Tesla Model S

Charging curve · consumption · motorway range

We model 2 versions of the Tesla Model S. The Model S Long Range 95 kWh has 95 kWh of usable battery and peaks at 250 kW on a DC charger. In this app's model it uses about 141 Wh/km at a steady 100 km/h and 202 Wh/km at 130, so 44% more energy per kilometre buys you 30 km/h more speed. Weigh that against a 34-minute 10-80% charging stop and you have the whole question of how fast to drive.

Usable battery
95 kWh
Peak DC power
250 kW
10-80% charge
34 min
Average kW 10-80%
117 kW
Mass, loaded
2110 kg
Top speed
250 km/h

Which version you have matters

These share a name and not much else that a trip planner cares about. Pack size sets how far you go between stops, and the curve sets how long each one takes.

Modelled figures for each version of the Tesla Model S.
VersionUsable batteryPeak DC10-80%At 130 km/hRange at 130
Model S Long Range 95 kWh95 kWh250 kW34 min202 Wh/km469 km
Model S Plaid 95 kWh95 kWh250 kW34 min220 Wh/km432 km

DC charging curve

Charging power against state of charge, on a charger fast enough not to be the limit. Peak power is 250 kW, but it has halved by about 49% state of charge. That is why a short stop low down the curve usually beats a long one near the top.

DC charging curves, peak 250 kWModel S Long Range 95 kWh: 0% 90 kW, 10% 250 kW, 20% 210 kW, 30% 180 kW, 40% 150 kW, 50% 120 kW, 60% 95 kW, 70% 75 kW, 80% 55 kW, 90% 35 kW, 100% 15 kW. Model S Plaid 95 kWh: 0% 90 kW, 10% 250 kW, 20% 210 kW, 30% 180 kW, 40% 150 kW, 50% 120 kW, 60% 95 kW, 70% 75 kW, 80% 55 kW, 90% 35 kW, 100% 15 kW0501001502002500%20%40%60%80%100%kW
Long Range 95 kWhPlaid 95 kWh

How long a stop takes, Model S Long Range 95 kWh

Modelled DC charging times for the Tesla Model S Long Range 95 kWh, on an unrestricted charger.
Charge fromTimeEnergy addedAverage power
10% to 80%34 min66.5 kWh117 kW
20% to 80%32 min57.0 kWh108 kW
10% to 60%18 min47.5 kWh155 kW
20% to 70%23 min47.5 kWh126 kW
80% to 100%37 min19.0 kWh31 kW

How long a stop takes, Model S Plaid 95 kWh

Modelled DC charging times for the Tesla Model S Plaid 95 kWh, on an unrestricted charger.
Charge fromTimeEnergy addedAverage power
10% to 80%34 min66.5 kWh117 kW
20% to 80%32 min57.0 kWh108 kW
10% to 60%18 min47.5 kWh155 kW
20% to 70%23 min47.5 kWh126 kW
80% to 100%37 min19.0 kWh31 kW

The curve, point by point, Model S Long Range 95 kWh

Charging power at each state of charge for the Tesla Model S Long Range 95 kWh.
State of chargePower
0%90 kW
10%250 kW
20%210 kW
30%180 kW
40%150 kW
50%120 kW
60%95 kW
70%75 kW
80%55 kW
90%35 kW
100%15 kW

The curve, point by point, Model S Plaid 95 kWh

Charging power at each state of charge for the Tesla Model S Plaid 95 kWh.
State of chargePower
0%90 kW
10%250 kW
20%210 kW
30%180 kW
40%150 kW
50%120 kW
60%95 kW
70%75 kW
80%55 kW
90%35 kW
100%15 kW

Consumption and range by cruise speed

Steady motorway cruising on flat road in mild weather, from the fitted model Wh/km = 52 + 0.0089 · v² for the Model S Long Range 95 kWh. The “usable range” column is the honest one for trip planning: it is 100% down to 10%, because nobody arrives on empty.

Modelled motorway consumption and range for the Tesla Model S Long Range 95 kWh at each cruise speed.
Cruise speedConsumptionRange (full pack)Usable range (100 to 10%)
90 km/h124 Wh/km766 km689 km
100 km/h141 Wh/km674 km606 km
110 km/h160 Wh/km595 km535 km
120 km/h180 Wh/km527 km475 km
130 km/h202 Wh/km469 km422 km
140 km/h226 Wh/km420 km378 km
150 km/h252 Wh/km377 km339 km
160 km/h280 Wh/km339 km306 km

What the model does not include

Where these numbers come from

Big pack, low drag: one of the few cars here that can hold a high cruise without the stops multiplying. Curated from Fastned/InsideEVs tests.

Fast enough to run off the top of the sweep — the answer is usually still a long way below what it will do. Curated from Fastned/InsideEVs tests.

What speed should you actually drive?

It depends on your route, on where the fast chargers happen to be and how the legal limits fall. Plan the real trip and the simulator will sweep every cruise speed against this car's curves and tell you which one arrives first.

Plan a trip in the Model S

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