Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, “I Took a Road Trip From From NC to Toronto, Stopping Every 2 Hours To Charge For 20 Minutes Became Tedious”

Is the Tesla Cybertruck a good vehicle for a long road trip in the winter?

It's an excellent question for potential EV buyers and some Tesla Cybertruck owners who are thinking of going on a road trip this winter. 

Haroon Hyder, who owns a 2024 Tesla Cyber truck, recently took a long road trip (1,600-mile round trip) from North Carolina to Toronto, Canada, and back. He put the details of his journey on a Facebook post. 

It raises the question. Are Cybertrucks and other EVs good to take on a road trip? How do they do in the cold weather?

Haroon's account will answer some of those questions as he dives into other trip details. 

First, imagine driving your new Tesla Cybertruck on a winter road trip. You've been planning the trip ever since you picked up your new truck and want to find out how it does on your trip from NC to Toronto. 

You recently sold your BMW X7 40i and want to compare the new Cybertruck's efficiency with the X7 40i hybrid powertrains. You took the same trip with your BMW in the middle of the summer, so you'll see how your new electric truck performs in winter charging.

You also want to compare the BMW X7 40i's semi-autonomous Highway Assistant driving feature with the Cybertruck's Full Self Driving (FSD) system. Will Tesla's FSD make the drive easier than the BMW? 

It's a truck versus a full-size SUV.

How does your new Cybertruck's ride quality compare with the luxury X7 40i in terms of comfort and space? Will there be any mechanical issues with the new CT? 

However, the most important thing you want to check is the Cybertruck's charging characteristics. How many times will you have to stop to charge? How will the cold Canadian weather affect your battery life? How long will the trip take in the CT? 

Here is Haroon's road trip summary from North Carolina to Toronto, Canada. 

Haroon says, "I recently took a 17-hour road trip from North Carolina to Toronto, Canada, and back, driving the Cybertruck. This was my second trip to Canada this year, having previously made the journey in my BMW X7 40i in July. Here's how the Cybertruck compared."

Pros:

• The Cybertruck with FSD made driving much easier and more relaxing.
• The ride was noticeably smoother.
• The spacious truck bed easily accommodated all our luggage.

Cons:

• Stopping every 2 hours to charge for 20 minutes became tedious.
• A one-way trip, starting at 100% charge, required five stops to recharge and cost $118 on Superchargers, leaving me with a 10% battery at home. By comparison, the X7 needed just two gas stops, costing $140—a marginal difference.
• The trip took 17 hours in the Cybertruck, compared to 14 hours in the X7. Leaving the Cybertruck unplugged overnight in cold Canadian winters resulted in a 10% battery loss.
• While the CT offered a smoother and more comfortable ride, the extra travel time and charging logistics were notable drawbacks for long-distance trips. We also hit a bad storm from New York to Pennsylvania.

Haroon says he had one issue with the Cybertruck on the trip. 

"BTW, my front camera stopped working 15 hours into the trip. I have a Tesla appointment scheduled for March 30!"

There were numerous comments on Haroon's Facebook post. Here are a few that give good insights.

Jason Beckham - Thanks for the notes! I travel a dozen or so times during hunting season on a 700-mile roundtrip. Each way adds roughly 40 minutes of charge time. I've found that the added relaxation of FSD and the need to stop for bio and food far outweigh the extra time for me. That's just my opinion, of course.

Adil Benyoussef - Good analysis. I use mine for short trips. Most of the time, I charge at home. I took a trip to Davis, WV, which was about 135 miles. I charged my CT to 280, and with a few travels around the town, I lost about 30 miles.

I brought my 110v adapter and charged it to recoup the 30 miles I lost at the home we were staying at. Cold could be a pain, as I've noticed the slight loss, but it is close to what you experienced. Perhaps Canadian weather didn't trick here.

Overall, I am still a big fan, but I wish we could get a more extended range, like 500 miles, hence fewer stops. My colleague bought the battery extension at 16k cost, but maybe you should consider it if you take too many long trips.

Luis Vera - This is why I got rid of my Model S. Don't get me wrong, summertime is amazing, and I loved the vehicle. But the winter cold takes a toll on these vehicles.

Jim Williams - Interesting trip! My experience is that winter temps cause 10%-15% extra energy consumption, so yours is really a worst-case scenario. FWIW, my highway trips in a 2015 70D S have required about an extra 25% driving/eating stoppage time vs. driving straight through without any stops (which is impossible for most people).

Electrify America gives some good EV-charging tips in cold weather.

EA says, "Understanding your EV and its charging needs, especially during colder weather, you'll be better prepared to rely on an electric car no matter when and where you're driving."

1. Charging may take longer

The vehicle controls the charging rate, not the charger. When temperatures are low, the electric vehicle's software reduces its charging power for a good reason: to help avoid stressing the battery. The Idaho National Laboratory study found that at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, an EV battery took in 36% less energy than when the battery was charged for the same amount of time at 77 degrees Fahrenheit – this means the colder the weather, the more time the battery needed to charge.

So, when temperatures are colder, planning ahead for longer charge times is essential, whether the trip is part of your daily commute or a longer road trip. It's also important to note that the charging rate will always decrease as the battery reaches full capacity (state of charge, or SOC) to maintain battery life and durability.

2. Pay attention to overnight changes in your EV's range

Check the forecast to be aware of overnight low temperatures during winter months - as cold temps overnight can lower an EV's driving range by an average of 20%, according to the Norwegian Automobile Federation. Be mindful of that potential range reduction and pay attention to the vehicle's console display, as some EVs can predict these range reductions during extreme temperatures.

3. Plan your charges

Plan for stops at public charging stations to avoid finding yourself with a limited range and a lot more driving to do. Thanks to the Electrify America mobile app supported by Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, drivers can easily navigate to nearby ultra-fast charging stations and see which chargers are currently available, making planning charges before and during a trip even more seamless.

4. Park indoors when you can

Parking an EV in a garage with higher indoor temperatures can help the battery charge more quickly and hold that charge longer.

5. Understand your EV's cold weather features

Some EVs have a pre-conditioning feature allowing drivers to program or manually warm up the battery to optimal temperatures. While this pre-conditioning process does use some battery power to provide a warming effect, it can make the battery more efficient while maximizing driving range.

What do you think of Haroon's road trip? 

Haroon says that his front camera stopped working 15 hours into the trip. Have other CT owners had this issue? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know. 

Also, his appointment to get the camera fixed by Tesla could not be scheduled until March 30. This is a 12-week wait to get his truck repaired. What do other CT owners experience when getting their trucks in for repair or warranty service? 

Check out my next Cybertruck story titled. Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says It’s An Expensive Brick After Washing His Truck, “I’m Only Two Months In With 3,400 Miles, My Screen Is Blank and Won’t Reset"

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Haroon Hyder