Battery Information - Tesla MODEL 3 2020 Owner's Manual

About the Battery
Model 3 has one of the most sophisticated
battery systems in the world. The most
important way to preserve the Battery is to
LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE PLUGGED IN when
you are not using it. This is particularly
important if you are not planning to drive
Model 3 for several weeks. When plugged in,
Model 3 wakes up when needed to
automatically maintain a charge level that
maximizes the lifetime of the Battery.
NOTE: When left idle and unplugged, your
vehicle periodically uses energy from the
Battery for system tests and recharging the
12V battery when necessary.
There is no advantage to waiting until the
Battery's level is low before charging. In fact,
the Battery performs best when charged
regularly.
NOTE: If you allow the Battery to discharge to
0%, other components may become
damaged or require replacement (for
example, the 12V battery). In these cases, you
are responsible for repair and/or transporting
expenses. Discharge-related expenses are not
covered by the warranty or under the
Roadside Assistance policy.
The peak charging rate of the Battery may
decrease slightly after a large number of DC
Fast Charging sessions, such as those at
Superchargers. To ensure maximum driving
range and Battery safety, the Battery charge
rate is decreased when the Battery is too
cold, when the Battery's charge is nearly full,
and when the Battery conditions change with
usage and age. These changes in the
condition of the Battery are driven by battery
physics and may increase the total
Supercharging duration by a few minutes over
time.
Battery Care
Never allow the Battery to fully discharge.
Even when Model 3 is not being driven, its
Battery discharges very slowly to power the
onboard electronics. The Battery can
discharge at a rate of approximately 1% per
day, though the discharge rate may vary
depending on environmental factors (such as
cold weather), vehicle configuration, and your
selected settings on the touchscreen.
Charging

Battery Information

Situations can arise in which you must leave
Model 3 unplugged for an extended period of
time (for example, at an airport when
traveling). In these situations, keep the 1% in
mind to ensure that you leave the Battery
with a sufficient charge level. For example,
over a two week period (14 days), the Battery
may discharge by approximately 14%.
Discharging the Battery to 0% may result in
damage to vehicle components. To protect
against a complete discharge, Model 3 enters
a low-power consumption mode when the
displayed charge level drops to approximately
0%. In this mode, the Battery stops
supporting the onboard electronics and
auxiliary 12V battery. Once this low-power
consumption mode is active, immediately
plug in Model 3 to prevent a jump-start and
12V battery replacement.
NOTE: If the vehicle is unresponsive and will
not unlock, open, or charge, then the 12V
battery may have become discharged. In this
situation, contact Tesla.
Temperature Limits
For better long-term performance, avoid
exposing Model 3 to ambient temperatures
above 60° C or below -30° C for more than
24 hours at a time.
Battery Warnings and Cautions
WARNING: The Battery has no parts
that an owner or a non-Tesla
authorized service technician can
service. Under no circumstances
should you open or tamper with the
Battery. Always contact Tesla to
arrange for Battery servicing.
CAUTION: If the Battery's charge level
falls to 0%, you must plug it in. If you
leave it unplugged for an extended
period, it may not be possible to
charge or use Model 3 without jump
starting or replacing the 12V battery
(see Instructions for Transporters on
page 235 for instructions on how to
jump start the battery). Leaving Model
3 unplugged for an extended period
can also result in permanent Battery
damage. If you are unable to charge
Model 3, contact Tesla immediately.
191