Tesla just released a trick that helps Model 3 and Model Y charge faster in winter

Whether you are new to electric vehicles or not, one issue you will probably deal with is battery performance during cold weather. EVs charge significantly slower when temperatures drop, but Tesla has released a fantastic update to its Superchargers that cuts charging times for the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y even if you live in colder climes.

Tesla’s official charging handle on X (formerly Twitter) posted about the update, which applies to the V3 and V4 Superchargers. Tesla vehicles like the Model 3 and Model Y can charge at up to 250 kW or even more. The trick applies to the Standard Range Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) versions of the Model 3 and Model Y and involves pre-heating the battery before starting a charging session.

Here is how the fast charging trick works. The car has its own preconditioning system, but the new update now allows the Supercharger to do the pre-heating quicker. When you plug in to charge, the Supercharger passes what is called an AC ripple current through the battery pack when the temperature is cold. This current produces heat right inside the battery, making it faster and more efficient than the car’s preconditioning mechanism. This applies to Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) or LFP batteries.

While the explanation may look simple, it is not a mean feat. According to Tesla executive Max de Zegher, the update is the first time this preconditioning method has been implemented in any vehicle. It works so well that your Tesla Model 3 or Tesla Model Y battery warms up four times faster, a massive boost for EV ownership experience during winter as it cuts the amount of time drivers spend at charging stations.

LFP batteries are cheaper, safer, and last longer. However, they are also known to charge slower in the cold, and the recommended fix is to use the battery’s power to heat it up before plugging it into a Supercharger. This is not always possible or ideal, but Tesla’s new method is miles better, thanks to the company’s ability to control both the battery pack and charging infrastructure. It is a feat other EV makers will struggle to achieve without collaboration with third parties.

While many Tesla owners in colder regions will be excited by this time-saving update, the automaker still recommends preconditioning as the first option. The new feature will undoubtedly help alleviate range anxiety in places where it is the strongest.

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Header image courtesy of The Sunday Times