How to Precondition Tesla Battery: 6 Different Ways, Pros, and Cons

Not everyone is aware of the Tesla preconditioning feature, as it’s mostly used to preheat the car in cold temperatures. However, preconditioning is much more than that. You must also learn how to precondition the Tesla battery to extend its lifespan and save charging time.

To precondition, you can use the Tesla app or Controls option to turn on the Climate setting. Scheduling a departure time or setting a navigation destination will also turn preconditioning automatically. For your Model S and X, enable the Drag Strips mode. Set your Tesla for preconditioning for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Read on as I walk you through all the different methods of preconditioning your Tesla and explore why you should do it.

6 Methods of Preconditioning Your Tesla Car

By preconditioning your Tesla, you can preheat its battery and cabin before you drive. It’s particularly useful in cold temperatures and long drives. Preconditioning also helps the battery to charge faster.

Generally, you use smart preconditioning, where the car automatically turns on preconditioning depending on your driving plans. However, you can also do it manually. Here is how to precondition a tesla in different methods:

Tesla App Climate Option

In my opinion, this is the easiest way to precondition your Tesla as it takes only a few clicks. Besides, you don’t have to get in the car at all. If you live in a colder climate and your Tesla requires defrosting, your Tesla app will notify you to start preconditioning the vehicle.

You’ll see a snowflake icon on the notification bar. To precondition your Tesla battery with the app, follow these steps:

• Open the Tesla app on your phone and log into your Tesla account. Go to ‘Climate’ and tap ‘Turn On’. This way, your Tesla will automatically start preconditioning the vehicle battery and the interior.
• You can select the preferred temperature if you want. But that won’t be necessary as your Tesla’s computer will heat up or cool down the system depending on the temperature outside.
• Apart from climate control, you can also navigate to the ‘A/C System’ or ‘Defrost Car’ and select ‘Turn On’. Doing so will also automate the preconditioning process. When it’s done, the app will notify you or display the updated status.

Experience uninterrupted performance with your Tesla by understanding why battery preconditioning may not be occurring. Explore our guide to uncover potential reasons and practical solutions, ensuring optimal efficiency and comfort in every drive.

Preconditioning Using Tesla’s Touchscreen

Another way to control climate settings is by using the touchscreen on the center console of your Tesla. For this,

• Switch on your Tesla and locate the display temperature notification panel at the bottom. It shows the current temperature of the vehicle (like 19°C). Tap on it to open the climate control options.
• Now, you can simply select ‘On’ to enable climate control or swipe up and turn on the ‘Defrost Car’ mode. During the preconditioning process, you’ll notice some orange lines on the notification panel. Once the process is done, these lines will disappear.

Stay in control of your Tesla’s climate system effortlessly by troubleshooting common issues with our comprehensive guide. Learn how to address system faults and restore Climate Keeper functionality for a seamless driving experience in any weather condition.

Turning on Navigation

If you want to automate the preconditioning process on the go, turning on the navigation feature is a good option. Once you start driving, the navigation map will appear on the touchscreen. Here’s what you need to do:

• To set up your preferred location, hold or drag your fingers to figure out the routes.
• Press and hold your finger on your desired location and this will drop a pin on the map of the chosen location.
• If there’s any Supercharging station on the way or frequent stops, your Tesla’s computer will automatically start preconditioning depending on the temperature of your vehicle.

Setting Supercharger Destination

While the previous method is a quick solution to precondition your Tesla on the fly, you can’t control the automated process. As an alternative, you can set your destination to a Supercharging station. Here’s how:

• Go to the Tesla app on your phone and tap on ‘Location‘. Now, you can either zoom out to manually locate the charging stations or use the search bar and type ‘Supercharging Stations’.
• Once you see a list of the stations near you, select your preferred one and pin it to set it as your next destination.

Activate Scheduled Departure Feature

As you schedule your departure time, your Tesla starts preconditioning before you start driving to maximize its efficiency. Follow the steps given below to set a departure time to activate preconditioning:

• Go to the Tesla app on your phone and tap on the ‘Schedule’ option. On the new tab, you’ll find the ‘Precondition’ feature. Slide the toggle bar next to it.
• Now, you need to select how often you want to precondition your Tesla. Choose ‘All Week’ or ‘Weekdays’ depending on how often you’ll be driving.
• Right beside the ‘Departure‘ option, you’ll see a timer. Set it to the time when you want to start your journey and your Tesla will automate preconditioning on that day.

Enable Drag Strips Mode

Before we start, let me remind you that this method is only for privileged Tesla Model S and X owners. The Drag Strips mode is basically to precondition your drive units and car battery before a race. To enable it:

• Go to the ‘Controls’ menu from your Tesla’s touchscreen. Now choose ‘Pedals & Steering’ and tap on the ‘Drag Strips Mode’ option.
• If your Tesla prompts you to turn on preconditioning, accept it to start the process. Keep in mind that the Drag Strips mode stays activated for 3 hours only.

Is It Necessary to Precondition Your Tesla? Pros and Cons to Consider

Although preconditioning is a convenient feature to optimize your Tesla’s performance, it’s not necessary for every situation.

Extreme cold, long drives, racing, etc., are some situations when you should precondition your Tesla battery. Below are the pros and cons you should consider before preconditioning:

Advantages of Tesla Preconditioning

Wondering why you should precondition your Tesla? Here are its many benefits:

● Faster Charging

The key function of the preconditioning feature is to create the ideal environment for charging the battery. As you might know, a cold battery charges slower. Preconditioning warms the battery up before charging.

Therefore, your Tesla’s battery accepts a charge at its full potential and saves you time (up to 25%) at the charging station.

● Enhanced Battery Efficiency

According to a study, controlling the vehicle’s climate and avoiding extreme temperatures can reduce battery charge by up to 35%. Meaning, you’ll have to charge less often which eventually increases the life span of your vehicle.

● Comfortable Cabin

Whether it’s a hot summer day or the world is freezing, preconditioning your Tesla makes sure your car’s interior is always comfortable.

Defrosting and cooling take a while before the cabin is ready to accommodate passengers. You can avoid this trouble by starting the temperature control process beforehand. Preconditioning in winter has the same effect just with heating the cabin.

● Enables Advanced Tesla Features

If your Tesla’s battery is too cold, its computer automatically turns off some premium Tesla features such as regenerative braking.

Without preconditioning, your vehicle has to put extra stress and consume more energy to reset the temperature of the battery and cabin.

● Less Temperature Stress

Tesla cars come with a lithium-ion battery. As studies have shown, extreme temperatures put thermal stress on lithium-ion batteries and affect their performance, longevity, and safety.

By preconditioning the battery, you can adjust the temperature without even entering the car. Hence, there’s less stress on the battery, ensuring optimal performance.

Disadvantages of Tesla Preconditioning

Here are some of the drawbacks of using the preconditioning feature when it’s not necessary:

● Energy Consumption

Preconditioning uses your car battery’s power to warm the battery and cabin. Although it’s a minor concern in mild weather, in colder climates, it often leads to higher energy bills on frequent use.

Besides, if your battery charge is already running low, it will affect interior lighting and premium features.

● Scheduling Beforehand

The preconditioning is highly convenient as long as you actually remember to turn it on beforehand. You’ll have to set up the process for about 1 hour before driving the vehicle. Some users find the scheduling process a bit annoying and conflicting with their routine.

How Long Should You Precondition Your Tesla?

The exact time for preconditioning your Tesla depends on the following factors:

• Regular Drives: Tesla recommends activating climate settings at least 30-45 minutes before departure using the mobile app or scheduled departure.
• Before Supercharging: If you’re preconditioning before battery charging, give it 10 to 20 minutes.
• In Cold Temperatures: In very cold weather (below freezing), it can take up to an hour to fully recondition the battery and cabin.
• To Preheat the Cabin: If you only want to preheat the cabin for comfort, you can do so for a shorter period, like 10-15 minutes.

Final Words

Now that you know how to precondition your Tesla battery, apply it whenever you plan a trip or charge the vehicle. If you ask me, using the Tesla app is the easiest and fastest method for preconditioning.

Always weigh the pros and cons of preconditioning based on your individual needs and climate. This way, you can decide if using it regularly is the right choice for you.

In case none of the methods work, it can be a system malfunction. Contact Tesla support to get help with it.