Different batteries have different characteristics when it comes to charging; this goes for the various Tesla battery models, too. Through the ABRP data collection by generous users, we have quite a lot of real-world data to base our models for use in route planning, and in this post, we give you some insight into the data. The data here is based on 4600 Supercharging sessions from 801 Tesla Vehicles!
First of all, the battery model of a Tesla is not completely clear from the model name. An almost complete list of Tesla batteries includes:
BT37: The 75 kWh battery in a Model 3 Long Range
BT60: The old S60 60 kWh battery
BT70: The old S70 70 kWh battery
BT85: The classic “85” kWh battery in a Model S85
BTX4: The 90 kWh battery in S90 and X90
BTX5: The 75 kWh battery in S75 and X75
BTX6: The top-of-the-line battery 100 kWh in S100 and X100
BTX7: A rare 85 kWh battery, where we have almost no data
BTX8: An 85 kWh battery found in some rare S75 and X75
Model 3 LR – BT37
First out is the Model 3 Long Range battery. There is a limited amount of data in ABRP’s database – only 38 charging sessions from 13 cars – so please contribute! The blue dots are measured data points, and the red dashed line is the present ABRP charging power model.
The estimated battery capacity from the contributing cars is 72.8 kWh
Model S85 – BT85
Second, the classic S85 battery, which is known for not really being 85 kWh. There is plenty of data here, and as you can see it is charging at very high speed all the way from 0% SoC, but tapers off relatively early.
The estimated battery capacity from the contributing cars is 73.4 kWh. That’s why I wrote “85”. It has basically the same capacity as an S/X75.
Model S70 – BT70
The older S70(d) battery is similar to the BT85, but smaller. From data, the estimated usable capacity is 65.7 kWh.
Model S/X90 – BTX4
The S/X90 battery is like the “85 kWh” battery also not really living up to its name. The estimated capacity from the data is 79.8 kWh. It differs from the BT85 in that it charges slower at really low SoC (below 10%) but it compensates by charging a lot faster at higher SoC.
Charging at BTX4 battery from 10 kWh to 50 kWh takes 23 minutes. The same charge (in absolute energy, not %) takes 27 minutes in a BT85.
Model S/X75 – BTX5
The “new” 75 kWh battery, sometimes software limited to 60 kWh in an S/X60, has an estimated capacity of 71.6 kWh. The charging curve is similar to the BTX4 and BTX6 batteries, but in absolute power lower due to the smaller capacity.
Charging from 10 kWh to 50 kWh takes 27 minutes.
Model S/X100 – BTX6
The (so far) largest Tesla battery is an absolute beast. In a large SoC region, the charging is limited by the 120 kW power output of most superchargers. 20 minutes to charge from 10 kWh to 50 kWh. As you can see from the data points below, owners tend never to go much below 10% SoC, and there is a reason – they have so much capacity. 95.7 kWh, according to the ABRP data
Model S/X75 Unicorn – BTX8
There are a couple of odd Model S and X 75 with an 85 kWh battery, software limited. It is rumored that they have been fitted with leftover BT85 batteries, but the charging curves do not look exactly the same. Anyhow, the result is a battery pack with a lot of extra margins and high-speed charging. Lucky owners – 14 of them contribute data to ABRP!
TL;DR
Battery Code | Tesla Model | Estimated Usable Capacity | 10 kWh -> 50 kWh charge time |
BT37 | 3 Long Range | 72.8 kWh | 23 min |
BT60 | S60 | 56.3 kWh | 42 min |
BT70 | S70 | 65.7 kWh | 33 min |
BT85 | S85 | 73.4 kWh | 27 min |
BTX4 | S/X90 | 79.8 kWh | 23 min |
BTX5 | S/X75 | 71.6 kWh | 27 min |
BTX6 | S/X100 | 95.7 kWh | 20 min |
BTX8 | Rare S/X75 | N/A | 25 min |