What EV Charger Do You Need for a 2020 Tesla Model 3?
Standard household circuits provide only a trickle of power, but your car handles up to 48 amps of alternating current. Pushing 11.5 kW into the 85.4 kWh battery pack requires a dedicated Level 2 setup. Matching that 48 amp ceiling gets you a full charge in 7.4 hours.
The numbers
| Maximum AC charging rate | 11.5 kW (48 A) |
|---|---|
| Charger size to buy | 48 A |
| Circuit breaker required | 60 A |
| Outlet / connection | hardwired (a 48 A EVSE must be hardwired -- no household receptacle is rated for it) |
| Charge port | NACS |
| Full charge on Level 2 | about 7.4 hours |
| Range added per hour (Level 2) | about 44 miles |
| Full charge on a 120 V outlet | about 59 hours |
| Range added per hour (120 V) | about 5.6 miles |
| EPA rated range | 330 miles |
| Energy for a full charge | about 85.4 kWh at the wall |
Why 48 amps and not more
Your car has an onboard charger rated for a maximum of 48 amps. Buying a larger charging unit will not speed up your sessions because the vehicle regulates the incoming current. Feeding it a 48 amp supply yields 44 miles of range per hour. Anything lower slows down the process without saving money on the hardware.
What the install involves
A 48 amp charging unit must be hardwired directly to the electrical supply. Call an electrician to pull heavy gauge wire and land it on a dedicated 60 amp breaker. No standard household receptacle is rated for this continuous load. Ask the electrician to verify your panel has spare capacity before mounting the hardware.
Chargers that match this car
Your car has a NACS port. The NACS units below plug straight in; any J1772 unit works with the adapter supplied with the car.
Native NACS plug, no adapter needed.
Dual plug: works with NACS and J1772 cars.
Tesla's own unit. Native NACS, hardwire only.
Worth having as well
Common questions
- Can I plug this car into a standard wall outlet?
- Yes, but Level 1 charging is painfully slow. You get about 5.6 miles of range per hour, requiring 59 hours to fill the battery from empty.
- What plug type does the car use?
- The vehicle uses a NACS connector. Tesla units plug right in, while third party Level 2 chargers work using the adapter that ships with the car.
- Why does the EPA charge time differ from the peak rate?
- The EPA tested charge time is 10.0 hours at 33 miles per hour. Federal testing protocols factor in efficiency losses and taper periods rather than peak delivery.
- Do I need a breaker upgrade?
- You need a dedicated 60 amp breaker installed for a 48 amp load. An electrician must inspect your main panel to confirm it can handle the draw.
Other vehicles
Charging times derived from EPA data for the 2020 Tesla Model 3 (covering 7 EPA trim listings). Electrical requirements follow NEC 625.41, which sizes a circuit at 125% of a continuous load. Always have a licensed electrician verify your panel.