--- title: "Tesla Scheduled Departure: Setup + Calculator | DriveQuery" description: "Find Tesla Scheduled Departure in current Schedule controls. Calculate charge time, latest start, End by and Precondition settings before you leave." canonical: "https://drivequery.com/us/tesla-scheduled-departure/" language: "en-US" last_modified: "2026-08-30" content_signal: "search=yes, ai-input=yes, ai-train=yes, use=full" ai_priority: "tier-1" primary_intent: "tesla-scheduled-departure" commercial_stage: "problem-solution" query_targets: "tesla scheduled departure; tesla schedule departure; tesla departure time; tesla end by charging; tesla precondition schedule; tesla charge by departure time; tesla scheduled charging" --- [Home](https://drivequery.com/us/) / [Guides](https://drivequery.com/us/guides/) / Tesla Scheduled Departure # Tesla Scheduled Departure: where it went and how to set it ## Quick answer If you are searching for the old **“Scheduled Departure”** wording, Tesla's current owner manuals describe the same planning job under **Schedule** and **Scheduled Precondition and Charge**. - Use **Charge → End by** for when charging should finish. - Use **Precondition** for when you want the cabin and battery ready to drive. - If you set **End by** without **Start at**, Tesla says the vehicle calculates when charging needs to begin to reach the charge limit by the deadline. Tesla says Schedule is available from the charging screen, climate controls and the Tesla mobile app. Scheduled charging is ignored at fast chargers, including Tesla Superchargers. ## Tesla Scheduled Departure calculator The DriveQuery calculator estimates the latest charging start time from: - current battery %; - target battery %; - editable usable battery kWh; - home charging power; - charging-loss assumption; and - ready-by time. Formula: **battery energy = usable battery × (target SOC − current SOC)** **wall energy = battery energy ÷ (1 − charging-loss fraction)** **charge time = wall energy ÷ charging power** **estimated latest start = ready-by time − charge time − small planning margin** This is a planning estimate. The Tesla has more information about real battery conditions and controls the actual charging start. ## Current Tesla controls ### 1. Open Schedule Tesla says Schedule can be accessed from Controls, the charging screen, climate controls and the Tesla mobile app. ### 2. Set Charge → End by Choose when you want charging to finish. When Start at is not set, Tesla says the vehicle determines when it needs to start in order to meet the charge limit by the End by time. ### 3. Set Precondition Set the time when you want the cabin and battery ready. Tesla calculates when preconditioning needs to begin. ## End by vs Start at vs Precondition ### Charge → End by Use this for **“Be charged by 7:00 AM.”** It is the charging deadline. ### Charge → Start at Use this for **“Do not begin before midnight.”** If End by is not set, charging continues until the charge limit is reached. ### Precondition Use this for **“Be ready to drive at 7:00 AM.”** It prepares the cabin and battery for departure. ## Why can scheduled charging start immediately? Tesla documents several cases where charging can start rather than wait for a later schedule. The most important ready-by case is that there may not be enough time left to reach the charge limit before the configured **End by** deadline. Other documented cases include plugging in during an active scheduled charging window and situations where the next scheduled charge is more than 18 hours away and not on the current day. Exact behavior can change with Tesla software. Verify the current owner's manual for your vehicle and software version. ## Tesla Schedule vs DriveQuery Smart Charging Tesla's native Schedule is already strong when you want a fixed start/end schedule or a vehicle-calculated start time based on an End by deadline. DriveQuery is being built for a different problem: combine the car's actual energy need, a ready-by target and utility-rate periods so charging can prefer cheaper eligible hours and recalculate when something material changes. [See Tesla smart charging](https://drivequery.com/us/smart-charging/) ## Tesla Scheduled Departure FAQ ### Does Tesla still have Scheduled Departure? The current Tesla 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 location-based. ### What happens if I set End by but not Start at? Tesla says the vehicle calculates when it needs to begin charging to meet the charge limit by the End by time. ### Should End by and Precondition be the same time? They can be if both goals are tied to the same departure. End by is the charging deadline; Precondition is the ready-to-drive time. ### Does Scheduled Charging work at Superchargers? No. Tesla says scheduled charging is ignored at fast chargers, including Tesla Superchargers. ### Why can DriveQuery's estimated start time differ from the car? DriveQuery uses editable planning assumptions. The Tesla has more direct vehicle information and controls the actual charging behavior. ## Official Tesla source - [Tesla Model Y Owner's Manual — Scheduled Precondition and Charge](https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modely/en_us/GUID-76995CEC-6402-4BFF-99FA-CEFA36E64A19.html) - [Tesla Model 3 Owner's Manual — Charging Instructions](https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/model3/en_us/GUID-BEE08D47-0CE0-4BDD-83F2-9854FB3D578F.html) ## Related tools - [Tesla smart charging](https://drivequery.com/us/smart-charging/) - [Tesla charging calculator](https://drivequery.com/us/tesla-charging-calculator/) - [Tesla charging at home](https://drivequery.com/us/tesla-charging-at-home/) - [Tesla trip planner](https://drivequery.com/us/tesla-trip-planner/) ## 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. [Join early access](https://drivequery.com/us/tesla-scheduled-departure/#early-access)