What Factors Impact Tesla Range?

A significant amount of automotive industry resources and research has gone into addressing vehicle driving range. The current model of gas consumption has the leg up in terms of infrastructure and that’s about it. 

As oil prices have increased over the past few decades, consumers have understandably become more concerned with how efficient vehicles are regarding fuel consumption. As a result, manufacturers have been spending countless resources transforming their vehicle offerings to try and meet consumer needs. 

There is a clear discrepancy between the fuel consumption statistics that auto manufacturers present in commercials and the real-world range you can get on a full tank. Unfortunately, the same is true when it comes to electric vehicles. 

Many of the consumption and performance tests that manufacturers conduct are carried out under ideal conditions that don’t particularly translate to real life. This discrepancy is due to a variety of factors. Therefore, it is important for consumers to understand the impact they can have on their vehicle’s range.

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What Factors Impact Tesla EPA Range?

To fully appreciate the Tesla real-life range and battery usage, it's important to understand the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) range.

EPA range is calculated by assuming that you are driving in ideal conditions. This means that the vehicle is fully charged, there is no wind or precipitation, and you are not using your air conditioning, heating systems, or other major features that drain the battery. The speed at which this test takes place also varies depending on the weight of the car. 

There are internal and external factors that contribute to the overall EPA range of Tesla vehicles and other EVs. From the age and quality of the battery, to driver behavior, to the surrounding climate and temperature, it’s important that drivers consider all the variables that influence their Tesla real-world range before embarking on long trips. 

Battery Charge and Quality

Just as the size of a traditional vehicle gas tank will influence its driving range, an EV battery has a similar impact. The battery quality and range is a central concern when it comes to widespread EV adoption. Although Tesla is a pioneer in battery tech and has made an effort to address these concerns, there are still important developments that need to be made.

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For electricity to be stored in a battery as energy, it has to be converted from a chemical reaction. Electricity is generated by the movement of particles, which forces electrons to move from a negative state to a positive state. To hold electricity in a stored state, the battery uses electrochemical cells. During storage, electrons pass from a positive electrode to a negative, while the opposite happens during discharge. 

Electric vehicle batteries are most commonly made using materials like Lithium, Nickel, and Cobalt. These metals are a central component of any battery, but particularly those that are rechargeable, high-capacity, and experience consistent use. From an engineering design perspective, these metals are ideal for the following reasons: 

• Lightweight: The weight of these compounds has little impact on performance
• High Energy Density: They are capable of storing a higher amount of usable energy in a specific volume
• High Power Density: They can rapidly transfer electrical energy to improve performance efficiency
• Low Self Discharge: These materials are less likely to wastefully expend stored electrical energy

To give you an idea of just how beneficial these characteristics are for electric vehicle batteries, lithium-ion batteries that can last for one million miles are currently under development by Tesla. 

Electric vehicle batteries are designed to offer high durability, power, and long-term performance. But this means that drivers need to follow some of the recommended practices when it comes to charging. For example, many experts state that the ideal charge of EV batteries is 80% because it exposes the cell to consistently high voltage. On the opposite end of the spectrum, letting batteries drain completely also produces negative effects and ends up wearing out the system sooner than desired. Ideally, try to avoid the battery going lower than 20%.

There are many options available on the market for charging your EV, and numerous supercharging stations and at-home charging stations are now available on the market. Apart from Tesla, one of the most reliable at-home charging options is the Bosch EV2000. This system is designed to fully charge an EV battery within 45 minutes and help EV owners charge their vehicles without added complexity.

Battery quality and good charging practice go hand in hand when it comes to the impact on Tesla’s driving range. The free Optiwatt app can help you find the best places, times, and rates for charging your EV.

Driver Behavior

Driver behavior is a major factor when it comes to determining the real-world driving range of Tesla EVs. Just as drivers can waste gasoline by being too heavy on the gas and brakes, similar driving patterns can influence the range of an EV. 

It can be tempting to want to push the performance of your Tesla, particularly on highways. Collectively, Teslas are some of the fastest cars on the market, with features like the ludicrous mode, allowing the car to travel at extreme speeds. But these features place an additional burden on the battery, forcing it to use energy more quickly.

Additionally, Teslas can achieve a different range depending on the route being traveled, similar to highway and city fuel economy ratings of fuel-powered vehicles. Tesla has a digital My Range feature that allows you to see how your specific route affects range. The longer the distance, the greater the estimated range for any given speed will be. 

Tesla and their business partners have developed a range of tools that can help drivers analyze their behavior behind the wheel. By taking advantage of these resources, drivers can achieve a higher real-world range and avoid finding the nearest charging stations more frequently. 

Temperature and Climate

The popularity of Tesla comes with expansion into new markets. With new markets, differences in climate, weather, and temperature pose additional challenges. The latter is particularly important when it comes to the real-life range of Tesla and other EVs.

Tesla EPA Range is calculated under ideal conditions, and this includes atmospheric conditions like pressure and temperature. Moving too far in either direction is bound to have an impact on the battery's ability to efficiently hold and release charge. High and low temperatures can both impact Tesla’s range, and drivers should be aware of how this will impact their vehicle's performance.

High Temperature

High temperatures have a negative impact on battery capacity, forcing them to work harder to cool down. This effect is not linear and becomes more dramatic as the temperature gets higher. For example, in 95ºF with air conditioning, an EV’s driving range can decrease by 17%. A spokesperson at Tesla disputed this statement, refuting that it’s unlikely to experience a range drop of more than 1% in hot temperatures based on their real-world fleet data.

Regardless, this makes hot days a tough time for any Tesla driver. Fortunately, you can track your real-time battery levels and driving range in the Tesla mobile app. This way, you'll know how much battery power is available at your current location and temperature, allowing you to plan accordingly.

Cold Temperatures

When batteries are exposed to cold temperatures, the charge will drop. Although the batteries that power EVs are much larger and more complex than smartphone and PC batteries, the mechanics are the same. Cold temperatures drain batteries.

That said, cold weather doesn't need to be a range killer. On the Tesla app, the estimated range bar will turn blue when temperatures dip below freezing. However, Tesla recommends heating up your EV before you set out on your journey. Tesla suggests that when “driving on a very cold day, the regenerative braking lessens and you may experience a lower range. You can warm up your Tesla EV by plugging it in at home or work, which will charge it while warming the battery pack."

Tire and Brake Quality

Brake pads and tires play a crucial role in a vehicle’s range. Tesla recommends checking the tire pressure on all four tires before you begin your journey. Degraded or improperly inflated tires can decrease energy efficiency, increasing internal resistance and reducing range by 5% for every drop in pressure of 3 psi.

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Similar performance issues can happen with the quality of the brake system. In gas-powered vehicles, sticky brake pads and outdated systems can cause persistent friction on the wheels, draining extra gas and reducing the performance of the vehicle. The same is true for EVs except that electricity is drained instead of gasoline. 

The quality of the roads is another factor that can reduce battery power. Potholes and unfinished roads create issues with tire and brake performance, which has a trickle-down effect on battery usage. 

Software Updates

Many engine components in modern vehicles, electric or not, rely on internal computer chips to ensure an array of functions, from smooth gear transition to optimal battery usage. Especially for EVs, software updates are an essential part of keeping the vehicle in peak operating condition. While there have been reported issues with software updates throttling battery life and charge time, these issues have largely been addressed. 

Final Words

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The future is looking bright for those looking to improve their Tesla EPA range. With recent battery technology seeing groundbreaking developments, concerns about battery life are being mitigated, and EV manufacturers like Tesla and free applications like Optiwatt continue to improve the reliability and efficiency of EV batteries.