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Reduced Supercharging Speed on my 2018 Model 3 Long Range

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Sarah K. · rep 0 · May 22, 5:27 AM · 1 replies · solved · Question

Vehicle: 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range

Hey everyone, I've noticed a significant drop in my Supercharging speeds lately with my 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range. It used to charge much faster, especially when the battery was low. Now, even starting at 10-20%, it seems to cap out much lower than it used to, often around 70-80 kW, sometimes even less, and then tapers off very quickly.

I've tried different Supercharger locations, and the issue persists. My battery health shows around 90% capacity, which I think is decent for its age. I'm wondering if this is a common issue for older Model 3s or if there's something specific I should be looking into. It's making road trips a real pain. Any thoughts or similar experiences?

✓ Accepted solution

ClearTheCode Admin

ClearTheCode Team · rep 0 · May 22, 5:27 AM

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ClearTheCode admin answer:

Reduced Supercharging speeds on older Tesla models, like your 2018 Model 3 Long Range, can be a common concern. Here's a breakdown of potential causes and what steps you can take:

  1. Software Updates: Ensure your vehicle's software is completely up to date. Tesla frequently releases updates that can optimize charging algorithms, improve battery management, and address performance issues. Check your vehicle's display for any pending updates.
  2. Battery Preconditioning: For optimal Supercharging speeds, the battery needs to be at an ideal operating temperature. When you navigate to a Supercharger using the car's built-in navigation system, the vehicle automatically preconditions the battery. If you don't use navigation to route to the Supercharger, or if the ambient temperature is very cold, the battery might not be warm enough, leading to significantly slower charging rates.
  3. Battery Degradation: Over time, all EV batteries experience some level of degradation. While 90% capacity is good for its age, the internal resistance of the battery can increase, which might limit the peak power delivery during charging. This is a natural aging process.
  4. Charging Stall Issues: Although you've tried different Supercharger locations, it's possible you've encountered stalls that are sharing power with other vehicles or are individually experiencing a fault. Try different stalls at the same location if possible, and observe if there's any change.
  5. Service Appointment: If the issue persists after checking software updates and ensuring proper battery preconditioning, it's advisable to schedule a service appointment with Tesla. They have proprietary diagnostic tools that can run detailed checks on your battery management system (BMS) and charging hardware. Teslas do not use standard OBD-II codes for these types of powertrain and battery issues, so a specialized diagnostic is required. They can identify specific cell imbalances, hardware faults, or if a software recalibration is needed to restore optimal charging performance.

Causes can range from environmental factors (cold weather without preconditioning), natural battery aging, to specific hardware or software glitches. A Tesla service center can provide the most accurate diagnosis and solution.

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