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All EV batteries are affected by extreme temperatures because all batteries operate on the same general chemical properties, so -- YES, a Tesla's range will decrease in the winter. This decrease in range is largely due to cabin heating, since in nearly all EVs, the high voltage battery is responsible for climate control in the cabin.
But What About Tesla?
But, we need to call out Teslas as a special case. Tesla’s dashboard controls for temperature effects and does not make the range effects obvious to the driver, i.e. the dashboard range often does not reflect the true temperature effects to range.
Tesla controls for extreme temperatures in two ways. First, they use a robust thermal management system to keep the battery within a healthy operational temperature range, warming it in the winter and cooling it in the summer. This limits the inherent, chemical changes to battery performance that happen in cold and hot weather. The second thing that Tesla does is calculate its dashboard range by using a fixed efficiency value, rather than using a dynamic value based on external factors. That means that Tesla range estimates often look the same in any temperature, even though Tesla drivers know that in reality, their range can change quite a bit.
Recurrent works to determine more accurate range predictions in hot and cold weather based on actual, real-world range values.
Are Teslas Different?
Tesla's on-board range estimates handle temperature differently than many other EV brands. For instance, look at the way Chevrolet Bolt EV’s dashboard range changes with temperature.
Now, look at the way Tesla’s Model Y dashboard range changes with temperature.
Notice the difference? While the dashboard range on the Bolt tracks with the observed range, the Tesla Model Y dashboard range stays nearly constant, despite the changes to observed range.
A More Nuanced Look: Tesla Real Range
To address the possible confusion that Tesla drivers (and shoppers) experience when the dashboard range on a car does not reflect temperature fluctuations, Recurrent developed “Tesla Real Range.” Real Range is a Recurrent-calculated value that captures what typically happens in day-to-day driving based on actual usage data from Teslas on the road. This means that a Tesla’s “Real Range” is the typical range we observe for an average Tesla of the same model, battery pack size and a similar age and odometer based on the Recurrent community’s real-world driving and charging habits. It is a mix of city and highway driving in various terrains and temperatures.
This value will differ from the original EPA range estimate, since the EPA estimate is calculated using a strict and fixed protocol and allows manufacturers to apply their own adjustments. It will also differ from the dashboard range for any specific Tesla, since dashboard range may not take into account temperature, terrain, and drive style effects.
Finally, since Real Range is an average across all comparable Teslas, your mileage may vary! Some trips will be far more efficient - such as a downhill drive in warm spring weather, and some may be far less efficient - think a frigid winter drive up a mountain. However, Real Range can give you a sense of how temperature affects Tesla range.
