Supercharger Avg Power

[carys98]

We are bottlenecked by the CURRENT output of the charger (500A); it’s not the kW rating of the charger that determines how fast our Lightnings charge, it’s the maximum current output, which is 500A at an EA 350 or Tesla SC. The relatively low voltage of our Lightning’s battery pack (mid-300V) means we can never see more than about 170kW from 500A.
340V x 500A = 170,000W or 170kW (get it?)
If the Lightning had been designed with a higher voltage battery pack, we might see higher charging rates from the available 500A; but, that’s the way it is, and it isn’t going to change. It’s highly unlikely anyone’s going to make a DCFC that outputs more than 500A. So, if you’re seeing about 170kW on a DCFC, you are getting the fastest charging possible on our Lightnings.

**if the DCFC is limited to less than 500A (say, 350A) then we get even less charging kW:
340V x 350A = 119kW
When chargers are “administratively” de-rated, it’s the current (amps) output that gets throttled down.

The Alpitronic chargers that Ionna and Mercedes are rolling out will go to 600A but the Lightning was originally limited to 450A. Ford is now rolling out the SW update that will allow us to go to 500A so the limit will still be the truck.

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[carys98]

Is there something different about Superchargers? I've never seen over 167kW on any EA station and I've used many of the 350kW stations (350A and 500A). Why is the SC able to get to almost 190kW? Better cooling? More overhead on the amperage output? There has to be something different about it. 20+kW is a huge difference.

I’ve actually gotten higher rates on the EA 150’s than on the 350’s. I’ve seen 174kW on a 150 and I don’t have the 500A update.

 

[K6CCC]

I've only used three Tesla Supercharger locations since I bought my truck 10 days ago. All were quick stops.
1: 56% - 75%, 13 minutes 28KWH with peak rate I saw was 128KW.
2: 75% - 90%, 24 minutes 21KWH with peak rate I recall of 110KW that ramped down to about 60KW after 80%
3: 72% - 87%, 21 minutes, 19KWH with peak rate a recall was about 120KW until it ramped down at 80%. I was more concerned with eating a late dinner than watching what was happening

#1 & 2 were one right after the other at SC locations a couple hundred yards apart. I started at the less expensive one, but it's in a store parking garage with big signs warning that the garage closes at 2130 - and I started at 2111. So pulled out before getting locked in, and went down the street. I wanted to be fairly fully charged due to my plans the next morning and only had 120V charging at home at that time (I have 240V at home now).

 

[vvgogh]

Ford specifies 15-80% DC fast charging for ER (85 kWh) at taking 41 min. So, 125 kW is the average charging power specification. My slower experiences at Superchargers are delivering 80% of the Ford spec. This adds 10 min totaling to 51 min for 85 kWh.

Here's a session from the 250 kW Tesla charger in Rifle, CO 11% to three points yesterday evening.

I'm only getting 75% of the average power @tommolog gets =(. He has a handy table graphic at the bottom of this page. He's charging 33% faster than me! It took me an extra 12 min to get to 80%!

I must be experiencing thermal throttling despite the charging port and adapter being shaded by the truck in the remaining evening sunlight. It's a consistent experience on other 250 kW Tesla V3 chargers for me. Not sure if I have the 10% more average power update... I'm only getting 85% of the original spec 125 kW average power let alone the 141 kW @tommolog reported.

 

[vvgogh]

I used the Telluride supercharger in a parking garage. Used my adapter and the garage shade ensured direct sun wasn't a factor. But, it's still summer. Starting about 28% SOC, I got about 165 kW peak, but the average dropped to 107 kW by the time I got to 80%. The original Ford spec was to accept 85 kWh in 41 min averaging 125 kW. There was a charging curve update @tommolog measured to deliver 79 kWh in 32 min averaging 146 kW, a 17% speedup. He used an EVgo station which provides 540A in the 1Q25 charging curve upgrade test.

I get 85% =107kW/125 kW of the original charge curve. And only 78% = 107 kW/137 kW of the '25 updated charge curve @tommolog measured (no idea if I got the update as I'm thermal bottlenecked in this Supercharger measurement).

I suspect my adapter is causing overheating throttling the current; non-Tesla chargers (no adapter needed) will sustain higher speeds.

July '24 @tommolog reported 46 kWh delivered from a Supercharger in 26 min averaging 106 kW, well below the original Ford Spec of 125 kW. He measured a peak temperature on the Tesla handle of 123F. I guess I'll bring my IR thermometer and a wet rag next time.

Is anyone getting 125-141 kW average power delivering 50+ kWh energy from a Tesla Supercharger?

Table. Telluride Supercharger on '23 ER Lariat, 8 Aug 2025 using Ford branded Lectron adapter​

Duration	Energy	Avg Power	Inst Power	SOC
10 min	22.8 kWh	137 kW	113 kW	45%
20 min	39.7 kWh	119 kW	99 kW	58%
40 min	71.3 kWh	107 kW	not recorded	80%

 

[jetfixr1]

I used the Telluride supercharger in a parking garage. Used my adapter and the garage shade ensured direct sun wasn't a factor. But, it's still summer. Starting about 28% SOC, I got about 165 kW peak, but the average dropped to 107 kW by the time I got to 80%. The original Ford spec was to accept 85 kWh in 41 min averaging 125 kW. There was a charging curve update @tommolog measured to deliver 79 kWh in 32 min averaging 146 kW, a 17% speedup. He used an EVgo station which provides 540A in the 1Q25 charging curve upgrade test.

I get 85% =107kW/125 kW of the original charge curve. And only 78% = 107 kW/137 kW of the '25 updated charge curve @tommolog measured (no idea if I got the update as I'm thermal bottlenecked in this Supercharger measurement).

I suspect my adapter is causing overheating throttling the current; non-Tesla chargers (no adapter needed) will sustain higher speeds.

July '24 @tommolog reported 46 kWh delivered from a Supercharger in 26 min averaging 106 kW, well below the original Ford Spec of 125 kW. He measured a peak temperature on the Tesla handle of 123F. I guess I'll bring my IR thermometer and a wet rag next time.

Is anyone getting 125-141 kW average power delivering 50+ kWh energy from a Tesla Supercharger?

Table. Telluride Supercharger on '23 ER Lariat, 8 Aug 2025 using Ford branded Lectron adapter​

Duration	Energy	Avg Power	Inst Power	SOC
10 min	22.8 kWh	137 kW	113 kW	45%
20 min	39.7 kWh	119 kW	99 kW	58%
40 min	71.3 kWh	107 kW	not recorded	80%

On my last trip I saw a peak of 165 at both a V3 and V4 but it was barely sustained for like a minute or so. That week it was pretty hot outside and my adapter was in direct sunlight. An ice cold wet rag did nothing, and the adapter was measuring 135F. My actual sustained rate was anywhere between 95-110 KW.

 

[hturnerfamily]

what is hard to ascertain with DCFC is that while the units and providers can 'state' a certain speed, such as 150kw or 350kw, it doesn't necessarily MEAN that, at that moment, it is giving you that amount. These units may have their own built-in derating for HEAT, draws from other vehicles charging at the same time, some type of limitation from the utility....who knows. We really don't know.
Yes, it's optimal to dream that we are going to get our Maximum rate at every opportunity, but it's almost more likely that we never will.

I always tell myself, when traveling, that DCFC is like that sign you see in movies, in a desolate lonely stretch of arid desert: "Last CHANCE...."

we get what we can get when we can get it. Clark Griswold says so.

 

[PJnc284]

what is hard to ascertain with DCFC is that while the units and providers can 'state' a certain speed, such as 150kw or 350kw, it doesn't necessarily MEAN that, at that moment, it is giving you that amount. These units may have their own built-in derating for HEAT, draws from other vehicles charging at the same time, some type of limitation from the utility....who knows. We really don't know.
Yes, it's optimal to dream that we are going to get our Maximum rate at every opportunity, but it's almost more likely that we never will.

I always tell myself, when traveling, that DCFC is like that sign you see in movies, in a desolate lonely stretch of arid desert: "Last CHANCE...."

we get what we can get when we can get it.

Also have cable limitations as well. Amusing when people complain and the cables are only rated for 2-300 amp

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