_x000D_Screenshot: Tesla – YouTube

What challenge do Tesla vehicles face in extreme cold weather conditions?

During a particularly icy period in January 2024, with temperatures nosediving to -9°F (-23°C) in places like Chicago, Tesla drivers faced a frosty challenge. The issue at hand was the car’s battery range taking a nosedive, reducing by as much as 36% in some cases. Charging the vehicles also turned into a glacially slow process, with some Teslas even refusing to juice up at all. This chilly predicament is due to lithium ions in EV batteries moving more slowly in freezing conditions. This impacts both driving range and charging efficiency. While seasoned EV drivers knew to precondition their batteries for better performance in the cold, many new owners were caught off-guard.