In simple terms, the charging schedule can be set with either a start or end time. With either metric, your car and charger work together to calculate when to begin and end a charging session. Everyday Chris reports that the most efficient setting is the departure time (rather than the initiation setting). With this setting engaged, and working in coordination with any charge limit you may have set, your car will calculate how long it needs to actively charge for in order to reach capacity before you unplug the vehicle to get on the road. If you need three hours of charging, for instance, and set the departure time for 7:00 a.m., the charger will automatically engage at 4:00 a.m. to provide the precise level of battery juice that you’ve specified.
This is a simple setting to engage in the Tesla app, but it’s one that will continue to pay huge dividends long into the future. By utilizing a departure time to manage the engagement and cut off of your charging, you can facilitate a more cost-effective charging strategy that ensures your vehicle remains charged and ready for use and a lower overall electricity bill.
