08:39 13-01-2026

How a Tesla Model 3 kept warm off-grid all night at -28°C

Winter driving remains a sticking point for electric cars, especially in deep cold. A Canadian experiment with a Tesla Model 3 Long Range shows how a modern EV handles an extreme night off the grid.

The car was left in an open lot at −28°C. Inside, the cabin was held at 20°C, with heated seats, climate control, and the infotainment system running. The battery started at 66%—a figure chosen to mirror real-world conditions rather than a lab setup, as 32CARS.RU notes.

In the first hours, energy use was higher—about 4% per hour—because the battery and cabin needed to be warmed. Once temperatures stabilized, the drop eased to around 3% per hour. After 12 hours of autonomous operation, the Tesla had lost roughly 36% of its charge while maintaining a comfortable interior and full system functionality. Total consumption reached 34.4 kWh—about 5 euros to recharge afterward.

For comparison, a gasoline car idling for the same period would have spent nearly twice as much on fuel. The takeaway is straightforward: an EV can keep passengers warm and safe for hours even in severe frost, and the familiar worries about freezing electric cars are often overstated. The numbers here cut through the usual winter panic far better than anecdotes.

The Model 3 test shows that a night of subzero cold without a plug isn’t a crisis for today’s electric cars. With sensible energy use, EVs remain efficient, dependable, and economical even in harsh climates.