Rechargd.com is reader supported. We may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
While I understand why this needs some consideration and planning when embarking on a trip in an electric car, I have to wonder why people don’t get the same anxiety about petrol or gas-powered vehicles. Perhaps with the ever-increasing gas prices, they will.
The range of a Tesla vehicle varies depending on the model of the vehicle. Other factors like temperature, road surface, and how you drive affect the range, but all Tesla models get at least 272 miles on a single charge.
How Much Range Do the Tesla Models Have?
All of the Tesla models will get you at least 272 miles on a single charge. In fact, they have just upped the mileage ranges for each car, and although they are still minor, every little count. The Model 3 Standard Range will get you 272 miles of range, whereas the Model 3 Long Range has 358 miles, and the Model 3 Performance has 315 miles.
The Model S Long Range definitely has more range than the Model 3, with approximately 405 miles. The Model S Plaid has 348 miles of range although these figures, similar to the other models vary depending on the configuration.
The Model X comes as standard with a battery range of 351 miles, although the faster Plaid model has less with 348 miles. The Model Y has approximately 330 miles of range, and the Performance model drops to about 303 miles.
| Model | EPA Range |
|---|---|
| Model 3 Standard Range | 272 miles |
| Model 3 Long Range | 358 miles |
| Model 3 Performance | 315 miles |
| Model S Long Range | 405 miles |
| Model S Plaid | 348 miles |
| Model X Standard Range | 351 miles |
| Model X Plaid | 348 miles |
| Model Y Standard Range | 330 miles |
| Model Y Performance | 303 miles |
How Does Tesla Work Out How Much Range You Have Left?
Tesla works out range based on the battery usage and the driving conditions. So, although you may just have fully charged that doesn’t mean you will get the full amount of range if you are driving erratically with a lot of sudden acceleration and braking. Similarly, you will lose range in extremes of temperature, both hot and cold.
What Does Range Mean for the Driver?
Just as you need to keep a tab on how much fuel you have left in your car, so do you need to ensure you have enough battery charge to reach the next charging station. I’m not going to lie, there are plenty of instances online where drivers fell short and it has to be noted that Tesla does not recommend running the battery down completely since it can cause damage to the battery.
Drivers need to ensure they can get to an appropriate charging station in time. It really is just a matter of planning and Tesla does help make this easy. Tesla owners can use the Interactive Trip Planner to locate a Supercharger site. Once you select a site, the vehicle’s navigation system will automatically route you to the nearest entrance of the site.
Tesla has a network of over 30,000 Superchargers, and they are still increasing. There are also 35,000 wall connectors at Destination Chargers although they take longer to charge.
How Long Will My Battery Last?
Well, technically that depends on how many miles you do. The average American drives 14,263 miles per year, which per day would work out to about 39 miles a day (if you drove every day). If you took the average range of all the Tesla vehicles, you would get approximately 336 miles of range.
So, that would mean you would get about 8.6 days of usage before getting to zero in theory, although you would need to get to a Supercharging station before you hit zero.
Why Is the Range Different for Each Tesla Model?
The range of a Tesla car varies on the model, the battery size, and how you are driving the car. Since the Model 3 is meant to be the most affordable option, it also has a smaller battery. The bigger the battery, the more range you will get but also the more expensive the car is.
So, a lot of deciding which Tesla is right for you is going to be whether you live in a city and you are just going to need the car to do short trips, or do you live rurally where you are going to have more mileage needs and perhaps fewer Superchargers in the vicinity.
Do you travel long distances regularly? Working out your mileage needs is going to play an important role in deciding which model would suit your needs best.
How Can I Choose the Right Model for Me?
So, if you need a car with long range, then a Long-Range Model like the Model S Long Range would be your best bet. It still goes from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3.1 seconds, but you know you can get that distance between charging. The Plaid Model is quite similar to the Long Range but comes with more features like enhanced interior styling and better traction control.
The Performance Range is designed for performance and style but will not get as much range as the Long Range.
How Does Driving Affect Range?
If you are consistently driving fast or are accelerating and braking often then you will not get as much range as suggested. It has been suggested that the optimal driving speed on a highway is around 75-80 mph, as any quicker will deplete the battery quicker.
The weather can also impact a car’s range, whether it is snowing or rainy conditions, or very hot. Another thing you need to have in mind is if you are more likely to use A.C. or heating due to extreme weather conditions, which will deplete the battery faster.
Having excess weight in the car will also run down the battery quicker, so it is important to remove what you can if it is not necessary for the journey.
Tesla shares their guidelines for getting the maximum range out of your vehicle on its website.
Key takeaways:
- All of Tesla’s Models get around 272 miles on a single charge
- The Model S Long Range currently gets the most range
- The Model 3 currently has the least amount of range but is the most economical model
- Weather, how you drive, and excess weight in the vehicle affect range
- Planning your journey to ensure you have enough range to get you to your next destination is key
Range anxiety is probably the main concern of people skeptic of electric cars, but it is also a big talking point among electric car owners. Many YouTube videos see drivers push the limits of their electric car range, testing out different environments and situations.
Provided you monitor your battery power and make sure you have sufficient battery power to get to your next charging station, you will be fine. As with choosing any car, it is a case of working out your needs and which car will suit them the best.
