The Tesla Cybertruck, with its advanced 800V charging capabilities, has recently undergone a charging speed test that indicates its actual performance may not align with the initial under-20-minute charging time touted by Tesla on the upcoming 350kW V4 Supercharger.
A recent test conducted on the Cybertruck at an NxuOne Charging Station, equipped with a NACS connector compatible with the truck’s 800V charging system, demonstrated that the peak charging rate achieved was 327 kW into its 123 kWh battery. While impressive, this falls short when compared to the charging curve seen in real-world conditions. It took a total of 20 minutes for the Cybertruck to reach a 50% charge, and an additional 20 minutes to reach approximately 80% capacity. To fully charge the battery, it took 65 minutes.
This performance differs significantly from the expectations set by Tesla’s engineering chief Lars Moravy, who had stated that it would take around 18-20 minutes to charge the Cybertruck from 15% to 85% using a 350kW V4 Supercharger. The observed charging curve reveals that only a 50% charge can be attained in that timeframe using a high-power charging station.
The lag in the Cybertruck’s charging rate seems even more pronounced when compared to other manufacturers. Several Chinese EV makers have developed charging infrastructures with up to 500 kW capacity and 800V+ architectures, enabling them to reduce the 10%-80% charging time to as little as 12 minutes.
Tesla is likely still refining the Cybertruck’s charging technology, focusing less on the 800V capabilities due to the current scarcity of compatible stations. Additionally, the new 4680 Cybercell batteries with dry cathode production present more complex thermal management challenges compared to other Tesla battery types.
Drawing parallels from smartphone technology, Tesla is employing a strategy of virtually segmenting the battery to allow simultaneous charging at 400V, a method akin to the battery “splitting” technique used by Chinese smartphone manufacturers to achieve rapid charging speeds with minimal degradation.
Though Tesla’s Cybertruck charging curve appears to need further optimization, the company’s continuous advancements and upgrades suggest improvements could be forthcoming. Meanwhile, consumers can explore charging solutions such as the 80A Tesla Gen 2 Wall Connector with a 24-foot cable available on Amazon.
Despite the subpar results of this particular test, the Cybertruck’s charging capabilities are still under development, and future updates are poised to enhance the speed and efficiency of its charging process.
