

where you can not release the charge cable using

the usual methods. Continuous use can damage

the release cable or charging equipment.

WARNING: Do not perform this procedure when

your vehicle is charging, or if any orange high

voltage conductors are exposed. Failure to follow

these instructions can result in electric shock and

serious injury or damage to the vehicle. If you are

uncertain as to how to safely perform this

procedure, contact your nearest Service Center.

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Scheduled Charging and Scheduled Departure

Toggle between Scheduled Departure and Scheduled

Charging by touching Controls > Charging > Switch to

Scheduled Charging/Scheduled Departure when Model

Y is in Park.

NOTE: When Model Y is not plugged in,

preconditioning operates but only when the Battery's

charge level is above 20%.

• Oﬀ-Peak Charging delays charging and automatically

starts charging in order to ﬁnish before your

scheduled departure time while also ensuring to

charge the Battery during oﬀ-peak hours to reduce

energy costs. Touch Change Oﬀ-Peak Hours to

customize the time when oﬀ-peak utility rates end.

NOTE: Scheduled Charging/Scheduled Departure

settings are also available on the Climate Controls

screen and in the Tesla mobile app.

Think of Scheduled Charging as "When do I want

charging to start?" and think of Scheduled Departure

Oﬀ-Peak Charging which is "When do I want charging to

be complete?"

NOTE: Choosing Oﬀ-Peak Charging can reduce

energy costs even in market regions where oﬀ-peak

utility rates are not applicable. For example, if

charging starts as soon as you plug in, charging may

complete much sooner. This causes the Battery to

cool down to ambient temperatures and requires

energy to warm it back up by your departure time.

Therefore, even if oﬀ-peak utility rates are not

applicable to you, it is recommended that you set

Oﬀ-Peak Hours to the same time as your departure

time in order to reduce energy consumption.

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.

NOTE: If you plug in Model Y with both Oﬀ-Peak

Charging and Scheduled Charging deselected, your

vehicle charges immediately.

NOTE: If there is not enough time to reach the charge

limit, charging starts immediately in order to charge

as much as possible.

Using Scheduled Charging

NOTE: Once charging has started and there is not

enough time to complete charging during oﬀ-peak

hours, charging continues until the charge limit is

reached.

Use Scheduled Charging to specify a daily time in which

you want Model Y to start charging.

With Scheduled Charging selected, enable the feature

then set a daily time to start charging.

You can limit Preconditioning and Oﬀ-Peak Charging to

weekdays only.

NOTE: Scheduled Charging starts charging immediately

if Model Y is plugged in up to six hours after the

scheduled start time. However, if Model Y is plugged in

after six hours of the scheduled charging time, charging

may not start until the scheduled time on the next day.

Using Scheduled Departure

Use Scheduled Departure to set a daily time when you

want Model Y to be ready to drive. Model Y

automatically calculates when it needs to start

preconditioning and/or charging. This ensures that

charging is complete and/or the cabin climate and

Battery are preconditioned by your departure time.

When Scheduled Departure is displayed, touch

Schedule to set a daily time when you want Model Y to

be ready to drive. Specify a time, then touch Settings to

enable one or both of the following departure features.

When plugging in with Oﬀ-Peak Charging enabled, the

vehicle brieﬂy draws power (you may hear clicking) to

calculate the necessary charging start time.

After you’ve speciﬁed your desired settings, touch Set.

The touchscreen displays your scheduled departure

time.

• Preconditioning warms the Battery for improved

performance and ensures a comfortable cabin

climate at your set departure time.

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Charging and Energy Consumption -> Charging Instructions for Your Tesla Model-Y SUV 2023

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