Study shows that Tesla batteries have increased longevity in colder climates
Recurrent
If you live in a cooler climate, you've probably heard Teslas aren't good in the winter. Turns out they are better in the cold! A recent study by Recurrent titled "Climate Zone Effect on Tesla Battery Range" brings to light key data that could guide both potential and existing Tesla owners in maximizing their vehicle's performance and longevity.
Central to this study is the "Range Score," an innovative metric that summarizes the existing percentage of a vehicle's original battery range. In simpler terms, a Tesla with a Range Score of 90 can deliver 90% of the battery range it initially offered. This score is especially noteworthy for being based on the observed range when new, as opposed to the often inaccurate EPA range.
Climate Impacts on Tesla's Battery Performance
Leveraging the climate zone classifications outlined by the US Department of Energy, the study paints a detailed picture of how Teslas fare in different climates. The research shows that 2020 Tesla Model Ys in cold and marine environments boast a slightly higher average Range Score, around 95, compared to those in hot climates, about 92. Though the difference might seem marginal, it signals a broader trend that could interest potential buyers and existing owners.
Tips to Shield Your Tesla's Battery from Climate Effects
Study shows that Tesla batteries have increased longevity in colder climates
Recurrent
The study brings forward encouraging news for Tesla enthusiasts residing in hot regions. You can enhance your vehicle's battery life by adopting simple yet effective strategies like parking in cool, shaded areas and avoiding a full battery charge. Considering an LFP battery for new purchases could also be a game-changer, given its high-temperature resilience.
Tesla owners in colder regions have less to worry about, as the drop in range during cold periods is temporary. As the warmer season rolls in, the vehicle naturally regains its original performance level, saving it from long-term battery damage.
Empowering Buyers and Owners with Actionable Insights
Recurrent empowers buyers and owners by integrating this climate-focused data into their Verified Reports, offering detailed insights into each vehicle's history. For those in the market for a Tesla, these reports can be a valuable tool in gauging a vehicle's true potential and past maintenance.
If you are wondering why the researcher who authored the study picked Tesla, it wasn't just to get the headlines. Because there are more Teslas on the road than any other EV, the company provides the most data - it wasn't just to pick on one manufacturer. Recurrent also released its findings from a Supercharger study a few weeks ago.
The "Climate Zone Effect on Tesla Battery Range" study by Recurrent sheds light on how different climates affect Tesla's battery life and equips owners with the knowledge to get the most out of their battery.
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Tesla signaled its intention to launch its first Robotaxi network in Austin, Texas, with company-owned and operated vehicles, back in January. This network will be Tesla’s first foray into truly autonomous vehicles - ones that aren’t being directly supervised by a driver. Later in February, Tesla’s executive team confirmed that the plans were on track for the launch of the Austin network both on X and during several interviews that they participated in.
At the end of February, we also found out that Tesla has applied for a Supervised Robotaxi license in California, where the network will also launch, but with safety drivers in place.
This is an ambitious plan, but FSD has really come a long way in the past year. FSD V12 was a massive step forward from V11, and V13 has made the experience smoother and safer than ever before. FSD V14 is expected to be another big step up with auto-regressive transformers and audio input.
Still on Track
Now, Elon has tripled down on the fact that Tesla will be launching their first autonomous robotaxi network in Austin - just two months away at this point. It seems that Tesla is fully set to launch their first fully unsupervised self-driving vehicles that will carry paying passengers in June.
Additional Cities
The best part is that Elon also confirmed that they’re targeting robotaxi networks launching in many cities within the United States by the end of this year. However, remember that this will be a Tesla-run network at first - Tesla owners won’t be able to add their vehicles to the Robotaxi fleet right away.
Adding Customer Vehicles
It will take some time before Tesla meets their strict internal safety requirements before it lets customers add their own vehicles to the network. Tesla’s executive team mentioned that they intend to let owners add their own vehicles to the fleet sometime in 2026. This happens to be the same time frame that Tesla plans to launch the Robotaxi across the United States, Mexico, and Canada — something that could only be done with customer-owned cars.
That final step will be bold—and it may come with complications, especially given that autonomous vehicle approval spans municipal, state or provincial, and even federal levels. There are plenty of regulatory hurdles ahead, but this is undoubtedly shaping up to be one of the most exciting times for Tesla.
Launch Event
With the Robotaxi network launching and Unsupervised FSD just around the corner, there’s a lot to get excited about. Tesla is expected to host a launch event at Gigafactory Texas in Austin to mark the debut of its first Robotaxi network. The company previously hinted that referral code users could receive invites—offering a rare chance to score an early ride in a Robotaxi outside the Hollywood studio lot.
Tesla’s engineering mule vehicles—used to test autonomy for future platforms—have resurfaced after an extended absence. The last time we saw them was back in July, when Tesla was gearing up for its initial We, Robot event. Since then, sightings have been scarce.
These vehicles typically signal that Tesla is testing new camera placements or validating FSD ground-truth data. This time, however, they appear to be outfitted exclusively with the updated camera hardware seen on the Cybercab.
New Sightings
The mules have now been spotted in Boston, Massachusetts, and Concord, New Hampshire—their first known appearances this far east. This suggests Tesla is actively collecting data to evaluate and optimize FSD performance in new regions. Thanks to Reddit user Ready_Medium_6693 for catching the one in Concord.
Elon Musk recently mentioned that Tesla plans to expand Robotaxi networks beyond the initial Texas and California launches. So while these sightings aren’t entirely unexpected, the speed of their arrival is. It suggests Tesla is confident in its ability to train FSD for local traffic rules and driving behaviors to the point it no longer needs a driver.
Bumper Cameras
The vehicle that’s been spotted in Boston is the usual Tesla engineering Model 3… except with one unique twist. It includes a front bumper camera. Shout out to @Dylan02939106 for catching the bumper camera in these photos.
The Refreshed Model 3 Mule with a Bumper Camera!
@Dylan02939106 on X
We previously released an opinion piece regarding whether the front bumper camera would be required for Unsupervised FSD. In our eyes, Tesla will require a bumper camera for Unsupervised FSD - if only to improve direct visibility in the bumper area of the vehicle. This is key for low-speed maneuvering in crowded areas like parking lots and garages, as well as for key features like Actually Smart Summon.
It isn’t surprising that Tesla is continuing to evaluate vehicles with a bumper camera - the Cybertruck, Cybercab, and Refreshed Model Y all have them now - and the rest of the lineup, including the flagship Model S and X, as well as the refreshed Model 3 - were supposed to eventually receive them as well.
With the Model S and Model X set for refreshes this year—and the front bumper camera on this Model 3 looking well-integrated rather than a temporary setup—it seems likely that front bumper cameras will soon become standard across Tesla’s entire lineup.
The Robotaxi Mule in Boston
@Dylan02939106 on X
In fact, Tesla’s newest iteration of the FSD computer has a slot for the Bumper Camera on all AI4/HW4 vehicles, so a future retrofit could even be possible.
These are some pretty exciting times - we may see Robotaxi networks actually deploy in time for Tesla’s lofty goal of “sometime in 2026” for cities throughout North America. Once many American cities begin to accept their deployment, it will be easier to seek homologation in Mexico and Canada, enabling deployment throughout the continent.
