Navigating Winter with Your Tesla: Cold Weather Driving and Charging Tips

• ❄️ Cold weather significantly reduces EV range, and Tesla’s navigation system adjusts routes to Superchargers more frequently in winter.
• 🔥 Preheating your Tesla before a trip warms the battery, enhancing its performance during cold weather.
• 🌨️ Use the “Defrost Car” feature to melt snow/ice on your Tesla and prevent freezing of door handles or charging port.
• 🔌 Keep Tesla’s Mobile Connector in the car for emergency charging; it can tap into 120V or 240V outlets.
• 🛣️ When navigating to a Supercharger, the Tesla system automatically warms the battery for faster charging.
• 🚗 Tips to maximize range: slow down, use seat heaters, avoid navigating to Supercharger if low on battery.
• 📈 ABC (Always Be Charging): Charge above 80% for long trips; leaving the car plugged compensates for range loss.
• 🗺️ Give yourself a buffer in case of unexpected situations; plan final charging stops with at least 25% charge.
• 🚗 Choose suitable tires for winter weather, and consider chains if visiting snow-prone areas.
• ⚡ Stay at hotels with destination chargers during road trips for convenient charging; use PlugShare app for alternatives.
• 🚪 Spray WD-40 into flush door handles to prevent freezing; keep handwarmers in the glove box for various uses.

As winter wraps its icy grip around the Northeastern United States, Tesla owners gear up to face the challenges of cold weather driving. In this blog post, we’ll explore eleven crucial tips to ensure your Tesla Model 3, Model Y, Model S, Model X, or Cybertruck performs optimally during bouts of extreme cold weather.

Cold Weather and EV Range

1. Understanding the Impact: ❄️ Cold weather significantly reduces EV range, prompting Tesla’s navigation system to adapt routes for more frequent Supercharger stops in winter.

Preparing Your Tesla for the Cold

2. Preheating Magic: 🔥 Preheating your Tesla before a trip not only warms the cabin but also the battery, enhancing its performance in chilly conditions.
3. Defrosting Wisdom: 🌨️ Utilize the “Defrost Car” feature to melt snow/ice, preventing freezing of door handles or the charging port.

Emergency Charging Solutions

4. Mobile Connector Essentials: 🔌 Always keep Tesla’s Mobile Connector in the car for emergency charging, capable of tapping into 120V or 240V outlets.

Optimizing Supercharger Trips

5. Navigate to Supercharger Smartly: 🛣️ When heading to a Supercharger, Tesla’s system automatically warms the battery for faster charging.

Maximizing Range

6. Driving Wisely: 🚗 Tips for maximum range include slowing down, using seat heaters efficiently, and avoiding navigating to a Supercharger if the battery is low.

ABC – Always Be Charging

7. Charge Strategically: 📈 Charge above 80% for long trips, and leaving the car plugged in compensates for range loss due to cold or background operations.

Planning for the Unexpected

8. Create a Buffer: 🗺️ Give yourself a buffer by planning final charging stops with at least 25% charge to tackle unexpected situations.

Tackling Winter Roads

9. Tire Considerations: 🚗 Choose suitable winter tires, and consider chains if venturing into snow-prone areas.

Road Trip Charging Convenience

10. Hotel Charging Wisdom: ⚡ Stay at hotels with destination chargers during road trips for convenient charging. Utilize the PlugShare app for alternatives.

Preventing Winter Hassles

11. WD-40 and Handwarmers: 🚪 Spray WD-40 into flush door handles to prevent freezing. Keep handwarmers in the glove box for various uses, including thawing a frozen charge port latch.