Youtuber Tries to Fast Charge His Tesla Model 3 Performance in -14°F Weather

The Supercharger experiment with the Tesla Model 3 Performance shows another flaw that EV drivers may have to deal with in extremely cold winter temperatures, though this specific scenario is quite unlikely to occur during regular use. In addition to having a significantly shorter range per charge, this experiment also shows a weakness that EV drivers may have to deal with. The majority of EV owners and potential customers are presumably well aware of the fact that driving in the winter can significantly reduce the range of electric vehicles. In contrast, a recent experiment using the Tesla Model 3 has shown that drivers who do not have access to a heated garage may likewise be astonished when they attempt to charge their battery-powered vehicle at extremely low temperatures. In Colorado, Kyle Conner, the empathetic presenter of the YouTube channel Out of Spec Reviews, placed his own 2019 Tesla Model 3 Performance adjacent to a Supercharger when a winter storm delivered exceptionally low temperatures to several regions of the United States. His objective was to determine the response of the vehicle to a charging attempt at -14 degrees Fahrenheit if its battery has not been preconditioned, which is typically the situation when navigating to a Supercharger on lengthy road journeys. A related YouTube video of the fascinating winter experiment is available. Before the EV even started to charge, it ultimately took roughly 45 minutes. Up until that point, the Supercharger's energy was utilized to heat the battery pack to a suitable temperature. The electric automobile needed an additional 45 minutes to go from 35 to 90% charged after that. Overall, the Tesla Model 3 Performance performed admirably in these subzero conditions, but the test also emphasizes how crucial it is to prepare the battery before using a Tesla Supercharger in the winter.