Tesla CEO Elon Musk compares charging an electric car to finding parking for this reason

19/10/2026 11:30

Updated to

19/10/2026 11:30

Elon Musk recommends not waiting until 100% at fast charging stations during long trips, instead keeping the battery level between about 10% and 80%. This is due to the charging curve: as the battery approaches its maximum capacity, the car reduces power output to protect the cells. Musk has stated that charging from 80% to 100% can take roughly the same time as charging from 0% to 80%. While this is a simplification that varies by vehicle and conditions, Tesla confirms that fully charging usually takes considerably more time.

Musk's explanation comes from his appearance on a well-known podcast, and this excerpt has resurfaced heavily on social media this year despite having been published quite some time ago. His advice specifically addressed long trips and how to reduce the time spent at Tesla Superchargers.

80% drastically changes charging speed

With a gasoline car, there's a simple logic: once we stop, we fill up the tank. But with an electric car, the fastest strategy might actually be the opposite.

Musk suggested charging to about 80%, continuing the journey, and plugging in again when the level drops to around 10% or even a bit lower if the route planner deems it safe. “It takes roughly the same time to go from 80% to 100% as it does from 0% to 80%.”

This statement should be understood as Musk’s estimate, not as a mathematical rule applicable to all cars. The charging curve depends on the battery chemistry, its temperature, the charger used, the vehicle model, and the initial charge level. Tesla currently only states that the charging speed slows down as the percentage increases, and that reaching 100% usually takes much longer than stopping at 80%.

Musk compares it to finding a parking spot

To explain it simply, Musk uses the image of a parking lot. When it’s empty, finding a spot is immediate. When it’s almost full, finding the last available space takes much longer.

In a lithium-ion battery, something far more complex happens, but the analogy helps to visualize it. As the charge level increases, the management system gradually reduces power to control temperature and voltage and protect the cells.

That’s why a car capable of delivering huge power in the first few minutes can charge much more slowly during its last 10% or 20% of charging.

That doesn’t mean you should never charge to 100%

Here’s the most important nuance. Musk was referring to stops during a trip, not banning 100% charging under any circumstances.

In fact, Tesla recommends that vehicles with an 80% daily limit can be charged to 100% before starting a long journey, when it makes sense to utilize the full range available. It also notes that routines depend on the battery type.

ELON MUSK EXPLAINS WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER CHARGE YOUR EV TO 100 PERCENT ON ROAD TRIPS On long drives your instinct is to fill the battery all the way up like a gas tank. But batteries don’t work that way. Elon says charge to about 80 percent then drive it down to 10 percent or less and repeat. This is the fastest way to spend less time at chargers. The reason is inside the battery. Lithium ions are like cars looking for parking spots. When the battery is empty they move fast and settle quickly. As it fills up they have to search longer and the charging slows down dramatically. Going from 80 to 100 percent takes about as much time as going from 0 to 80. Elon just gave every EV driver a smarter way to travel. https://t.co/8i9BVAtHxu

— As Found (@AsFoundX) October 18, 2026

The difference lies in timing: leaving home with 100% charge can be useful; staying connected to a fast charger for too long to cover the final distance might be inefficient.

On the road, therefore, the fastest strategy isn’t always to make fewer stops, but rather to make slightly more frequent stops and take advantage of each stop’s period when the battery can accept higher power.