Tesla Winter Essentials: Don’t Leave Home in Your Model 3 or Model Y Without These 10 Items

As winter has arrived in full force in the Northern Hemisphere, Tesla Model 3 and Model Y owners need to prepare for cold weather road trips. Here are ten items to keep in your Tesla for cold weather travel, in addition to the 11 tips already provided for driving and charging your Tesla in cold weather.

Many cold weather issues, such as frozen door handles and stuck charge port latches, can be prevented by pre-heating your car using the “Defrost Car” feature in the app. But in case you forget, these winter EV essentials will come in handy on your next cold weather road trip. Most of these items can be purchased at any auto parts store or at your local Walmart or Target. I’ve also provided links to purchase them online for your convenience.

Without further ado, here are ten essentials to consider for your Tesla when driving in cold weather:

#1: Tesla Mobile Connector (or Comparable Portable EV Charger)

In case of emergencies, keeping the Tesla Mobile Connector or a comparable portable EV charger in your trunk or frunk can come in handy. This allows you to plug into any available 120V or 240V outlet and get extra miles of range when far from a home charger or a high speed public charger.

Other options for portable chargers, like Lectron’s Level 1/Level 2 combo charger, can also be useful and provide more versatility. These chargers come with various plugs making them compatible with most outlets.

#2: A Good Extension Cord

A good extension cord can be useful in case you find yourself further from an outlet than expected. Make sure to use a thick enough (low gauge) cord to carry the requisite voltage and current.

#3: Rubber Conditioner to Prevent Frozen Windows

Applying a silicone rubber conditioner to the rubber trim inside the doors before cold weather sets in helps prevent windows from sticking to the rubber seals in winter, while also extending the life of these rubber seals.

#4: WD-40 Silicon Lube for Door Handles And Charge Port Door

Applying a silicon lube on door handles and charge port doors can prevent them from freezing in place.

#5: De-Icer For Door Handles, Windows, Mirrors and Charge Port Door

A good de-icer can be useful for melting ice on door handles, windows, or charge port doors, especially if you forget to pre-heat your car using the “Defrost Car” feature in the Tesla app.

#6: Hand-Warmers – They’re Not Just for Hands

Hand-warmers can be useful for preventing frozen charging ports and snow-packed charging cables. They can also prevent a stuck charging port latch in extremely cold weather.

#7: Tire Repair Kit or Spare Tire

While Tesla does not provide a spare tire, a tire repair kit or spare tire can be useful for emergency situations, such as a flat tire.

For those who want a more professional solution, a complete spare tire kit for Model 3 or Model Y can be purchased. These kits come with a tire iron, scissor jack, a spare wheel, and tire in a carrying case.

#8: Mylar Blankets – Trap That Heat

Inexpensive Mylar emergency blankets can capture and reflect back up to 90% of your body heat, making them a useful item to have in case of emergency.

#9: A 12V Battery Booster

Cold weather is tough on batteries, so a 12V battery booster can be connected to the car’s 12V battery to wake it up and allow it to start taking a charge.

#10: A 9V Battery

A 9V battery can be used to trigger the manual frunk release on a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y in case of a dead 12V battery, providing access to the frunk where the 12V battery is stored.

These ten items will help provide peace of mind and may save time and aggravation on a winter road trip. Stay prepared and stay safe!