Charging and range
The Model S Long Range with 19-inch wheels received a certified EPA range of 405 miles, which is approximately 652 km. For the Model S electric car, this was one of the best results on the American market. The Plaid with 21-inch wheels had a rating of 348 miles EPA, approximately 560 km. The difference is created not only by the additional motor and performance settings, but also by the larger wheels with wider tires.
Tesla did not disclose the official usable battery capacity. Independent measurements indicate approximately 95 or 97 kWh of available energy, so this value should be treated as an estimate. For a used-car buyer, the actual battery condition, fast-charging history, and the difference between the calculated and real range of a specific vehicle are more important.
Maximum DC charging power reaches 250 kW when the state of charge is low and the battery is preconditioned. The car automatically warms the battery when the driver builds a route to a Supercharger. The peak 250 kW is not maintained throughout the entire session. Independent measurements of the Plaid showed an average of around 137 kW between 20 and 80%, so when planning a route it is more important to consider the full charging curve, not only the maximum number.
American cars are equipped with Tesla’s proprietary connector, which later became known as NACS. When using such a Model S in Ukraine, it is necessary to check in advance compatibility with local stations, the availability of suitable adapters, and the capabilities of the specific charging module. American and European versions are not interchangeable by port type.