Tesla Model 3: While Driving

Cold weather can increase energy consumption because more power is required for driving, cabin and Battery heating. Follow these suggestions to reduce energy consumption:

• Using the seat heaters to keep warm is more efficient than using climate controls.

  Lowering the cabin temperature and using seat heaters will reduce energy consumption

• Slow down your driving and avoid frequent and rapid acceleration.

Regenerative Braking

Regenerative braking may be limited if the Battery is too cold. As you continue to drive, the Battery warms up and regenerative power increases

Note: Limited regenerative braking can be avoided if you allow enough time to precondition your vehicle or use scheduled departure before your drive, as mentioned previously.

Note: Installing winter tires may result in temporarily reduced regenerative braking power but Model 3 will recalibrate itself to correct this after a short period of driving.

Blue Snowflake Icon

A blue snowflake icon appears on
your touchscreen when some of the stored energy in the Battery may not be available due to cold Battery temperature. This portion of unavailable energy displays in blue on the Battery meter.

Regenerative braking, acceleration, and charging rates may be limited. The snowflake icon no longer displays when the Battery is sufficiently warmed.

Warming the Battery Before Supercharging

If you are using Trip Planner and navigate to a Supercharger station, your vehicle will allocate energy to pre-heat the Battery in cold weather. This ensures you arrive at the Supercharger with an optimal Battery temperature, reducing the amount of time it takes to charge.

Autopilot

To ensure optimal Autopilot performance, keep the sensors and radar free of snow, ice, mud, and dirt

After Driving

Leave Model 3 plugged in when not in use.

This uses the charging system, rather than the Battery itself, to keep your Battery warm

Scheduled Departure

When parked, plug in Model 3 and set a time at which you want your vehicle to be ready to drive. Your vehicle determines the appropriate time to begin charging so that charging is complete and the cabin and Battery are warm by your set departure time

Charge Port

• If your charge port latch freezes in place and a charging cable becomes stuck in the charge port, try manually releasing the charge cable.
• Use the mobile app to precondition your vehicle on HI to help thaw ice on the charge port latch so that the charge cable can be removed or inserted

Note: If your charge port latch is frozen in place, it may not lock the charging cable in place when inserted, but it is still able to AC charge at a slower rate even if the latch is not engaged.

Storage

If you leave Model 3 parked for an extended period of time, plug it into a charger to prevent normal range loss and maintain the Battery at an optimal temperature. Your vehicle is safe to say plugged in for any length of time.

When not in use, Model 3 automatically enters a sleep mode to conserve range and energy.

Reduce the number of times you check your vehicle's status on the mobile app, as this automatically wakes up your vehicle and starts normal energy consumption.

Note: See Wipers  and Mirrors on page 80 for more information on preventing ice buildup when parking your vehicle.

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