If you drive an electric vehicle in Brampton and head out on longer trips — whether to cottage country, Niagara, or further afield — your instinct might be to top the battery up to 100% before leaving or at every stop. That’s how most of us treated gas tanks for years.
But according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, that approach can actually slow you down.
The counterintuitive advice
On a recent podcast appearance, Musk explained that on road trips the smarter move is often to charge to about 80%, drive the battery down toward 10% or lower, then repeat. The goal is to spend less total time plugged in.
He noted that the final stretch from 80% to 100% can take roughly as long as the jump from 0% to 80%. Batteries don’t charge at a constant rate the way a gas pump fills a tank.
Why the last 20% is so slow
Musk used a simple parking-lot analogy. Lithium ions inside the battery cells are looking for places to settle — like cars hunting for a parking spot.
When the “lot” is mostly empty (low state of charge), ions find spots quickly and charging is fast. As the battery fills up past about 80%, available spots become scarce. The ions bounce around longer looking for openings, and the charge rate slows noticeably.
That’s a built-in characteristic of lithium-ion batteries, not a flaw unique to any one brand.
What this means for Brampton drivers
Brampton already has solid Supercharger coverage. The large 24-stall station at Trinity Common Mall (210 Great Lakes Drive) and the 12-stall site on Queen Street East give local Tesla and NACS-compatible drivers convenient options to start a trip or top up on the way out of the city.
For most day-to-day driving around Brampton and the GTA, many owners already limit daily charging to 80% or so for battery longevity. The road-trip strategy is specifically about minimizing stop time when you’re covering longer distances.
Tesla’s navigation system is designed with this in mind. Enter your destination and the car will typically suggest charging stops and target percentages that keep you moving efficiently rather than waiting for a full charge every time.
Practical tips
Trust the car’s trip planner for multi-stop journeys.
On longer drives, aim to arrive at chargers with a lower state of charge so you can take advantage of the faster early charging curve.
Use the time at the station for a quick stretch, coffee, or bathroom break instead of waiting for the last few percentage points.
Check current rates and availability in the Tesla app or other charging networks before you leave, especially during peak travel periods.
Charging habits that made sense with gasoline don’t always translate directly to batteries. Understanding the difference can shave meaningful time off road trips while still getting you where you need to go.
For Brampton residents already navigating the shift to electric driving, this is one of those small adjustments that adds up over a long weekend or summer vacation.
