With winter setting in, Tesla drivers may benefit from these tips to tackle snowy and icy conditions. It's common knowledge that EVs suffer range loss in colder weather. In freezing conditions, the EV uses power to warm up the cabin and regulate the battery’s temperature, often depleting the available range in the process. Most EVs these days offer between 200 and 250 miles of range, which, if using a fully charged battery, should be sufficient for a daily commute even with range loss.

Tesla offers a few enhancements for cold weather, including better thermal performance, quicker Supercharging, and enhanced cabin conditioning. Additionally, Tesla also shares some tips for driving in winter. The pointers cut across four categories – comfort and convenience, driving, charging, and snow/ice. Additionally, drivers are advised to consider getting winter tires if they plan to travel on snow-covered or icy roads. These can be bought at their nearest Tesla service center. Windshield washer fluids and tire chains are also recommended to increase safety while driving.

Related: How To Find Your Nearest Tesla Supercharger

Prepare Before Arriving At A Supercharger

A row of Tesla Superchargers in the snow

Tesla advises customers to precondition the cabin and battery pack while charging. That's because the power used for the task will be drawn from the external power source (charger) instead of the car's battery. Preconditioning or defrosting the cabin should be done shortly before the car is driven, and can be initiated using the Tesla mobile app. To enable drivers to monitor their vehicle’s energy consumption in real-time, the Energy App on the touchscreen displays the EV’s current and expected power consumption. The app will also share range tips when necessary to assist drivers in maximizing the available range.

Tesla adds that using the navigation feature to locate a Supercharger helps to maximize range in freezing conditions. That's because the car pre-heats the battery ahead of arriving at the Supercharger to increase charging speeds. As per Tesla, this can enhance charging times by five to 10 minutes. Drivers can also deactivate the mirror auto-fold feature to avoid icing.

Tesla owners are advised to utilize the app’s 'Defrost' feature to remotely get rid of snow and ice before driving their vehicle. Additionally, drivers should check that their car doors aren't covered with ice. They should also remove layers of snow from the hood, roof, and tailgate. Doing this prevents accumulated snow from falling off while driving and becoming a safety issue for the Tesla and other road users.

More: Tesla Roadside Assistance: How To Get It & Which Services Are Covered

Source: Tesla