Model X (2021 and newer): Charging & Battery

With Model X in Park, we press the button on the Tesla charge cable, touch Controls > Charging > Open Charge Port, or hold the key fob rear trunk button for 1–2 seconds. If the cable will not release: 1) Stop charging on the touchscreen. 2) Open the rear trunk. 3) Pull the charge port release cable down. 4) Remove the charge cable. Tesla warns never to do this while charging or with orange high voltage parts exposed.

Yes, with the right adapter for the station; some stations must be started or stopped on their own controls. A NACS connector may fit but only fast charges if Model X supports CCS, which we check in Controls > Software > Additional Vehicle Information; a retrofit may be offered by service appointment. Third-party stations stay hidden on the map until we turn on Controls > Navigation > Third-Party Charging Stations, and Trip Planner will not route to them.

White or light blue: the door is open and ready, or the latch is unlocked. Blue: connected but not charging, for example a scheduled charge. Blinking blue: talking to the charger. Blinking green: charging, slowing near full. Solid green: charging complete. Solid amber: the connector is not fully in. Blinking amber: charging at reduced current (AC only). Red: a fault stopped charging, so we check the touchscreen. The light stays off with no key nearby.

Tesla does not give one number here: Controls > Charging and the Tesla app show the recommended daily and trip range for our Model X, and we set the limit with the slider. Going past the daily recommendation gives a one-time increase that resets afterwards. The battery icon turns yellow at 20% or below, which Tesla says to avoid. Charging may continue slowly after reaching 100%, which is normal, and Tesla recommends staying plugged in when parked.

Congestion fees apply only when a Supercharger site is at capacity and our battery is above the congestion limit, or our session has ended. The first five minutes are waived, then the fee runs until we move Model X, and we get a notification. Rates for each site show in its popup on the touchscreen or in the Tesla app. Session cost estimates can differ from the final charge, which we check in our Tesla account.

1) Touch Controls > Schedule; it also opens from the climate and charging screens or the Tesla app. 2) Choose Current Location, Home or Work. 3) Set Precondition with a departure time, and Charge with start and stop times. 4) Touch Create. Without Repeat Weekly, it runs once. Model X then warms the cabin and battery for departure. Setting End by to our departure time finishes charging just before we leave. Schedules are ignored at Superchargers and other fast chargers.

Tesla offers the Wall Connector, installed where we park and the fastest option for daily charging, and the Mobile Connector, which plugs into common outlets with the right smart adapter attached first. Adapters for the most common public stations in each region are also available. All are sold at shop.tesla.com, with availability varying by region. Tesla warns the high voltage system has no user-serviceable parts, and its cables are usually orange.

Tesla suggests we drive gently, choose Chill in Controls > Dynamics > Acceleration, and ease off the accelerator so regenerative braking recovers energy. We use seat and yoke or steering wheel heaters rather than heating the whole cabin, and precondition while plugged in. We keep tires at the right pressure and alignment, remove extra cargo, close windows, turn off Sentry Mode and Cabin Overheat Protection when not needed, and stay plugged in when parked.

Low Power Mode saves energy when range runs low. We set it in Controls > Charging > Low Power Mode, choosing a level between 10% and 20% (20% by default). Below that level, Model X turns off Sentry Mode, Keep Accessory Power On, Actually Smart Summon standby, Keep Climate On and Camp Mode, Cabin Overheat Protection and preconditioning. Tesla notes the screen and Tesla app still use energy, and energy can drop faster in cold weather.

Where the feature is available, we touch Controls > Service > Battery Health Test, read the popup and touch Start Test. Model X must be in Park, below 20% charge, plugged into an AC charger of at least 5 kW, online, with no pending updates or battery alerts. The test takes up to 24 hours and drains the battery below 10%, possibly to 0%. Tesla warns climate is off, so no one stays inside, and to cancel before unplugging.

Tesla says to keep Model X plugged in when parked and to charge regularly; waiting for a low charge brings no benefit. If the car recommends an 80% daily limit, we set about 80% and use 100% only before long trips. We avoid sitting near 0% or 100% for long, and avoid over 24 hours above 140°F (60°C) or below -22°F (-30°C). Tesla cautions that at 0% we plug in right away to avoid permanent damage.

Model X keeps checking its energy level and how close it is to known chargers. If we risk driving beyond charging range, the touchscreen offers a list of chargers we can reach; selecting one starts navigation, with the predicted energy on arrival shown in the turn-by-turn directions. Touching Chargers in the navigation search bar switches charger types, such as Superchargers and destination chargers. Tesla notes the range estimate may fall faster than the distance we drive.