Video Summary
The Tesla Model 3 with the LFP battery is thought to be the worst winter car due to rear-wheel drive and the battery's heating difficulty.The biggest problem during winter is the slow charging performance. The energy density is lower than the Long Range version, which means the battery can store less energy per kilogram. Charging can be extremely slow when cold.
Tesla's heat management is world-class.
The battery is more robust, but it is still unable to absorb the amount of heat necessary to fast charge. A major cause is the LFP chemistry.
The car uses the motor to generate heat inefficiently. Rear-wheel drive cars only have a rear inverter and one motor, so less heat is available to heat the battery.
If you don't have home charging and need to DC fast charge the car for daily driving, charging time can be around 50 minutes, then increase to 2 hours.
The dangers of regenerative breaking have been debunked. The car automatically breaks when you let off the accelerator, but this is not dangerous.
The reviewer recommends using studded winter tires for icy conditions, as they grab the ice and provide good driving performance.
The exterior frameless windows are heated.
Electronic door handles do freeze, though they can be opened with de-icer or via the app.
Auto-folding mirrors should be disabled in winter.
Slip Start setting should be activated on icy or snowy hills.
The car is not unsafe in winter, though all-wheel-drive cars would help to climb hills easier.
Home charging is strongly recommended for optimal performance. If needing to DC fast charge, ensure there is enough drive time to pre-heat the battery. Overall the reviewer has a positive recommendation of this car due to it's fantastic energy management.
