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Is there some reason NOT to use range mode?
- Thread starter Matias
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On long trips you should not have it turned on. It's limits pack heating and energy In general while on long trips energy used to heat the battery in the beginning will result in a much more energy efficient remainder but that only happens on long trips like longer than one hour.
I wish Telsa had some quick access toggle on screen when just starting a drive or stopping a drive to easily switch.
I wish Telsa had some quick access toggle on screen when just starting a drive or stopping a drive to easily switch.
Range Mode cuts your climate control energy as well. OK if it's working for you, but might let it get cold in the car. I assume it would be a little harder on the battery due to the colder temp, and might limit your acceleration and regen more than usual.
From what I've read here, range mode does not have a big effect on range. Give it try and see what it does for you.
From what I've read here, range mode does not have a big effect on range. Give it try and see what it does for you.
I would never use it unless there was some reason to stretch range. I can’t see a need ever in local driving and even in long distance driving with the buildout of superchargers and other chargers.
Use in emergencies, is my take.
Use in emergencies, is my take.
Babaron
Member
It was my understanding that range mode simply cuts the energy used to heat the cabin from 6 kW to 3 kW. I wasn’t aware of any effect it had on battery heating.
It also turns off running lights which saves like 2 mW or something (sarcasm but the wattage is about zero). Never figured if this was just a reminder range mode was on or WTF.
aesculus
Still Trying to Figure This All Out
My understanding is that it does reduce direct battery heating but has no effect on the latent heat your battery will receive while driving. And it does reduce cabin heating too but if you are in that mode you probably should already reduce it yourself and turn on the seat heaters.
If you do turn on range mode make sure you turn it OFF whenever you charge.
If you do turn on range mode make sure you turn it OFF whenever you charge.
Vinc
Member
Wait, what? I am beyond baffled. With a BMW i3, for instance, you can switch between driving mode Comfort or Eco Pro, the main difference being that not as much power goes to the HVAC system. You can also choose Eco Pro +, which pretty much shuts down the HVAC.
My understanding from all I have read from Tesla is that range mode works similarly, just allocating less energy for the HVAC.
I am not doubting anyone, but if this mode could damage the battery long term, wouldn’t it be accesible from the charging menu? Wouldn’t it turn off by itself after some time like road trip mode used to do? The way it works now it looks to be a set it and forget it kind of option. Even the i3 reverts to standard driving mode when you turn off the car.
I am puzzled.
Range mode also reduces battery cooling. Presumably a warmer battery gives some more range at the expense of battery longevity. That’s the reason not to use ramge mode.
This is the misconception about the feature. The feature increases range when doing lots of short trips on a charge with pauses in between.
When doing long trips you should disable range mode.
Saimaannorppa
Member
Fully agreed, the quick access menu with full car picture from above should have this, or a few user configurable options. It’s quite a waste of space menu, especially if you don’t have pano roof or sz package.
Idea: Tesla should add a winter preconditioning option, which would preheat the battery to 40C or so (assuming 50C is ok for Li-on battery), and then in the beginning of trip, heating would be drawn from the mass of the battery. In my experience, toasty warm (after SuC) battery heats the whole cabin at slightly below freezing temperatures. Lately I did a roadtrip where returning with a warm driveline resulted with a 186Wh/km last 50km, 90km/h speed and -1 to -2C temp. Amazing efficiency.
I have never heard that range mode reduces battery cooling. Battery heating - yes.
Someone find a reference that says that or I would not believe it.
Range mode turns on torque sleep with D models. That is pretty significant and the primary reason to use range mode all the time.
Someone find a reference that says that or I would not believe it.
Range mode turns on torque sleep with D models. That is pretty significant and the primary reason to use range mode all the time.
I think if you are doing short drives you may have more access to charging so therefor I would not consider using range mode around town. This would ensure battery is conditioned as per discussion here. I use range mode mainly on day trips when i'm away from chargers or pushing my limits between chargers. I view the feature as being more efficient on longer trips by using front motor more than rear as per the manual. If you listen very closely, with R/M on, you can hear a very small wine from front motor at parking lot speeds. Less wear on front drive system may be good reason to not leave R/M on at all times along with less conditioning at Supercharger events.
Tesla's range mode finally explained
Tesla's range mode finally explained
There was a long thread on this issues a few years back...
From the reference above
'The battery will be also less cooled. 46 Celsius degrees or co will force the system to start active cooling of battery in range mode, but normal mode 40 Celcius degrees.'
From the reference above
'The battery will be also less cooled. 46 Celsius degrees or co will force the system to start active cooling of battery in range mode, but normal mode 40 Celcius degrees.'
Thank you @Darmie The link is a little difficult to read, but has a very good explanation of when to use Range Mode in my 100D. (YES for long trips with highway cruise speeds. Not so much for shorter stop-and-go.)
I'm looking forward to experimenting with it on an upcoming multi-day road trip.
I personally will almost never use range mode. Any efficiencies gained is not worth the lost of battery longevity due to thermal management being handicapped. The only chance I would use it is if I am running out of charge and won’t make it to the next charger or my car is cold soaked and I am making one short drive and then parking it again for hours.
The main reason not to use range mode is that it doesn't really accomplish anything except for short trips in cold weather. (Based on my S85 experience). Even then if you forget to turn it off when plugging in, charging at home when cold doesn't get the battery very warm and preheating doesn't work very well.
My understanding is for AWD S and X, range mode does some motor tricks that help. No first hand experience with this though.
My understanding is for AWD S and X, range mode does some motor tricks that help. No first hand experience with this though.
it does not turn off daytime running lights. At least it does not on Raven X. Maybe it did on earlier models or earlier software.
I would argue that it could increase longevity of the battery with it on.
Thermal cycles are often what makes things deteriorate. Due to expansion and contraction. The Faster the thermal cycle the more deterioration. If you have a short commute, Heating the battery only to let it cool again 20 minutes later puts the battery through a rather quick thermal cycle that is unnecessary. Also ridiculously wasteful use of watt hours. Where with Range Mode on the battery would heat a small amount very slowly. Usually a good thing.
For long trips leaving it on. It lets the battery warm up gradually. Which is generally a good thing.
I leave it on, all the time. It never hurts a thing.
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