Getting 400 miles out of one tank of gas or diesel is not a big deal; most hybrids can easily get into the 500-mile range and diesel SUVs with 20- to 30-gallon tanks can hit 600-700 miles between fill-ups. But for electric vehicles, the 400-mile range frontier is a big deal.
Tesla has long been the production EV range champ, with a dual-motor Tesla Model S, equipped with a 100-kW-hr battery, capable of driving 335 miles on a single charge. Last week, Tesla released an updated version of the Model S that promises 370 miles of range. But is that really the limit?
We had the exclusive opportunity to drive this updated Tesla Model S from the Tesla factory in Fremont, California, to the company's design center in Hawthorne, California—a trip that normally requires a stop at a charging station somewhere in between. Yet, after 359 miles of nonstop driving, our intrepid team pulled into Tesla Design with 11 percent charge left on the battery, and a stated range of 41 miles. So is 400 miles actually possible? And just how do you drive that long without stopping for a break? Watch the video above to find out.
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Tesla cars can travel some of the longest driving ranges of any other production electric vehicle on the market. It is natural for estimated range to change, particularly over time or with a recent change in temperature. Read more about the range and efficiency of your Tesla. What is Range?
Range is the estimated distance your Tesla can travel on a single charge. For battery-powered cars, you can also think of range as the amount of energy your battery has stored at a given point in time. Tesla drivers can choose to display range as either a percentage of battery energy remaining, or remaining kilometers that can be driven.
Displayed range in your Tesla is adapted based on fixed EPA test data, not your personal driving patterns. It’s natural for this to fluctuate slightly based on how you charge the battery throughout its life and how the onboard computer calculates range.
Your Tesla’s actual range depends on many factors, particularly your environment and personal driving habits. The best way to monitor your personal range is with the Energy app, located on your Tesla’s touchscreen.
The Energy App
The Energy app located on your touchscreen is designed to help you maximize efficiency and range. As you drive, it analyzes your driving patterns and uses the data to project personalized range estimates. It can also leverage this insight to forecast charging needs for a given trip. To access your Energy app, open the apps menu on your car's touchscreen and select the Energy icon.
Your Driving Style and Environment
Your driving behaviors and environment play a big role in achievable range. Frequent stop-and-go driving, inclement weather and uphill driving put a natural strain on the battery. To maximize range, it’s important to watch your driving speed and keep regenerative braking in its ‘Standard’ setting, if selectable regenerative braking is equipped on your vehicle.
As you drive, be mindful of common reasons your range may decrease more rapidly:
- High driving speeds
- Stop-and-go driving
- Short trips
- Uphill driving
- Inclement weather such as rain, snow and headwinds
Cold Weather
When temperature drops, range can decrease due to extra energy demands on the battery. Cold batteries use more energy to maintain optimal operating temperature. Cold weather also limits regenerative braking capability. Though some range effects aren’t completely avoidable in cold temperatures, there are some ways to mitigate them.
- Keep your Tesla plugged in whenever possible. This will help the battery retain some heat. The onboard computer will automatically prevent over-charging.
- Precondition the battery before turning on your Tesla. When possible, plug in and charge while you precondition.
- Limit high use of heat and air conditioning. Instead, use seat heaters to keep cabin climate at optimal temperature.
If you expect to drive in low temperatures, follow these winter driving tips.
Your Charging Habits
Charging Routine
- Maintain a regular, every-day charging routine using a low-voltage charger (i.e. Wall Connector at your home). Avoid allowing the battery to get too low in charge.
- Only use DC Fast Charging (i.e. Supercharging) when necessary, such as during long road trips.
- Charge the battery to the appropriate charge limit for your vehicle based on the installed battery. To adjust
the charge limit for your vehicle, open the Charging screen on your touchscreen and then touch ‘Set Limit’ or open the Charging screen in your mobile app and drag the slider.
- For Rear-Wheel Drive vehicles,
If the image of the battery displays ‘50%’ and ‘100%’: Tesla recommends that you keep your charge limit to 100%, even for daily use, and that you also regularly charge your vehicle to 100%. If your vehicle has been parked for longer than a week, Tesla recommends driving your vehicle as you normally would and charge to 100% at your earliest convenience.If the image of the Battery displays ‘Daily’ and ‘Trip’: keep the full charge limit of the battery to under 90% for daily use by using the mobile app or vehicle’s touchscreen to set charge limit within the ‘Daily’ range. If you need the full range (i.e. 100%) of your battery for a long-distance trip, you can increase the limit to the ‘Trip’ range (>90%) as necessary.
- For All-Wheel Drive vehicles, keep the full charge limit of the battery to under 90% for daily use by using the mobile app or vehicle’s touchscreen to set charge limit within the ‘Daily’ range. If you need the full range (i.e. 100%) of your battery for a long-distance trip, you can increase the limit to the ‘Trip’ range (>90%) as necessary.
- For Rear-Wheel Drive vehicles,
Additional Range Tips
In addition to what’s been covered, here are a few extra ways to drive more efficiently and conserve range.
- Maintain your vehicle's tire pressures. Inflation recommendations are listed inside the drivers-side door jamb.
- Remove unnecessary cargo to lighten your load – more weight requires more energy to move the vehicle.
- Remove roof racks or rear racks when they are not in use.
- Reduce aerodynamic drag. Close all windows and change air suspension (if equipped) to ‘Low’ or ‘Very Low’ when driving at highway speeds. For Model 3 cars with aero wheels, install aero wheel covers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my displayed estimated range decreasing faster than kilometers driven?
Displayed range is based on regulating agency certification (EPA) and is not adapted based on driving pattern. Your driving behaviors and environmental conditions can impact your car's efficiency, and therefore its range. To see estimated range based on personalized energy consumption, open the Energy app.
After charging is completed, why is the estimated range less than expected?
It is normal for estimated range to decrease slightly over the first few months before leveling off. Over time, you may see a gradual, but natural, decrease in range at full charge – this depends on factors such as Supercharging regularly or the mileage and age of the battery. Your Tesla will inform you in the unlikely event a hardware issue is causing excessive battery or range degradation.
Why does estimated range decrease overnight while my car is off?
It is expected for a Tesla car to consume around 1% of charge per day while parked. In some cases, you may notice that consumption is higher. We recommend deactivating features such as preconditioning, Sentry Mode, Keep Climate On and any aftermarket equipment when not needed.
Note: Aftermarket equipment connected to the 12V system and/or third party mobile applications which collect data about your vehicle can decrease range while parked and reduce the battery lifespan. Tesla does not recommend using aftermarket equipment, and any damage to your vehicle's hardware or software resulting from unauthorized access to vehicle data through non-Tesla parts or accessories is not covered by warranty.
Does outside temperature impact range?
Yes. Range can be impacted by extreme cold or hot temperatures; however, the impact will seem more noticeable in cold weather. Tesla high voltage batteries are regulated to keep the battery temperature within optimal boundaries. Even if the vehicle is not being operated, the high voltage battery temperature is monitored and regulated to prolong its lifespan and performance – this is why you may notice the compressor running even while parked. If you're driving in low temperatures, view tips for driving in colder weather.