Cybertruck AWD cold-weather efficiency test in freezing temperatures

[carsly]

Simulating a typical day trip, because I was taking a typical day trip, here in a freezing NJ winter I preconditioned before departure on my 46 mile voyage. The truck then sat outside in freezing temps all day for about 10 hours before following the same 46 mile route on my return.

I expected worse, but was happy to average 2.38 mi/kwh in these frigid conditions implying real-world freezing range of over 280 miles: 2.38 mi/kwh x 120 kwh (leaving buffer) = 285 miles of real-world range in mostly highway travel.

Watch the short video for details and kindly consider liking and subscribing.

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[Fast Eddie 008]

I had a very similar trip yesterday with very similar results on my AWD also.

 

[big.garcilla]

i drove 6 miles mix city / highway and it used up 6% in 20 degree weather.

 

[carsly]

i drove 6 miles mix city / highway and it used up 6% in 20 degree weather.

On shorter trips you lose a significant amount of efficiency due to the "startup tax" in cold weather - warming the battery pack and warming the cabin take a certain amount of energy that is invariate to your planned trip length. Over a long enough trip, and enough longer trips, those startup losses get lost in rounding. BUT if most/all of your cold weather travel is very short distances it's going to hurt.

 

[getsometom]

From what I understand, it's ideal to keep your CT plugged in during the cold weather so the truck can heat the battery without needing to use juice from the battery.

 

[carsly]

From what I understand, it's ideal to keep your CT plugged in during the cold weather so the truck can heat the battery without needing to use juice from the battery.

If at all possible, absolutely and pre-condition whenever possible. This way you're consuming shore power to heat the battery pack and cabin thereby saving the battery power for locomotion and maintaining temp (not establishing temp). Your "efficiency" as measured from the pack will be higher although the total energy you consume is necessarily the same. More importantly to most people, your effective range can be comfortably higher IF you pre-condition the truck and pre-heat the cabin.

 

[vnr111]

How do you precondition the battery pack?

The only way I know how is to set the navigation to a supercharger.

 

[furbyland]

How do you precondition the battery pack?

The only way I know how is to set the navigation to a supercharger.

In the app under schedule.

 

[countryboy]

Another comparison, my truck was outside all night, 6F this morning. Preconditioned for about 20 mins. Still burned 618wh/mi on 11 mi trip. 550 on return home. In 35-45 speed limits with no traffic. Yeah, winter sucks. On longer trips efficiency goes up but if you make a lot of short trips, especially leaving climate on while at destination, low battery can really sneak up on you. Not only that but overall cost per day averaged is about double that of summer. Not really complaining, I love this truck, just gotta plan. And yet another reason I look forward to that 500mi range originally claimed, if I had to tow in this weather I’d be screwed.

 

[CyberGus]

This is Texas rn

wtf ? ?

 

[Cyberostachu]

Simulating a typical day trip, because I was taking a typical day trip, here in a freezing NJ winter I preconditioned before departure on my 46 mile voyage. The truck then sat outside in freezing temps all day for about 10 hours before following the same 46 mile route on my return.

I expected worse, but was happy to average 2.38 mi/kwh in these frigid conditions implying real-world freezing range of over 280 miles: 2.38 mi/kwh x 120 kwh (leaving buffer) = 285 miles of real-world range in mostly highway travel.

Watch the short video for details and kindly consider liking and subscribing.

Were you driving on flat terrain? I'm not from NJ. Did you drive over 75 mph? I'm buying a CT so I'm gathering info.
Thanks

 

[carsly]

Were you driving on flat terrain? I'm not from NJ. Did you drive over 75 mph? I'm buying a CT so I'm gathering info.
Thanks

typically hilly but not mountainous. hard to hit 75mph in NJ outside of a few major roadways and then only at certain times of day. Travel speeds were consistently 45-65mph with a 7-8 mile stretch at 70mph.

 

[MyOtherTruck]

I've been pretty happy with the range in very cold weather. Drove from Vermont to NJ (4 degrees to 17 last night) and the range wasn't much different than any other drive (and the traffic was heavy).

 

[carsly]

This is Texas rn

wtf ? ?

1 degree Farenheit in NJ this morning, a full 31 degrees below freezing. When did I move to Nome, Alaska?

 

[Ula]

Simulating a typical day trip, because I was taking a typical day trip, here in a freezing NJ winter I preconditioned before departure on my 46 mile voyage. The truck then sat outside in freezing temps all day for about 10 hours before following the same 46 mile route on my return.

I expected worse, but was happy to average 2.38 mi/kwh in these frigid conditions implying real-world freezing range of over 280 miles: 2.38 mi/kwh x 120 kwh (leaving buffer) = 285 miles of real-world range in mostly highway travel.

Watch the short video for details and kindly consider liking and subscribing.

Hi well just couple days ago drive to mountains it was 5 f and in the morning was everything grate but after driving 20 minutes windows start rolling down it's self ...so me and my wife keep finger's at the bottom up wast fun at all ...but range yes was not to bad ...

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