Preconditioning your Tesla battery is a great way to ensure that you get the most out of it. But how do you precondition a Tesla battery?
In this article, we will discuss how to do it and look at some of the benefits that come with doing so. We will also talk about some of the features that are available to help you precondition your battery, such as the Tesla app and the climate controls settings in your car.
So, if you’re looking to make sure your Tesla battery is in top condition for colder months or extreme weather conditions, keep reading!
Table of Contents
What Type of Battery is in a Tesla?
The first thing you may want to know is what type of battery is in a Tesla vehicle. Since Teslas are electric vehicles, they need batteries that are made specifically for them.
Tesla’s battery is a lithium-ion battery. Having a li-ion means that it can be recharged and in the Model 3 and Model Y Tesla vehicles, it also means the battery can be preconditioned. This type of battery is sensitive to cold weather and can lose power when it gets too cold. So, when preconditioning your Tesla battery, you are essentially warming it up so that it will be at its full power output when you need it.
What is Preconditioning?
As we mentioned above, preconditioning a battery means warming it up to a certain level before charging it.
This is done in order to prolong the life of the battery and make sure that it performs at its best. Batteries don’t charge well when they are too cold.
The cold weather can affect the performance of a battery because batteries are powered by chemical reactions. In cold weather, these reactions happen more slowly, so the battery doesn’t have as much power. Additionally, cold weather can cause condensation to form on the battery, which can also reduce its power.
Warming them up creates an optimum opportunity for a supercharge.
In other words, while it usually takes a Tesla 15 to 30 minutes to charge at a Supercharger station, the act of preconditioning your battery can position you to get fully charged in closer to 15 minutes.
Keep in mind that if the weather is not terribly cold, then you do not need to precondition your Tesla battery.
How to Precondition Your Tesla Battery
Now that you know what kind of battery a Tesla uses, and what preconditioning is, let’s look at how to precondition your Tesla battery. There are actually four different ways to do this: conserve the battery, use the Tesla app, use the On-Route Battery Warmup setting in your car, and use the “Scheduled Departure” setting in your car.
Here is each option in more detail:
1. Conserve the Battery
The simplest way to precondition your Tesla battery is to just not use it. If you know that you won’t be driving for a while, and it’s cold outside, then just don’t use the car.
This will help preserve the battery power and keep it warmer for when you do need to use the car.
Another way to conserve the battery is to keep your speed at a reasonable limit, as well as be sure to limit how often and how quickly you use your brake and accelerator. The gentler you are on your vehicle, the more you will conserve the battery.
Lastly, if you try not to use your heater if possible, and instead use your seat heaters, this can also conserve your battery. This feature provides warmth to the cabin of your car, which can turn around and precondition your cold battery.
You can also precondition your Tesla battery by using the regenerative braking feature. This feature helps to warm up the battery when it is cold. To use this feature, simply depress the accelerator pedal when you are driving in cold weather. Doing this will help to precondition the battery and increase range.
2. Use the Tesla App
Another way is to use the Tesla app. It has a feature that allows you to precondition your car’s battery.
If you have the Tesla app, simply turn on the “Climate Control” setting. You will see a snowflake icon when you do this. It means that it is heating up your battery so that you can get the most out of it in the cold temperature.
It is also possible to set it to the appropriate temperature that you want it to be inside the car. This will start preconditioning the battery as well.
3. Use the On-Route Battery Warmup Setting in Your Car
If you have a Tesla Model S or Model X, there is an “On-Route Battery Warmup” setting in your car.
This setting will condition your battery on your way to a Supercharger station. In other words, once your car detects that you are within 10 to 25 miles away from the SC station you selected on your car’s touchscreen, your vehicle will begin to heat the battery.
This process will dramatically reduce the amount of time it takes to charge, even by 25% or up to 50%!
Once you turn on the feature, then it will give you the notification, “Preconditioning battery for fast charging,” as you come into the range of a station. Then the notification will disappear as you charge your car at the station.
4. Use the “Scheduled Departure” Setting in Your Car
The car has what’s called the Scheduled Departure feature, which allows you to precondition your car’s battery at a certain time. This means that your Tesla will intuitively decide when to begin preconditioning your vehicle depending on your estimated departure time.
To use this feature, simply tap on the “Schedule” icon on your Tesla’s menu and then select the “Depart At” option. From there, you can choose when you plan to drive your electric car away from your current location.
The Benefits of Preconditioning a Tesla Battery
There are many benefits to preconditioning your Tesla battery. Let’s look at a couple.
1. Increased Range and Full Power Output
When you precondition your Tesla battery, you are essentially charging it up to a higher level. This means that you will have more power available to you when you need it. This can be extremely beneficial in cold weather conditions when the battery power is needed the most.
2. Improved Performance
Another benefit of preconditioning your Tesla battery is that it can help to improve the performance of your car. This is because preconditioning helps to warm up the battery, which can make it more responsive and efficient.
FAQs About Tesla Batteries
There are a few frequently asked questions about Tesla batteries that we will answer here.
1. Can I precondition my Tesla battery in extremely cold weather?
Yes, you can precondition your Tesla battery in extremely cold weather. In fact, it is recommended that you do so in order to ensure that the battery performs at its best.
2. What is the best time to precondition my Tesla battery?
The best time to precondition your Tesla battery is before a long trip and also when it is very cold outside. This will ensure that the battery is fully warmed up and ready to go when you need it. Remember that you won’t need to precondition your Tesla battery when the temperatures aren’t extremely cold.
3. What is the best time of day to precondition my Tesla battery?
The best time to precondition your Tesla battery is typically in the morning or evening. This is because the battery will be coldest during these times and will need the most power to warm up.
4. Can I precondition my Tesla battery while it is plugged in?
Great question. Yes, you certainly can precondition your Tesla battery while it is plugged in. This is a great time to do so. In fact, this is the recommended method, as it will help to preserve the life of the battery.
5. Should I precondition my Tesla battery if I’m not going to use it for a while?
Yes, you should precondition your Tesla battery if you’re not going to use it for a while. This will help to keep the battery in top condition and prevent any potential problems.
Conclusion to How to Precondition a Tesla Battery
There you have it–everything you need to know for how to precondition a Tesla battery.
Preconditioning your Tesla battery is a great way to keep it in top condition and increase its range. There are many benefits to preconditioning, including increased range, full power output, and improved performance. With all your knowledge, you can now be sure to precondition the battery properly in order to keep it in top condition for years to come.
We hope this blog post has been helpful. Do you have a Tesla? If so, share your experience with caring for your Tesla battery in the comments below.
Thanks for reading!