To ensure that Model X provides you with the best
ownership experience possible in harsh cold weather
conditions, follow these best practices.
Before Driving
When snow and ice accumulate on your vehicle, moving
parts, such as the door handles, windows, mirrors, and
wipers can freeze in place. To achieve maximum range
and performance, it is helpful to warm the cabin and
Battery before you leave. There are several ways to do
so:
• Touch
Schedule
, available on both the charging and
climate control screens, to set a time when you want
your vehicle to be ready to drive (see
Charging and Scheduled Departure on page 186
• On the mobile app, navigate to
Climate
to customize
the temperature at which you want to heat the cabin.
This also warms the high voltage Battery as needed.
• On the mobile app, navigate to
Climate
>
Defrost
to
melt snow, ice, and frost on the windshield, windows,
and mirrors. This also warms the high voltage Battery
as needed.
NOTE:
Tesla recommends activating climate settings
at least 30-45 minutes before departure (see
). Preconditioning times
depend on outside temperature and other factors.
The Mobile App will notify you once your vehicle has
reached the desired preconditioning temperature.
• In extremely cold weather or icy conditions, it is
possible that your charge port latch may freeze in
place. In cases where you cannot remove or insert the
charge cable, or the vehicle is not Supercharging due
to the latch being frozen in place, use your Tesla
mobile app to precondition on
HI
for approximately
30-45 minutes (you must use your mobile app to
precondition; setting your climate to
HI
using the
touchscreen is not effective). This can help thaw ice
on the charge port latch so the charge cable can be
removed or inserted.
• Warming the Battery using Scheduled Departure or
the mobile app before driving can also reduce
charging time at a Supercharger or third party fast
charger, especially if the Supercharger or third party
fast charger is close enough that Trip Planner does
not have sufficient time to precondition the Battery
(see
Warming the Battery Before Supercharging on
Windows
• On the mobile app, navigate to
Climate
>
Defrost
as
mentioned previously.
• Use the mobile app to schedule a service
appointment for Tesla to provide hydrophobic
coating to your windows for a nominal fee.
Mirrors
If ice buildup is expected when parking, turn off
Auto-
Fold Mirrors
. Touch
Controls
>
Vehicle
>
Auto-Fold
. Ice
can prevent exterior side mirrors from folding or
unfolding.
NOTE:
Side mirrors automatically heat as needed during
preconditioning, or when the rear defroster is turned on.
Wipers
If you expect snow or ice to build up when parked, touch
Controls
>
Service
>
Wiper Service Mode
. This raises
wipers against the windshield so they can defrost when
the windshield defrosts (see
). You can also turn on wiper defrosters (if
equipped). See
.
Tires and Tire Chains
• Use winter tires to increase traction in snowy or icy
conditions. You can purchase winter tires on
).
• Tire chains provide additional traction when driving in
snowy or icy conditions. Check local regulations to
determine if tire chains are recommended or required
during winter months. See
for more information.
Your vehicle’s tire pressures will drop in cold ambient
temperatures. If the TPMS indicator light appears, inflate
the tires before driving. The tires will lose one PSI for
every 6° C drop in outside temperature (see
). Proper tire pressures
help protect tires from potholes and improve range
when properly inflated.
While Driving
Cold weather can increase energy consumption because
more power is required for driving, cabin and Battery
heating. Follow these suggestions to reduce energy
consumption:
• Use seat heaters to keep warm. Seat heaters use less
energy than the cabin heater. Lowering the cabin
temperature and using seat heaters reduces energy
• Slow down your driving and avoid frequent and rapid
acceleration.
• Turn on Range Mode (if equipped) to automatically
limit the power that the climate control system uses
to maintain the temperature of the Battery and the
cabin area. Range Mode also turns off signature lights
(if equipped) and adjusts the front and rear motor
torque split to maximize range (see
).
Cold Weather Best Practices
98
MODEL X Owner's Manual
