Battery Information - Tesla S Owner's Manual

Battery Information

About the Battery
Model S has one of the most sophisticated
battery systems in the world. The most
important way to preserve the Battery is to
LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE PLUGGED IN when
you are not using it. This is particularly
important if you are not planning to drive
Model S for several weeks. When plugged in,
Model S wakes up when needed to
automatically maintain a charge level that
maximizes the lifetime of the Battery.
Note: When left idle and unplugged, your
vehicle periodically uses energy from the
Battery for system tests and recharging the
12V battery when necessary.
There is no advantage to waiting until the
Battery's level is low before charging. In fact,
the Battery performs best when charged
regularly.
Note: If the Model S Battery becomes
completely discharged in a situation in which
transporting the vehicle is required, the owner
is responsible for transporting expenses.
Discharge-related transporting expenses are
not covered under the Roadside Assistance
policy.
The peak charging rate of the Battery may
decrease slightly after a large number of DC
Fast Charging sessions, such as those at
Superchargers. To ensure maximum driving
range and Battery safety, the Battery charge
rate is decreased when the Battery is too cold,
when the Battery's charge is nearly full, and
when the Battery conditions change with
usage and age. These changes in the
condition of the Battery are driven by battery
physics and may increase the total
Supercharging duration by a few minutes over
time.
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Battery Care
Never allow the Battery to fully discharge.
Even when Model S is not being driven, its
Battery discharges very slowly to power the
onboard electronics. The Battery can
discharge at a rate of approximately 1% per
day, though the discharge rate may vary
depending on environmental factors (such as
cold weather), vehicle configuration, and your
selected settings on the touchscreen.
Situations can arise in which you must leave
Model S unplugged for an extended period of
time (for example, at an airport when
traveling). In these situations, keep the 1% in
mind to ensure that you leave the Battery with
a sufficient charge level. For example, over a
two week period (14 days), the Battery may
discharge by approximately 14%.
Discharging the Battery to 0% may result in
damage to vehicle components. To protect
against a complete discharge, Model S enters
a low-power consumption mode when the
displayed charge level drops to approximately
0%. In this mode, the Battery stops supporting
the onboard electronics and auxiliary 12V
battery. Once this low-power consumption
mode is active, immediately plug in Model S to
prevent a jump-start and 12V battery
replacement.
Note: If the vehicle is unresponsive and will
not unlock, open, or charge, then the 12V
battery may have become discharged. In this
situation, contact Tesla.
Temperature Limits
For better long-term performance, avoid
exposing Model S to ambient temperatures
above 140° F (60° C) or below -22° F (-30° C)
for more than 24 hours at a time.
Energy Saving Feature
Model S has an energy-saving feature that
reduces the amount of energy being
consumed by the displays when Model S is not
in use. On newer vehicles, this feature is
automated to provide an optimal level of
energy saving. However, on older vehicles, you
can control the amount of energy being
consumed by the displays by touching
Controls > Display > Energy Saving. For more
information on maximizing range and saving
energy, see Getting Maximum Range
76.
on page
Model S Owner's Manual