Cyber Truck Dual Motor Range Question

[ABLions25]

Hey everyone,

I've been following this forum for a while but finally decided to join!

Yesterday, I had the chance to test drive a Cybertruck, and I absolutely loved it. I’m set on purchasing one next year, which will also be my first EV so I am a little new to this space. I’m leaning towards the dual-motor version.

I do have a question, though. I live in Ohio, but we have a property in Tennessee, and I make this trip frequently with my family (wife and two young kids). According to Google Maps, it’s about 220 miles, mostly highway at around 75 mph, with the last 70 miles or so averaging 60 mph. We’d usually have a couple of bags but not a ton of weight. Temps would range anywhere to winter temps (cold / mild snow) to warmer summer temps upwards of 90 degrees.

When I search online, I tend to see a lot of negative stories about Cybertruck range, but here, I find more optimistic perspectives from real owners. Based on your experiences, would I realistically be able to make this trip on a single charge, or would I need to plan a charging stop? Also, not sure if this matters, but my daughter would likely use the rear screen for streaming during the trip.

Thanks in advance, and I really appreciate this community! Looking forward to hearing your insights—getting a positive answer will definitely seal the deal for me (and help me convince my wife this is a good purchase lol).

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[Endeavors]

In my Model 3 in the winter (also live in Ohio) I typically see 70-75% of the rated range. Taking a trip to Florida next week in the Cybertruck and anticipate being able to get to my first charger in West Virginia with roughly 20% charge remaining (225 miles away). Once I actually start driving I can speak more to it but those are my expectations so far. I think you should be able to make the drive without charging assuming you charge to 100% (might not be necessary) and then have the ability to charge there for your trip back.

 

[carsly]

I picked up my CT in June in NJ and it's been pretty consistent 336 Wh/mi over 3,500 miles ranging from very hot to near-freezing in the mornings now. Yes, efficiency drops as temps drop, and running 75+ is a lot worse efficiency than running 65+ but if you catch the occasional big rig draft you can do even better. But that's 336 Wh/mi in four months across a range of conditions - that's my lifetime average which puts real-world range on my AWD around 360 miles.

Even in winter, loaded, I'd be surprised if you could not get 250-280 miles and that's if you didn't pre-condition on departure. If you do pre-condition then expect to do better as the energy used in the first hour+ will be a lot less as you're not trying to heat the cabin and battery pack all that much from stored energy and just maintaining interior temps which is a lot less draw.

Key things to watch are your tire pressures, even a few PSI too low will significantly impact range and the aforementioned pre-conditioning. Unless there is a massive elevation change, like 8-10,000 feet, I think you'll be more than fine.

PS I'm running all-terrains with no wheel covers (not available to me yet). If you go with all-seasons and wheel covers you should do better.

 

[Black306]

Don't have my CT yet, but have taken my 3 RWD (non-long range) on several long trips; one trip was about ~1300 miles. That car has a rated range of only 267 miles. My experience is food stops/bio breaks are needed more often than battery charges. ? So range is not that big of a deal.

 

[65SoYoLO]

You should make it. YRMV.

 

[cardad]

Hey everyone,

I've been following this forum for a while but finally decided to join!

Yesterday, I had the chance to test drive a Cybertruck, and I absolutely loved it. I’m set on purchasing one next year, which will also be my first EV so I am a little new to this space. I’m leaning towards the dual-motor version.

I do have a question, though. I live in Ohio, but we have a property in Tennessee, and I make this trip frequently with my family (wife and two young kids). According to Google Maps, it’s about 220 miles, mostly highway at around 75 mph, with the last 70 miles or so averaging 60 mph. We’d usually have a couple of bags but not a ton of weight. Temps would range anywhere to winter temps (cold / mild snow) to warmer summer temps upwards of 90 degrees.

When I search online, I tend to see a lot of negative stories about Cybertruck range, but here, I find more optimistic perspectives from real owners. Based on your experiences, would I realistically be able to make this trip on a single charge, or would I need to plan a charging stop? Also, not sure if this matters, but my daughter would likely use the rear screen for streaming during the trip.

Thanks in advance, and I really appreciate this community! Looking forward to hearing your insights—getting a positive answer will definitely seal the deal for me (and help me convince my wife this is a good purchase lol).

You are in the definite maybe range. 220 miles / 123 =1.789 miles ~ 1.8 mi/kwh. I average right around this figure when driving from 4500 ft to 6500 ft over almost 250 miles in similarly cold conditions. If your elevation gain is less or you have more of a rolling terrain with no net gain then you can be closer to the 2.1 mi/kwh that is “average” for highway driving. With your battery charged to 97%, aka about 119 kw x 2.1 = ~250 miles … so it’s kind of close. You won’t really know the dynamics of the drive unless you figure out the net elevation change. Slower speeds will also help so if it’s not fully highway that will help. If you are averaging 75 that could also be a problem.

also, if you have the all seasons you will gain about 10% range.

 

[dock4]

I live in Ohio and have a house in Tennessee as well. My trip is about 255 miles. This summer I had no issue making the trip in either direction without stopping to charge. I set the cruise on 75mph and arrive with 40-50 miles (cyber wheels). I would say 90% of my drive is interstate as I don’t like to take the curvy roads in TN.

If I have my kids with me, I usually plan a bathroom stop at Buc’ees, and plug in for the 10 minutes we’re inside.

 

[mongo]

Hey everyone,

I've been following this forum for a while but finally decided to join!

Yesterday, I had the chance to test drive a Cybertruck, and I absolutely loved it. I’m set on purchasing one next year, which will also be my first EV so I am a little new to this space. I’m leaning towards the dual-motor version.

I do have a question, though. I live in Ohio, but we have a property in Tennessee, and I make this trip frequently with my family (wife and two young kids). According to Google Maps, it’s about 220 miles, mostly highway at around 75 mph, with the last 70 miles or so averaging 60 mph. We’d usually have a couple of bags but not a ton of weight. Temps would range anywhere to winter temps (cold / mild snow) to warmer summer temps upwards of 90 degrees.

When I search online, I tend to see a lot of negative stories about Cybertruck range, but here, I find more optimistic perspectives from real owners. Based on your experiences, would I realistically be able to make this trip on a single charge, or would I need to plan a charging stop? Also, not sure if this matters, but my daughter would likely use the rear screen for streaming during the trip.

Thanks in advance, and I really appreciate this community! Looking forward to hearing your insights—getting a positive answer will definitely seal the deal for me (and help me convince my wife this is a good purchase lol).

You might make it without charging, A Better Route Planner can estimate it. Or use the Tesla Planner with a similar range vehicle https://www.tesla.com/trips. However, should there be need for a little more juice, there are a lot of options:

 

[REM]

Also, go ahead and install the app "PlugShare" and you can find free chargers out in the wild to supplement or backup your plans.

Range anxiety is something you will shed after about a week of driving. After you go through all 4 seasons you will be a range estimating expert. As far as making it in one go without charging, I would generally recommend that as it's more healthy to keep your truck around 50% SoC (state of charge) when you aren't traveling long distance.

Long distance trips you should generally run down to 15-20% when you are first learning, but always let the built in navigation guide you. It calculates and optimizes your trip for you. Use Tesla's Trip planner to scout ahead.

Pro tip: go ahead and run wiring, breakers, boxes, etc for your level 2 charging. Getting it done far in advance will allow you to really enjoy your experience to the fullest on day one.

 

[agordon117]

The reduced range in winter is mainly because of heating which consumes a lot of electricity!

This is only part of it actually. The other issue is the colder air is much more dense, and therefore has much more drag.

 

[JimBuck333]

We have made a 133 mile run on the Garden State Parkway repeatedly, to our little summer place, and reliably use 41% of charge in our CT. (Maybe 42% as things have gotten cooler…) This is a highway that runs 75 mph, plus or minus, much of the ride. This translates into using 68% of charge for your trip each way, which leaves plenty of margin for cold weather.

 

[agordon117]

I'll be able to answer you eventually if you're willing to wait. I make frequent trips from cleveland to youngstown and back, and take pretty good notes about my actual range vs rated. The biggest range hit I ever saw in my model Y was 50%. It was super cold, super windy, and I was on the highway going like 79mph. The wind was so extreme that I had to set the cabin heat to like 82F to maintain a comfortable 70-72F. The cold air blowing so hard over the car was just sucking the heat out as fast as the car could make it. I only ever saw that kind of range hit once. Normally what I did in the model Y was set it to percentage rather than miles, and I would just figure I get 2 miles per 1% battery in a normal worst case scenario. Aside from that one outlier day, that was conservative enough to never leave me stranded

I don't have any cold weather data yet for the truck, because it was in service for 23 days and it also hasn't really been that cold yet.

As someone mentioned above, you're probably going to be right on the edge of what's comfortable to not stop for a 15 minute charge somewhere. It will probably depend on the specific conditions of a given day.

You certainly will not make it if you opt for the snow tires. Those make a pretty significant difference. On the other hand, if you opt for the all seasons, you will have an easier time than the all terrains.

 

[Ward L]

You will have no problem on your trip. To me, the big factor is will I be able to charge at my destination. I don’t mind getting home occasionally with a 5% charge because I know I can plug in right away to my 240v 14-50 charger. If you arrive at destination and need to drive somewhere else to charge up, that is not very convenient. A 14-50 outlet is the most inexpensive practical way to charge at home. It is similar to an electric dryer receptical.

 

[mcm4ss]

Thing is, 200+ miles someone is going to have to pee. It is also healthier and a lot more enjoyable to stretch at least once. Find a charger somewhere along those lines. Take 15 mins. You will have 0 issues.

 

[CyberGus]

When I search online, I tend to see a lot of negative stories about Cybertruck range, but here, I find more optimistic perspectives from real owners.

The internet is a cesspool. Except here. Here is awesome.

I can make a 300mi+ trip sure, but I would start with 100% SoC (which I don't usually do) and arrive with almost no range left. Since charging slows at the pack gets fuller, it would take well over an hour to SuperCharge to 100%, but I could easily stop for 10-15 minutes to add 50 miles of range.

Thanks to regenerative braking, weight has minimal effect on range. The range killer is drag, either by towing or excessive speed. Elevation plays a part as well, but that mostly evens-out with regen.

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