This Cold Weather Is Really Draining My Cybertruck's Range as I Get Only 135 Miles After Charging 80% And Driving 35 Miles

Winter weather can be tough on electric vehicles, and the Tesla Cybertruck is no exception. For many owners experiencing their first cold season with the vehicle, its range in freezing temperatures can be a surprising adjustment. John Malzone, a Tesla Cybertruck owner, recently shared his firsthand account in the Tesla Cybertruck Owners (USA) Facebook group, sparking a lively discussion among fellow drivers.

John wrote:
"This cold weather is really draining my Tesla Cybertruck's range. I charged up last night (80%) and my estimated range was 240 miles. I drove 35 miles and my range now says I only have 135 (45%) miles left. Any comments, suggestions, or advice?"

John’s experience isn’t unique․ EVs across the board face range reductions in cold temperatures. But why does this happen, and what can owners do to mitigate the impact of winter on their Cybertruck’s performance?

Understanding EV's Cold Weather Range Loss

When temperatures drop, EV batteries become less efficient. Cold weather affects the chemical reactions inside lithium-ion batteries, reducing their ability to store and discharge energy. This results in lower range estimates and increased energy consumption, especially when the vehicle uses energy to heat the cabin or the battery pack itself.

Laird Popkin, a fellow Tesla owner, shed light on this phenomenon:
"When the Cybertruck's battery is cold it has less power available, reducing the displayed range. That’s indicated by the blue snowflake on the screen. When the battery warms up as you drive, the range will come back."

Laird also shared a useful tip to minimize range loss:
"To save battery power, warm up the car while it's plugged in, so it uses wall power, leaving the power in the battery for driving. When you do that, the impact of cold weather on driving is minimal. Drivers in Norway, in a test of many EVs, saw only a 19% difference in range from Summer to Winter—they know how to deal with cold weather."

Cold weather significantly impacts EV battery performance, but it also raises questions about Tesla’s range estimates under real-world conditions. Interestingly, Tesla's lead Cybertruck engineer recently contradicted Elon Musk's claims about the Cybertruck achieving a 470-mile range, sparking debates about the realistic expectations for its capabilities.

Tips from Experienced Cybertruck Owners

The good news is that there are practical strategies Cybertruck owners can adopt to combat range loss. Here are some of the most insightful suggestions from the discussion:

1. Precondition the Battery Before Driving
   James Hubbard advised:
   "Try setting a schedule to heat the batteries prior to leaving home. This will hopefully precondition them and charge to 80 warm; you won’t burn energy heating the batteries up as much while on the road, which should help."

Antony Witkowski echoed this sentiment:
"Leave your Cybertruck plugged in every night, use preconditioning options before travel. That’s the best you can do!"

Preconditioning ensures that the battery and cabin are warmed up while the vehicle is still connected to the charger, reducing the strain on the battery once you start driving.

1. Adjust Energy-Draining Settings
   Kevin Sadeghian highlighted an often-overlooked culprit of energy drain:
   "Cold weather affects the performance of all cars, not just EVs. That said, make sure your sentry mode doesn’t stay on when you’re parked in your garage at home. Same with scheduled heating."

Features like Sentry Mode, cabin heat, and even leaving unnecessary devices plugged into USB ports can consume valuable energy. Turning off these settings when they aren’t needed can help conserve range.

1. Stay Plugged In When Parked
   Laird Popkin also noted that keeping the Cybertruck plugged in overnight can make a big difference. By doing so, the vehicle can maintain an optimal battery temperature using external power instead of drawing from its own reserves.

Beyond managing cold weather challenges, some Cybertruck owners are finding ways to improve efficiency and customize their trucks for better performance. One owner even swapped the futuristic Cybertruck wheels for unsightly core wheels paired with Pirelli Scorpion tires, seeking a balance between aesthetics and functionality.

The Bigger Picture

John’s post and the advice shared by other Cybertruck owners highlight an important reality for EV drivers: cold weather demands careful planning and adjustments. While winter range reductions can be frustrating, they are manageable with the right approach.

For Cybertruck owners, small changes to their charging and driving habits can make a big difference in maintaining range during the colder months. Preconditioning the battery, reducing energy-draining settings, and keeping the truck plugged in overnight are simple but effective strategies.

While Tesla's official range estimates often paint an optimistic picture, real-world driving conditions—especially in cold weather—tell a different story. Recent data suggests that the Cybertruck’s efficiency is around 454 Wh/mi, translating to a real-world range closer to 270 miles under normal conditions, significantly lower than advertised.

The Takeaway

Cold weather range loss is a challenge that comes with owning any EV, not just the Tesla Cybertruck. However, with the help of the Cybertruck community, owners like John are learning how to adapt and get the most out of their vehicles, even in freezing temperatures.

Have you experienced cold weather range loss with your Cybertruck or another EV? What strategies have worked for you to minimize the impact? Share your thoughts and tips in the comments below—your experience might just help another owner make it through winter with a little more range.

Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. He has more than a decade of expertise in the automotive industry with a special interest in Tesla and electric vehicles.