Open Schedule
Tesla says Schedule is available from Controls, the charging screen, climate controls and the Tesla mobile app.
Tesla · Schedule · ready by departure
Tesla Scheduled Departure: where it went and how to set it
If you are looking for the old “Scheduled Departure” wording, Tesla's current controls put the same planning job under Schedule. Set Charge → End by for when charging should finish, and set Precondition for when you want the cabin and battery ready.
Tesla's current US Model 3 and Model Y manuals describe this as “Scheduled Precondition and Charge.”
Departure calculator
What time should charging start?
Enter your battery target, home charging power and ready-by time. DriveQuery estimates the wall energy and latest start time. Your Tesla will still make its own final charging decision.
Current Tesla controls
How to recreate “Scheduled Departure” in the current Schedule screen
Set Charge → End by
Choose when you want charging to finish. If Start at is left unset, Tesla says the car calculates when it needs to begin charging.
Set Precondition for departure
Use Precondition for the time you want the cabin and battery ready to drive. Tesla calculates when preconditioning should begin.
Official Tesla wording
Open Tesla owner's manual ↗Tesla's current manuals call this feature Scheduled Precondition and Charge. Schedules are saved by location, and scheduled charging is ignored at fast chargers such as Superchargers.
End by vs Start at
Use the control that matches the problem you are solving
Best when the deadline matters more than the exact start time. Tesla can determine the start time when Start at is not set.
Best when you specifically need charging to begin at a fixed time. Without End by, charging continues until the vehicle reaches the charge limit.
Prepares the cabin and battery for your departure time. This is separate from the charging deadline.
Why did it start now?
Scheduled charging can still start immediately in some situations
Tesla documents several cases where charging may start instead of waiting for a future schedule. The most relevant one for a ready-by setup is simple: if there is not enough time left to reach the charge limit by the configured End by time, the car can begin charging immediately.
The car prioritizes meeting the charge target by the deadline.
A currently active schedule can cause charging to begin.
Tesla also documents cases where a schedule more than 18 hours away is not treated as the immediate charging plan.
Exact behavior can change with Tesla software. Verify the current owner's manual for your vehicle and software version.
Native schedule vs smart charging
Tesla can hit a departure deadline. DriveQuery is aimed at choosing cheaper eligible hours.
Best for a fixed routine
- set Start at and/or End by;
- schedule Precondition by location;
- let the vehicle calculate when charging must begin;
- works without DriveQuery.
Being built for rate-aware timing
- combine actual energy need with the ready-by deadline;
- prefer cheaper eligible utility periods;
- recalculate when the required energy or rate window changes;
- avoid changing a manual charging session unexpectedly.
FAQ
Tesla Scheduled Departure questions
Does Tesla still have Scheduled Departure?
The current Tesla owner's manuals describe the behavior under Schedule and Scheduled Precondition and Charge. Use Charge for the charging window and Precondition for the ready-to-drive time.
Where is Scheduled Departure in the Tesla app?
Look for Schedule. Tesla says it is available from the charging screen, climate controls and the Tesla mobile app. Schedules can be tied to the current location, Home or Work.
What happens if I set End by but not Start at?
Tesla says the vehicle briefly draws power after plug-in to determine how long it needs, then calculates when charging should begin to meet the charge limit by the End by time.
Should End by and Precondition be the same time?
They often can be if both goals are tied to the same departure. End by is the charging deadline; Precondition is when you want the cabin and battery ready. Your own routine may justify different times.
Does Scheduled Charging work at Superchargers?
No. Tesla says charging schedules are ignored at fast chargers, including Tesla Superchargers.
Why does the calculator show a different start time than my Tesla?
DriveQuery uses editable battery size, charging power and loss assumptions. The vehicle has more information about battery conditions, charging behavior and the actual charge target, so its own calculated start time is the one that controls the car.
Check US time-of-use peak and off-peak hours →
Ready by 7:00 AM is the goal. Checking the rate every night should not be.
DriveQuery is being built to combine the Tesla's real charging need, your ready-by target and utility-rate periods into a quieter charging plan.