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MagyarTesla takes on the weather: New software update aids supercharging in extreme cold
Tesla just rolled out some new features in a software update for its EVs to charge better in the cold, ostensibly in answer to last month's Chicago supercharging complaints. The cold-weather charging updates are specific to Model 3 and Model Y.
To be clear: no cars fare well in freezing weather – ICE vehicles and EVs alike. Besides whatever may happen to the windscreen or tires, extreme cold always takes its toll on a battery and in the case of EVs the driving range drastically drops, sometimes as much as 29.7%. In a study using Tesla Model 3’s, EV researchers at Recurrent found that charging at 0F (-18°C) took nine minutes longer compared to warmer temperatures. That doesn't sound too bad, but it doesn't account for the 30-45 mins required for the battery to warm up before charging.
Dead-cold batteries are only half the issue here. Failing to defrost the car before the drive can result in a frozen charging port that is unable to hold the cable in place, resulting in considerably slower charging.
Tesla has guidelines for winger drivings, of course; such as preconditioning and scheduled defrosting. It is all very logical, but drivers who fail to follow these recommendations are often in for a nasty surprise when they find out that the estimated range and charging times do not give a fair picture of what they experience. It does not help that Tesla is known for overestimating its driving ranges, and has even been fined for this lately.
If anything, the latest software update (tagged 2024.2.6) is definitely a step in the right direction. From the release notes published on Not a Tesla App, it is immediately obvious that Tesla is trying to double down on making drivers follow its recommendations regarding supercharging in cold weather. However, three new features stand out: the charging times will now reflect the time required for your battery to warm up before fast charging can begin. In the same vein, the estimated range will now show values that are truer to reality in Tesla Models S and X, as well as Models 3 and Y – factoring for things such as battery age.
A third feature has to do with automatically thawing the ice on frozen charging ports. This would hitherto happen only if a driver scheduled defrosting beforehand, but this update now intelligently recognizes when you route the in-built vehicle Navigation towards a cooler climate. According to the release notes, the charging port inlet as well as the battery should immediately start warming up to make ready for supercharging afterwards.
These new updates notwithstanding, the underlying issues will require a different set of habits than what drivers of gas-powered vehicles might be used to. Habits such as preconditioning and scheduling Tesla vehicles to defrost while charging overnight remain the best practices for hitch-free supercharging in the extreme cold.
One way to get started with good EV practices is to buy the Tera EV Charger for Tesla, available on Amazon.
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