(Credit: Tesla)
Tesla is rethinking its cold weather approach after this winter's cold snap put drivers out of commission, angering even the biggest Tesla fans.
In its latest software update, version 2024.2.6, Tesla adds a new dimension to its range calculation: Battery age. "Your estimated battery range now incorporates additional characteristics related to battery aging over time," the release notes say, Not A Tesla App reports.
Though drivers may see a lower range number on the dash, it should be more accurate. This is especially helpful in cold weather, which zaps range much faster than warm temperatures.
There are many factors that determine a vehicle's range, including the driver's charging habits and driving behavior, outside temperature, and wind resistance. But battery age is one of the biggest. Older vehicles can expect to lose about 20% of their total range after a decade. Newer battery chemistries are in development to solve the degradation problem, but they won't be ready for another 10 years or so.
The Tesla dash screen will also now alert drivers if their battery is too cold to fast charge, and must be preconditioned first, a known method for reducing charging time in cold weather. When drivers plug in at a Supercharger station, the display will show how long it will take to warm the battery before it begins Supercharging.
A blue snowflake icon will appear on the dash screen when "some of the stored energy in the Battery is unavailable because the Battery is cold," according to Tesla's guide for driving in cold weather. "This portion of unavailable energy displays in blue on the Battery meter. Regenerative braking, acceleration, and charging rates may be limited. The snowflake icon no longer displays when the Battery is sufficiently warm."
The latest software update also introduces a warming function for the charge port. If the driver navigates to a Supercharger using the dash screen, the port will get toasty along the way, making sure it doesn't get frozen shut in extreme temperatures. Tesla's cold weather guide also notes drivers can use the "defrost car" function in the mobile app to loosen up the charge port.