Are Teslas More Efficient In City Or Highway? (We Checked)

The efficiency of EVs is higher than that of their gasoline-powered counterparts and the major benefit is that EV owners don’t have to pay for gas.

However, these cars have different efficiency in the city and on highways, including Tesla models. Join us to know how efficient Teslas are in the city and on highways.

Before we dive in, would you like to know about the 5 electric cars with +350 miles range?

Here Is Whether Teslas Are More Efficient in the City or on Highways:

Teslas are more efficient in the city than on the highway. This is because stop-and-go city traffic allows for regenerative braking in EVs as it converts kinetic energy lost during deceleration back into stored energy.

The car’s range then increases as it uses the stored energy during acceleration.

How Much Range Do Teslas Have in City Traffic?

As we have mentioned above, Tesla’s range in the city increases unlike in gas cars, where it decreases. Talking about gas cars, we have an article on the cheapest full-size SUVs with the best gas mileage.

However, the amount of range Teslas have in city traffic depends on which Tesla model it is, as they offer different MPGe (Miles Per Gallon equivalent) depending on their build.

There is also the factor of how heavy the traffic is, the driving condition, and driver’s habits.

While we cannot consider all these factors to calculate an accurate range in this article, using the Fueleconomy.gov official estimate for each Tesla model city traffic range gives a near-perfect of the Teslas city traffic range.

For the 2023 Model 3

• The Long Range AWD delivers 134 MPGe city
• The Performance AWD delivers 118 MPGe city
• The RWD delivers 138 MPGe city

The Model S offers 124 MPGe city range, while the Model X delivers 107. The Model X Plaid with the 20 inches wheels offers 103 MPGe city, and the 22 inches wheel offers 94 MPGe city.

There is also the Model Y AWD with 129 MPGe city, the Long Range AWD with 127 MPGe city, and the Performance AWD with 115 MPGe city.

How Much Range Do Teslas Have on Highways?

Tesla’s range on a single charge on Highways may vary as well, depending on some factors we mentioned above.

These include speed, temperature, and traffic conditions, among others. This is the reason some car critics have submitted different opinions on the Tesla model ranges, some higher and others lower.

Also, just like the city range, the Highway range as well offers different MPGe peculiar to each model.

Fueleconomy.gov estimated the 2023 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD delivers 126 MPGe highways, the Performance AWD delivers 107 MPGe Highway, and the RWD delivers 126 MPGe Highway.

The Model S delivers the estimated MPGe of 115 Highway.

Tesla Model X, however, delivers 97 MPGe Highway, while the Model X Plaid with 20 inches wheels delivers 93 MPGe Highway. Model X Plaid with 22 inches wheels, otherwise delivers 88 MPGe Highway.

There is also the Model Y AWD with 116 MPGe Highway, the Long Range AWD offers 117 MPGe Highway and the Performance AWD offers 106 MPGe Highway.

What Is the Most Efficient Way to Drive a Tesla?

If you have experienced driving your Tesla and the displayed Tesla range did not match the actual range, it is because the actual range varies based on many factors, some of which we already mentioned.

However, these factors don’t stop owners from getting the best from EVs if they drive them efficiently.

While the displayed range is not dependent on owners’ driving data, efficient driving involves avoiding factors that cause too much energy consumption when driving your Tesla.

We listed them below.

Factors That Affect Tesla’s Efficiency

According to Tesla, these factors affect Tesla’s energy consumption. Note that we listed only the prominent factors on this list.

Driving at High Speed/Windows Rolled Down

Driving at a high speed affects the car’s range. This is because how fast drivers drive determines the impact air has on their movement, which at high speed can increase the drag coefficient.

This with the windows rolled down affects the range of the vehicle even more because the EV uses more energy to move in this circumstance at a higher rate.

However, slowing down when driving, and avoiding frequent and rapid acceleration will improve the range of your car. Avoiding rolling the windows down is also necessary.

Instead, owners should ensure they raise all windows fully and should use aero covers to reduce wind resistance.

Environmental Conditions

Environmental conditions, such as cold and hot weather, also affect the energy consumption of your Tesla. In extreme cold/hot or breezy weather, EVs range drops significantly according to experts.

According to an AAA study, at a temperature as cold as 20 degrees Celsius, which demands the use of climate control to heat the cabin, the range can reduce by 41% on average.

AAA also submitted that the hot weather doesn’t have as much effect on the range as the cold weather, but it is still noticeable.

To maximize efficiency in cold weather, preconditioning the EV while plugged in will save energy for a more efficient range.

However, for hot weather, avoiding overcharging the batteries and not packing your car in the sun helps preserve its energy.

Heavy Cargo Load

Where the cargo includes heavy loads, this will affect the drag coefficient of your Tesla. Owing to this, your EV needs more energy to move and this will reduce the range.

For efficient driving of your Tesla, avoiding heavy loads will improve the range of your vehicle.

Unmaintained Wheels and Tires

When owners can’t maintain the wheels and tires of their Tesla, it leads to unbalanced tires and misaligned wheels that can negatively affect the range of the battery.

Owing to this, owners should ensure they align the wheels of their vehicles to specification and that they rotate the tires at the recommended inflation pressures and time.

You should also find out if all-terrain tires are good on the highway.

Overcharging/Fast Charging

Fast charging and overcharging leads to the degradation of battery life faster than expected and lead to a reduction in range.

To get the best out of your battery life, experts have recommended not overcharging your vehicle and avoiding the use of DC chargers for the best battery health.

For more information, you can check the article on 5 common problems with batteries in electric cars.

What Is the Best Tesla for City Traffic?

From the discussion about Tesla’s range in city traffic above, using the Fueleconomy.gov data, the best Tesla for city traffic is the Tesla Model 3 RWD with a range of 138 MPGe city, which is the highest on the list.

This trim is the base trim of the Tesla Model 3. It is also the most affordable of the Tesla models and serves as an everyday family vehicle. It comes with a battery of 58-kWh, which can recharge at up to 170 kW.

There is also the Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD at 134 MPGe, which is another good range for city traffic. Owners can opt for the Model 3 Long Range AWD, following the Model 3.

Aside from which Tesla has the best city traffic range, we also have an article on 5 cheap mid-size SUVs with the best gas mileage.

Read Also: New Tesla Model 3 Is Wild! (What We Know So Far)

What Tesla Model Gets the Most Range on the Highway?

The Tesla model with the most range on the Highway is the Model 3 RWD with 126 MPGe highway, the one with the highest range for city traffic.

There is also the Long Range AWD with the same MPGe.

Owing to this, you can opt for any of these options when considering Teslas with the most range on the Highway.

However, for the combined range, both models also have the most range combined. The Model 3 RWD recorded 132 MPGe combined, the highest on the list. The Long Range, however, follows at 31 MPGe combined.

Though these Teslas are both Model 3 trim levels, we recommend checking out their specifications before making a purchase. This is to help you know which will better suit your needs.

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