How to precondition
a Tesla battery
Short answer: Set a Supercharger as your destination in the car's navigation and the car warms the battery on the way. For a cold morning, use Scheduled Departure or start the climate from the Tesla app while plugged in. A warm battery charges faster and gives you more of its range back.
Why preconditioning matters
Lithium-ion batteries don't like the cold. A cold battery accepts charge slowly, limits regenerative braking, and shows less range until it warms up. Preconditioning heats the battery (and usually the cabin) ahead of time so it's ready when you need it.
Before Supercharging: use the navigation
Enter a Supercharger as your destination in the car's navigation. The car starts warming the battery on the way, and the map usually shows that it's preconditioning. Arriving with a warm battery can cut a winter charging stop significantly. Newer software also lets you start preconditioning for charging manually from the charging or climate menus, which helps for third-party fast chargers.
Before a cold morning drive: Scheduled Departure
In the car's charging or climate settings, set Scheduled Departure (newer software may call it scheduled preconditioning) to the time you usually leave. The car warms the battery and the cabin so it's ready at that time. If it's plugged in, most of the energy comes from the wall instead of the battery.
From the Tesla app
Starting the climate from the Tesla app also warms the battery somewhat, especially in the cold, and it's the easiest option when you didn't plan ahead. Give it 20 to 30 minutes in real cold. Use Defrost Car instead if there's ice on the glass.
What it costs
Warming a battery takes real energy, more the colder it is. Doing it while plugged in is the cheap way. Preconditioning off the battery is still usually worth it before a fast charge, because the time saved at the charger is bigger than the range spent.
VentMode is a summer tool
VentMode only vents a parked Tesla's windows when it's hot and dry, so in winter it stays out of the way and your windows stay shut. It closes them for rain and every evening too.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I precondition my Tesla battery for Supercharging?
Set the Supercharger as your destination in the car's navigation. The car warms the battery on the way so it can charge faster when you arrive.
Can I precondition the battery from the Tesla app?
Starting the climate from the app warms the battery somewhat, and Scheduled Departure handles it automatically. Do it while plugged in when you can.
How long does Tesla preconditioning take?
Usually 20 to 45 minutes depending on how cold it is. Navigating to a Supercharger starts it automatically with enough lead time.
Does preconditioning use a lot of battery?
It uses a fair amount in the cold. That's why plugging in first is the cheap way to do it. Before a fast charge it usually pays back in charging time.
Should I precondition in summer?
For charging, the car manages battery temperature itself. Cooling the cabin from the app before you get in is a comfort choice, and it costs some battery.
Related: Tesla Defrost Car and frozen handles · Climate battery use · Sentry Mode battery drain
When summer comes back, keep the empty car cool with no battery cost.
VentMode is not affiliated with Tesla, Inc.