InsideEVs reported on Saturday that test results for the Tesla Model 3’s charging performance in frigid temperatures of 5°F have been released.
The YouTube channel FrozenTesla conducted an experiment in which a Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD was charged using a Level 1 charger for fourteen hours in the extreme Canadian cold.
EV chargers are categorized by charging speed: Level 1 and 2 use AC power, while Level 3 uses DC. Level 1 chargers plug into standard outlets and are common in homes. Level 2 chargers are found in both residential and commercial settings. Tesla’s Destination Chargers are Level 2, while their Superchargers are Level 3.
Level 1 chargers typically connect to 110V outlets and draw up to 15 amps for a charging speed of 1-2 kW. A full charge of a 70 kWh battery pack could take up to eighty hours, which is a long time.
The video shows a Tesla Model 3 Facelift Long Range AWD parked outside overnight in frigid Canadian temperatures, connected to a Level 1 charger.
FrozenTesla explained that the results showing Tesla’s increasing battery level only from 65% to 70% indicated poor charging efficiency. This was due to the thin extension cord, which limited the charger to 9 amps instead of its maximum 12-amp output.
FrozenTesla added that using a thicker extension cord or a 220V outlet could have doubled the energy input to the battery. He noted that this experiment demonstrates that while Level 1 chargers can be useful in emergencies, they perform poorly in sub-zero temperatures.
