If your Tesla runs out of battery, you might have enough battery to get to the next charging station. But when it drains completely, your Tesla will come to a gradual stop. You will need a flatbed tow truck or a mobile charger to get moving again.

This article provides all you need to know about what happens when a Tesla runs out of battery. We’ll review what you can expect and how to fix it. 

What’s Different From Running Out of Power in an EV and Running Out of Gas?

When electric vehicles such as Tesla models run out of power, it is not the same as gasoline-powered cars. The behavior and ways to fix it are different.

For example, when you run out of gasoline and the engine stops, the car immediately goes from full power to no power. An electric car will usually have a short moment of limited power. It may not be able to reach high speeds, but it might provide a small chance to move to the shoulder or get off a busy road.

Instead of having someone bring a can of fuel, you’ll most likely need to have your EV towed to a charging station. You might be able to find a mobile charger or you could use a portable generator with sufficient output.

The towing technique is also different. You can tow many cars with two wheels on the ground. But not Teslas. To tow a Tesla, you must use a flatbed tow truck that gets all four tires off the road.

What Happens if the Tesla Battery Goes to 0 miles?

Your Tesla’s touchscreen will show the battery level and remaining range. When that meter shows 0 miles (or km), you still have some emergency battery remaining.

You can usually drive another 10-20 miles (16-32 km) at 65 mph (105 km/h) after the touchscreen says it’s dead. The specific range depends on the battery and driving conditions. 

Once that reserve runs out, your Tesla won’t maintain a constant highway speed. If you are traveling at speed, it will slow down as the battery drains completely. If you are trying to speed up when this happens, you might not get to more than 15 mph (25 km/h).

After a short moment of this low-speed driving, the vehicle will come to a complete stop and put itself in park.

What Do You Do if Your Electric Car Runs Out of Battery?

If your Tesla runs out of battery, you should contact roadside assistance. They should send a tow truck or a mobile charger.

Roadside Assistance

Free Tesla roadside assistance is part of the Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage. This lasts for the first four years or 50,000 miles of any Tesla. You can request roadside assistance through the Tesla app:

• Open the Tesla app
• Choose ‘Roadside’
• Select the appropriate issue and add any necessary information
• Choose ‘Request Help’

You can also get roadside assistance as part of insurance policies or a AAA membership. If you have this and your battery dies, call your insurance or the AAA provider to request help.

You can also call a tow truck company directly. The downside is that you’ll have to pay for the service out of pocket.

Tow Truck

If you run out of battery and a tow truck comes to help out, Tesla cars have unique needs that a tow driver may not be aware of.

First, you must request a flatbed tow truck. Towing Tesla cars with two wheels on the ground can damage crucial parts.

Second, you will need to put the Tesla into ‘Transport Mode’ before pulling it onto the flatbed tow truck:

1. Park the vehicle and secure the tires
2. Press the brake pedal to keep it in place
3. Select ‘Controls’ on the vehicle’s touchscreen
4. Then choose ‘Service’ and then ‘Towing’
5. Push the ‘Transport Mode’ button until it turns blue
6. Now the tow truck can pull the Tesla onto the flatbed

Mobile Charger

Some roadside assistance providers offer a mobile charger. These are often gas-powered generators that you can use to charge your battery. Wait for enough charge so you can make it to an outlet or another charging station.

The professional mobile chargers will use a generator that can quickly and safely charge your Tesla. These are usually generators with at least 10 kW power on a 240-volt outlet that use a pure sine inverter.

If you can get someone to bring you a generator, you can charge your Tesla battery. It needs to have a pure sine inverter. You can use generators as small as 4,000 W but it will take more time to charge.

How To Open Tesla Doors or Charge Port if It Has a Dead Battery? (All Models)

If your high-voltage battery is dead, you’ll still be able to open the doors and charge port. These systems run on a separate 12-volt battery.

If your 12-volt battery dies, basic functions like the doors and charge port covers won’t work as usual.

Open Doors From the Inside

Every Tesla has a way to mechanically open the doors in the event of a 12-volt failure. Here is how to open the driver door of each model from the inside when the 12-volt battery is dead:

• Model S and Model X: Simply pull the interior handle all the way out.
• Model 3 and Model Y: Pull up on the manual door release located in front of the window switches.

There are rear door releases that are either under the carpet near the base of the seat or on the door by the speaker area. These can be more difficult to use. Check your owner’s manual for details.

Open Doors From the Outside

If you are outside the vehicle and cannot access these mechanical releases, you will need to jump the 12-volt battery by following these steps:

• Pop the cover off of the tow point near the base of your front bumper.
• Some Tesla vehicles have cables that stick out. You can jump the 12-volt battery from there.
• Other models have straps to manually release the frunk:
  • Pull the strap labeled ‘1’ first, then the strap labeled ‘2.
  • Remove the plastic shroud at the base of the windshield. 
  • Connect jumper cables to your 12-volt battery.

Open Charge Port or Manually Release Charger

To manually open the charge port on a Tesla without 12-volt power, simply press the base of the charge port door. It will release and you can flip it up to access the charging port.

Our Verdict

When your Tesla shows zero battery level, you can usually drive for another 10-20 miles (16-32 km). If you don’t make it to a charging station in time, your car will come to a gradual stop. Then you’ll need to get a flatbed tow truck or mobile charger.

To learn more about your Tesla charging needs, read our Tesla Supercharger article.

The post What Happens if Your Tesla Runs Out of Battery? appeared first on Tesla Shooters.

Choosing the right battery size for your Tesla Model Y is crucial if you drive long distances. 

They currently offer long-range and performance batteries and have four different types depending on the model of the car you choose.

In our guide below, we’ve gone into more detail about the type of batteries Tesla uses and more about the Model Y to see if it can compete against other well-known models.

Tesla’s Battery History Explained

Initially, Tesla used a 18650 battery in their cars, known as the Roadster and the Model X, sourced from Panasonic. You will now find them using the 18650, 4680, 2170, or prismatic type.

Tesla makes its own 4680 batteries but outsources the rest from different manufacturers. 

After starting with the Panasonic 18650 batteries in 2013, they moved to cylinder 2170 types in 2017 after figuring it was better to use bigger battery cells. These had a higher energy density therefore faster charging.

Now, you will find Tesla using their cylinder battery, which is bigger and better, known as the 4680 battery. You will find this fitted on the Texas Model Y cars.

Some models still use the other batteries, which we will revisit next.

What Battery Does The Tesla Model Y Use? 

If you buy from Texas or Germany, the Tesla Model Y car currently uses the 2170 or the 4680. 

A Tesla Model Y fitted with the 4680 battery has an mAH 9000 and is much more powerful than the 2170. 

When buying from other factories like Shanghai, China or Fremont, California you will find the Tesla Y is fitted with the 2170 battery. This is due to the fact Panasonic has more in production making it easier to meet the high demand.

Model Y’s fitted with 2170 can deliver a range of around 318 miles off a single charge.

It has been in the talks that Tesla is now producing crossover model Y cars fitted with a structural BYD LFP-type battery, these have more stability and are cheaper to make.

It has been said that these cars fitted with the new structural BYD battery pack are being made at the Gigafactory Berlin.

There has also been evidence that Tesla and BYD are working together since the Netherlands Vehicle Authority did grant permission for this new type of model Y with a BYD battery back in 2022.

Many people are surprised at this collaboration since they are competitors, but there is no doubt it would bring an affordable version of the Tesla model Y to Europe.

Other Tesla Models & Batteries 

So as you can see which Tesla cars use what battery, we’ve listed the basics below.

Model X

Model X, first introduced in 2015, was equipped with a 18650, this battery was an upgrade from the Roadster but still needed to be more powerful than the Model S. 

You could get a maximum speed of around 163 mph with this power.

Model S

Equipped with the 18650 battery, too, the Model S has an extended range of around 405 miles off one charge. 

Max speed is around 216 mph, much faster than the old Roadster.

Model 3

The Model 3 Tesla has a newer 2170 battery. There are plans to make the model with a prismatic type LFP battery in the future, like the Model Y. 

Still, with its 2170 battery, you can achieve a range of 358mph off one charge and reach a speed of 163mph.

How Big Is A Tesla Model Y Battery?

The 2022 Tesla Model Y has a size of 81kWh, thanks to structural upgrades. However, if you choose the older Tesla model before 2022, it will likely have a 75kWh battery. 

These batteries are under the Tesla Battery & Drive Unit warranty for around eight years. The base models range about 279 miles, and the performance/long-range models up to 330 miles.

Tesla Model Y Battery Vs Competition

So as you can see how the size and range of the Tesla Model Y match up to other competitors, we’ve made a comparison table below.

How Long Can A Tesla Battery Last?

Running out of charge before you reach your destination can be a worry. However, most Tesla cars can cover long distances, especially with long-range models. For example, the Tesla Y cars have an extended range of up to 330 miles. 

There are thousands of Tesla charging points worldwide. You can get a range of 200 miles just off a single 15-minute charge. But, of course, different factors can affect range, like driving speed and environmental conditions.

In terms of lifespan, the battery is covered for up to eight years with a warranty and lasts anywhere between 300,000-500,000 miles. 

If you are averaging 20,000 miles a year with your model Y, this equals about 15-25 years.

How Long Does The Tesla Model Y Take To Charge?

The battery of the Tesla Model Y takes various times to charge depending on the current charging adapter that you have. 

When talking broadly, these cars can take around 12 hours to charge. 

You will get a choice of the NEMA 5-15, NEMA 14-50, wall connector and superchargers at Tesla charging points (the latter the fastest) which all have different charging times.

When the Model Y is plugged into an AC charging station with a power of 11kWh, it will take, on average, 8 hours and 15 minutes, in a 7kWh charger this will be on average 12 hours.

For a Model S in a 7kWh charger it will take anywhere from 11-15 hours in total. The Tesla model 3 takes around 8-12 hours with a 7kWh charger.

The Future Of Model Y Tesla Batteries

Very recently, there have been some exciting developments from Tesla talking about a new lithium-ion battery that could last up to 100 years rather than the current 20 years. 

This nickel battery needs fewer battery cells, so it will be cheaper for Tesla to make and more eco-friendly since fewer batteries will end up in landfill.

Our Verdict

For most people, the Tesla Model Y battery size is more than enough for long road trips and will last you at least 15-25 years.

If the future, if Tesla Model Y’s from Berlin are fitted with the new BYD LFP battery, it could mean that these cars in Europe become even more affordable and have faster charging times.

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