How do you charge a Tesla when you are renting it? This can be confusing especially if you have never owned or driven an electric vehicle before. In this guide, I will be going over how you charge a Tesla when you rent it.
Along with that, I will also be going over how to charge the Tesla when you are in public and if you need to pay for the charge or not.
If You Rent a Tesla How Do You Charge It?
The big question is, if you rent a Tesla How do you charge it? The most important thing is that you charge the rental Tesla properly, you do not want to damage the rental. First, you need to find the correct charger, you can look up Supercharger stations on Tesla’s website or apps like PlugShare.
Ensure that the station that you choose is compatible with your rental Tesla charging connectors. Another thing that you have to make sure of is that the charging station also supports the charging speed you need to charge your rental. You should also consider the Tesla Charge Limit Warning, you can check out my full guide on the subject.
1. Connecting Charging Cord To Rental Tesla
Now that you have found the right charging station for your rental Tesla, it is time to connect the rental. Locate the charging port on your Tesla this will be located on the exterior of the rental Tesla, open up the flap to access the Tesla charging port.
To open the charging port go to the Tesla touch screen, on the Controls option. Select the open charging port, this will open the flap so you can now charge your rental Tesla. You will next want to take out the charging cord.
Insert the charging cord into the charging port on your Tesla and the charging station connector. Most sure that the charging cord is securely plugged in.
2. Selecting Charging Speed For Rental Tesla
Did you know that you can choose the charging speed when you are charging a Tesla? A charging speed is how fast you want to charge your electric vehicle. Once you have the charging cords safely secured in the rental Tesla charging port and the charging station.
You will now want to select a charging speed, you have options. Choosing which charging speed all depends on you, if you need to get somewhere fast choose the fast charging option for your rental Tesla.
If you are going to be in the area for a while you might want to choose a slower charging speed. This all depends on how fast you want your rental Tesla charged.
3. Keep Watch on Charging Process
Most charging stations will display the charging progress. Make sure you keep an eye on the charging process on your rental Tesla.
This does not mean you have to stay around the charging station, you can go grab a bite to eat, just make sure you are not gone for your charging rental Tesla for too long.
The last thing you want is charging mishaps on your trip. You also do not want to charge your rental Tesla at one hundred percent since this can damage the Tesla’s battery.
You will want to keep your charge level around eighty percent but do not go higher than ninety percent. The only time you should fully charge a Tesla is when you are doing a long road trip and the next Tesla charging station is far away.
4. Pay For Charging Rental Tesla
After your charge on your rental Tesla you will have to pay. You can pay on your card or one of the apps that the charging station takes. The prices on the charge may vary depending on where you are charging your rental, Tesla.
The price of charging your rental Tesla also depends on what model of Tesla you rented. Tesla charging station charges per kilowatt-hour usage.
Even though you have to pay for charging your rental Tesla it is still a lot cheaper than filling up a non-electric vehicle at a gas pump. There is a reason why you are seeing more and more Teslas on the road.
5. Disconnect Charging Cord
Now that your rental Tesla is charged at the desired level and you have paid. Now it is time to disconnect the charging cord from your rental Tesla and the charging stations. Neatly stow away the charging cord and that is it. Get back into your rental Tesla, and explore to your heart’s content, enjoy the many features Tesla has to offer.
Note, that Tesla does not advise you to charge your Tesla to one hundred percent. Anywhere between eighty and ninety percent is the ideal maximum charge to preserve the life of the Tesla battery. The only time you should charge your Tesla one hundred percent is if you are doing long road trips.
Do You Have to Pay to Charge a Tesla in Public?
As mentioned above you sadly do have to pay for charging your rental Tesla in Public. Just like when you fill up at a gas station, when you fill up the charge on your Tesla it will cost money.
On the bright side, you are still paying way less than if you had a gas vehicle. The Tesla charging stations charge based on the kilowatt-hour usage. Keep in mind just like gas stations the Tesla charging station prices vary based on the location.
You can look up different Tesla charging stations and the prices on the Tesla website or apps like PlugShare. That way you can compare prices and find the best Tesla charging station for you.
Cost of Fully Charging Rental Tesla
The prices for charging your rental Tesla can not only depend on the location but also on the model of Tesla you rented. To charge your rental Tesla to around ninety percent the prices can range from anywhere between $23 USD to $60 USD. Which is still a lot cheaper than if you had to fill up a tank of gas in your non-electric vehicle. As stated above these prices all depend on where your location is and/or which Tesla charging station you are using to charge your rental Tesla. As well as what Model of Tesl you rented.
When You Rent a Tesla Do You Have to Bring it Back Fully Charged?
When renting a Tesla you might be wondering if after your adventure will you have to bring back your rental Tesla fully charged. That all depends on the company you rented the Tesla from.
Most companies when you rent a Tesla they require you to have the same level of charge that you started with. Or have the charge at a seventy-five percent charge level, which is lower than what you would have started with when you first rented the Tesla.
Some companies may even say do not worry about bringing your rental Tesla at one hundred percent. However, you should be respectful of the company’s policy and return the rental Tesla at the charge level you started with.
It may be unwise to return the Tesla you rented with a low battery, this may look bad for you and may affect any future renting with this company.
It is always good to have a good reputation with a rental company, especially if you plan on using this company again. Do not be afraid to call the company and ask if you are unsure of where the charge level should be when returning the rental.
Note, if you do charge your rental Tesla before returning the rental, make sure that you do not charge it to one hundred percent. This can cause damage to the Tesla battery and affect the battery life of the rental Tesla.
If you are unsure about what charge level you should charge your rental Tesla to. Eighty percent is the recommended charge for the Tesla battery, do not go above ninety percent.
My Final Thoughts
In conclusion, even if you are not familiar with electric vehicles and Teslas and how to charge them, it is very easy. Renting a Tesla is a fun experience, especially if you have never been in a Tesla before.
At the same time, it can be intimidating with all of its features and settings. Thankfully Tesla made charging very easy with only a few steps. If you follow the steps listed above you should have no problem charging the Tesla you have rented.
Have fun and enjoy a luxurious vehicle on your trip, and who knows this trip may convince you to purchase a Tesla of your own.