If you’re a Tesla owner, sooner or later, you’ll notice that your car’s battery is draining in hot weather.
Why does it happen, and what can you do about it?
Keep on reading this article.
What Causes Tesla Battery Drain in Hot Weather?
Tesla batteries are designed to operate best within a temperature range of 68-77 °F (20-25 °C), and extreme heat above 95 °F (35 °C) can cause a reduction in battery performance and range by 15%.
Here are some of the common causes of Tesla battery drain in hot weather:
1. High ambient temperature
The ambient temperature of the environment where the car is parked or driven can affect the battery’s performance.
When the temperature is high, the battery’s internal resistance increases, which leads to reduced energy efficiency and increased heat generation.
2. Battery cooling system
Tesla cars are equipped with a sophisticated battery cooling system that helps regulate the temperature of the battery pack.
However, in extreme heat, the cooling system may struggle to keep up with the high temperature, which can cause the battery to overheat and reduce its performance.
3. High power usage
When driving in hot weather, the car’s air conditioning system works harder to maintain a comfortable interior temperature, which can increase power usage and drain the battery even 25% faster.
How to Prevent Tesla Battery Drain in Hot Weather?
While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to prevent Tesla battery drain in hot weather, there are several things that Tesla owners can do to mitigate the problem. Here are some of the solutions:
1. Park in a shaded area
One of the easiest ways to reduce battery drain in hot weather is to park the car in a shaded area. This will help reduce the ambient temperature around the car and prevent the battery from overheating.
If you can’t park in a shaded area, sun screens or car covers can help keep the sunrays off the vehicle.
2. Use Tesla app to pre-condition the car
Tesla cars come with a mobile app that allows drivers to remotely control certain features of the car, including the air conditioning system.
By using the app to pre-condition the car before entering it, drivers can cool down the interior of the car and reduce the workload on the air conditioning system.
3. Use regenerative braking
Tesla cars come with regenerative braking, which allows the car to convert kinetic energy into electrical energy and recharge the battery.
By using regenerative braking in stop-and-go traffic, drivers can help recharge the battery and reduce the amount of energy needed from the battery to power the car.
4. Reduce power usage
When driving in hot weather, drivers can reduce power usage by turning off unnecessary features, such as heated seats or stereo systems, and driving at a steady speed to avoid sudden acceleration and deceleration.
5. Plug the car into the charger
Plugging the battery into the charger will allow climate control features to continue to cool the car’s battery as needed.
How to Charge Your Tesla in a Hot Day?
One of the best ways to deal with battery drain during hot weather is to make sure that you are charging your EV effectively. Here are some tips to help you charge your Tesla battery in hot weather:
- Charge in the cooler parts of the day – As high temperatures during the day can negatively affect the charging speed, try to charge your EV during the cooler parts of the day. Charging during the night or early morning hours can help to reduce battery heat buildup.
- Use smart charging – Tesla’s onboard charger is designed to be energy-efficient, so make use of smart charging features to help prevent your battery from overheating. You can set charging limits or use the “charge to start time” feature in the Tesla app to optimize charging during cooler hours.
- Don’t charge to 100% – Charging your battery to 100% in hot weather can accelerate the degradation of your battery. Instead, aim for a charging limit of around 80-90% to prolong your battery’s life.