What is a Tesla Destination Charger? (A guide to use the Destination Charging facility)
Tesla cars are popular these days and people are loving the technology offered by the company. It is estimated there are over 2.5 million Teslas on the road worldwide as per the sales figure released for the first quarter of 2022.
Customer satisfaction, technological advancement, safety features, efficient performance and reliability are the main reasons behind the popularity of Tesla electric cars.
All-electric vehicle owners are always dubious about the range, performance and availability of charging stations. Keeping this in mind, Tesla offers various charging facilities including home charging stations, Tesla Superchargers and Tesla Destination Charging.
Tesla owners can install a home charging station with the help of technical experts from Tesla. There are more than 25,000 Supercharger stations around the world which can charge your Tesla within 15 to 20 minutes. Likewise, Tesla also offers Destination Charging stations available at hotels, restaurants or parking locations.
In this article, we are going to answer ‘What is a Tesla Destination Charger?’ including the availability, features, charging fee, comparison with supercharger stations and much more.
What is a Tesla Destination Charger?
Tesla Destination Charging is one of the best options for those travelling on a long route or stopping by at hotels, restaurants and parking garages. At present, there are over 35,000 Wall Connectors at various Tesla Destination Charging stations.
Available at Hotels, Restaurants and Parking Garages
35,000++ Wall Connectors at various charging stations
Relax and get your Tesla charged
The Destination Charging is equipped with Wall Connectors that can charge your Tesla car when you park for a few hours or stay overnight. The charging capacity or speed of the Destination Charger is the same as the home charging station. So, you should not expect ultra-fast charging with Destination Charging. There are Supercharger stations for powerful charging.
Tesla Destination Charging stations are available in both urban and rural areas, especially at popular restaurants, resorts and restaurants.
Tesla Destination Charger Map
As per Tesla, there are more than 35,000 Wall Connectors at different Destination Charging Stations. These stations are available at hotels, resorts, restaurants and parking garages.
The majority of Tesla Destination Charging stations are available in the United States followed by European Countries (France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Croatia, Italy, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Denmark, Poland and Norway), Ireland, United Kingdom, China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and United Arab Emirates (UAE).
| REGION/CONTINENT | TESLA DESTINATION CHARGING LOCATION |
| North American | United States, Canada and Mexico |
| Europe | France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Croatia, Italy, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Denmark, Poland, Ireland, United Kingdom, Northern Ireland and Norway |
| ASIA | China, South Korea, Japan and UAE |
| Australian Continent | Australia |
| Oceania | New Zealand |
You can visit the Tesla official site and find Destination Charging stations easily. Besides, you can easily locate supercharger stations, service centres, Tesla stores and galleries and collision centres.
You can view the full map on the website as shown in the screenshot above and find destination charging stations. Or, you can simply enter your desired location to find the exact stations.
How do you use Tesla Destination Charging?
Tesla Destination Charging stations are primarily located at popular hotels, restaurants, resorts and parking garages. As we discussed above, there are 35,000+ wall connectors available around the world.
If you are travelling or need to park your vehicle for a few hours, you can find Tesla Destination Charging stations nearby using the location finder from your Tesla’s touchscreen. After that, you can just plug in your vehicle to the wall connector and start charging.
It will be better if you search for Destination Charging stations prior to travelling long distances and plan ahead. You can find resorts, restaurants, hotels and parking locations equipped with wall connectors from your touchscreen. With that, you can start charging your Tesla as soon as you arrive.
Your Tesla powers up when you enjoy your day or charge overnight at the select locations. Also, you can view the status of the charge in real time by using the Tesla Mobile app available for iOS and Android platforms.
You can monitor and control charging with the app and also get notifications when charging is Complete.
Can anyone use Tesla Destination Chargers?
The destination Charging facility is available for non-Tesla EV owners but they need to pay for the service.
Tesla offers free charging for customers arriving at hotels, restaurants or resorts equipped with the Tesla Destination Charging facility. Customers not staying or taking service from hotels, restaurants or resorts need to pay applicable charges based on the electricity fees of the location.
Is Tesla Destination Charging free?
Tesla Destination Charging is free for those EV owners arriving and staying at hotels, resorts or restaurants. For instance, if you are staying at a Resort equipped with a Tesla Destination Charger, you can get your Tesla charged for free.
Tesla Destination Charger Price
The cost of charging your Tesla at Destination Charging stations depends on the electricity rates of the region and the location of the station. The overall charging rates vary widely.
For example, you are charging your Tesla Model Y Long Range variant at a Destination Charging location in Los Angeles where the electricity rate is $0.244 per kWh. Let’s calculate the estimated charging price.
Battery Capacity = 75kW
Electricity Rate (per kWh) = $0.244 (24.4 cents)
Approximate Charging Cost = 75 x $0.244 = $18.3 for a full charge
How long does it take to charge a Tesla at a Destination Charger?
Tesla Destination Chargers do not offer ultra-fast charging because they are equipped with wall connectors same as the home charging station. So, it may take between 1 to 12 hours to charge your Tesla depending on how much charge is left.
Destination Chargers are typically powered with 22kW capacity which may require several hours for a full charge. It is expected the destination charger will add between 30 to 40 miles of range per hour of charging depending on the Tesla Models.
| TESLA MODEL | Miles Added per hour of charging at Destination Charging stations |
| Tesla Model 3 | 30-40 miles/hour |
| Tesla Model S | 34 miles/hour |
| Tesla Model X | 30 miles/hour |
| Tesla Model Y | 42 miles/hour |
What is the difference between Tesla Destination Charger and Supercharger?
The major difference between Tesla Destination Charger and Supercharger is the charging capacity. Superchargers are equipped with highly powered charging technology that can fully charge Tesla Cars within 15 to 20 minutes while Destination Chargers may take 1 to 12 hours depending on the charge left.
Destination Chargers have a charging capacity of 22kW whereas Superchargers are powered with 120kW-150kW capacity.
Talking about the availability, Superchargers can be found at more than 25,000 global locations while 35,000+ Wall Connectors are available at Destination Charging Stations across the globe.
Destination Charging is for free to those EV owners arriving and being a part of the business (hotels, restaurants or resorts equipped with Destination Charging). However, there are applicable charges for using a Supercharger.
The idle fee of charging per minute at the Supercharger station is US$0.50 however, you need to pay $1.00 per minute in case the Superchargers are fully occupied. The idle fees vary widely depending on the country.
Tesla Destination Charging vs Supercharging Capacity
| TESLA DESTINATION CHARGER | TESLA MODELS | TESLA SUPERCHARGER |
| 30-44 miles/hour | TESLA MODEL 3 | Up to 174 miles in 15 minutes |
| 34 miles/hour | TESLA MODEL S | Up to 200 miles in 15 minutes |
| 42 miles/hour | TESLA MODEL Y | Up to 162 miles in 15 minutes |
| 30 miles/hour | TESLA MODEL X | Up to 175 miles in 15 minutes |
