It's the EPA that figures the range for Teslas, not Tesla! In fact, Tesla asked the EPA to LOWER the range rating of the RWD Model 3 to match the lower range AWD model 3. Tesla did NOT want their more expensive version to show less range. APA will rate less just by asking, but never more than their own testing.
But never expect the range to be accurate on an EV. It's for comparison purposes ONLY.
Cold weather and wind direction and countless other things can lower the range. And other than the cold weather, many things can increase the range as well.
For an example, from here in Auburn, CA from my other house in Reno, NV, it is exactly 99.0 miles in true distance from one driveway to the other. I use around 77 miles of my range coming this way, but around 133 miles going the opposite way. In this case, the difference is the elevation. Much more downhill this direction. This is with my 2018 Tesla Model 3, AWD, LR.
IIRC, the 5K$ cheaper RWD gets around 35 miles more range than the AWD--but advertised as the exact same range.
Speed also makes a BIG difference. My Tesla is rated at 330 miles of range at 65 MPH. It will get around 430 miles at a steady 38 MPH according to charts I have seen. Go faster than 65 MPH and the range drops very fast.
BTW, electric motorcycles are much worse. If you're in a big hurry on a long trip, be sure to ride VERY slow. You cannot make up for the time lost at a charge stop with speed--it does the opposite, even with a so-called fast charger. On electric motorcycles, the slower the better. Each time the speed is doubled you will get around half the range.
-Don- Auburn, CA
. That is how it works, range goes down as you drive, just like on gas cars. Maybe the numbers should wait to go down when you are not looking like the light inside the refrigerator.
