Tesla has been imprecise on how its autos estimate driving vary, however a latest social media submit offers a little bit of readability.
A latest submit from the automaker’s official account on X, the social media web site owned by Tesla CEO Elon Musk that was beforehand generally known as Twitter, lists plenty of components that Tesla’s navigation system takes under consideration when estimating whether or not sufficient vary is offered to succeed in a given vacation spot.
The listing consists of environmental components like wind velocity and course, ambient temperature, and humidity and strain. Chilly climate impacts every EV mannequin in another way, research have discovered, however the warmth pumps put in on newer Tesla fashions undoubtedly assist.
Your automotive does the mathematics for you.
When calculating a route & battery % on arrival, Tesla navigation takes under consideration:
– Wind velocity & course
– Elevation/grade
– Site visitors velocity
– Avg acceleration/deceleration
– Ambient temperature
– Humidity & strain
– Photo voltaic load & cloud… https://t.co/nTDJczTthu pic.twitter.com/gbt6PCFIH7— Tesla North America (@tesla_na) November 14, 2023
The navigation system additionally components in driving conduct, measuring velocity and common acceleration and deceleration. And it takes under consideration issues like local weather management use, and the battery pack’s preliminary temperature and cost use.
Aerodynamic components—like whether or not a motorcycle rack is hooked up—and estimated rolling resistance are additionally thought of. Stickier and wider tires could make an enormous distinction on vary, due to elevated rolling resistance and aerodynamic drag.
Tesla’s native navigation and journey planning have made journey planning far simpler. However now with the addition of EV journey planning via Apple Maps, as an illustration, drivers now have extra choices. Simply do not be so certain that these can faucet into all of Tesla’s components listed above.

Tesla charging
Be aware that this submit solely discusses vary estimates for Tesla navigation methods. Tesla is much less simple when describing what you see once you’re within the automotive, not utilizing navigation however as a substitute simply following the vary estimate you see on the automobile interface.
The Mannequin 3 proprietor’s guide states that vary estimates displayed on the dashboard are based mostly on EPA-rated power consumption and should not account for “private driving patterns or exterior situations.” The guide additionally cautions that “the displayed vary on the touchscreen might lower sooner than the precise distance pushed” and advises drivers open the Tesla Power app to view vary estimates based mostly on latest power consumption.
A Reuters report earlier this 12 months alleged that Tesla outfitted autos with deceptive vary shows after which suppressed proprietor complaints about not meet vary estimates. The report alleged that Tesla programmed shows to point out extra optimistic estimates when automobiles have been absolutely charged, and extra sensible estimates at decrease states of cost. It then allegedly created a particular group to cancel buyer appointments at service facilities in the event that they have been associated to vary complaints.