Tesla starts throttling charging limits at “high-usage” Superchargers

Tesla drivers charging at the EV maker’s network of Superchargers are reporting they have had their battery charge limits set to 80% at certain sites that it says are in high demand.

Several Tesla owners – including this writer – have received a message notifying that Tesla had automatically restricted their charge limit in recent days when plugging in at Superchargers, including at Broadway in Sydney, Pacific Fair at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast, and Knockrow in the Northern Rivers region of NSW.

The Tesla Supercharging network is one of the most extensive public DC fast-charging networks in Australia, and is limited to Tesla cars only, unlike other charging networks that are open to all.

The Tesla sites also have multiple charging spots at each location – four, six or sometimes even eight – and its extensive network means that Tesla is well established as the EV market leader in Australia. In 2021, Tesla accounted for six out of 10 EVs sold locally (although wait times have now stretched out to 2023.)

A number of Tesla owners commenting in the official Tesla owners club page on Facebook noted it was the first time they have seen the message on charge limitations, and it is an indication of the increasing numbers of Tesla electric vehicles on the road.

“I actually needed to charge more because tomorrow morning I’m hitting the road SYD-QLD,” said a Tesla owner who needed to charge up ahead of a road trip, noting the setting can be overridden if needed.

“But that’s actually the first time for 3 years I saw Broadway supercharger fully packed, 3 extra destination chargers and a Chargefox were busy and another Tesla was waiting …T he result or electrification I suppose,” they said.

“I was at Broadway last week. Thought it would be quiet in the middle of the day. All stalls full and 3 waiting! Definitely more Teslas on the road,” said another Tesla owner.

When this author went to Broadbeach in Queensland on Saturday, all stalls bar one were also full, and by the end the session another Tesla owner was ready and waiting to take the space.

Nigel Raynard, who operates a Tesla limousine service in the Northern Rivers and has driven almost 500,000km (on one set of brake pads) in his Tesla Model S since buying it in August 2018, says he also saw the message for the first time this week at both the Knockrow and Broadbeach installations.

He agrees that the new message is indicative of the growing demand for Supercharging as an increasing number of Tesla owners start travelling again after two years of lockdowns – and that it is a good move with so many new EV owners on the road.

“It’s smart when you think about it,” he says, because new owners who have their charge limit set to 100% at home might not think to reduce the limit to 80% to ensure they don’t take up a stall for longer than necessary (the last 20% of charging takes a lot longer as charge rates are throttled to protect the battery state of health).

“If by default it kicks them down to 80% they’ll move along a bit earlier,” he points out.

Coming soon: Why it’s a bad idea to charge to 100 per cent at public charging stations.

Bridie Schmidt

Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.