Canada man takes his Tesla Model Y to a Supercharger at -31°F to see what would happen and ends up being taught an interesting lesson
Published on Jul 07, 2026 at 11:55 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Jul 07, 2026 at 11:55 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
This Tesla Model Y owner wanted to test the effectiveness of a Supercharger in extremely cold weather in Canada.
Canada can be one of the coldest countries on the planet, with temperatures often dropping below -31°F.
The result serves as an interesting lesson for EV drivers during the winter.
The test confirmed what people suspected
YouTuber Tesla Camping Canada made the most of Canada’s nail-biting temperature of -31°F to see how his car would charge at one of the brand’s Supercharger hubs.
“I have never Supercharged in this cold of weather before,” he said in the video.
The first problem arose when his Tesla Model Y started preconditioning the battery, which required a lot more energy in a climate that favors polar bears instead of humans.
And despite using lots of electricity just to make battery warm enough to receive electricity, the driver explained that his EV still couldn’t warm itself up enough.
Initially, it was performing at almost normal charging speeds of 140kW at 40 percent, but as time went on, this slowed down to 110kW.
On top of all that, using the Supercharger was expensive, with the driver splashing out $12 to get to around 62 percent of charge.
He then decided to visit slower but cheaper chargers within the local area to finish off charging.
Overall, the YouTuber did conclude that charging was eventually a success – even in the freezing temperatures.
Cold weather is a killer, and not just for Tesla EVs
All cars struggle in cold weather.
Depending on your definition of cold, many cars will refuse to start.
In places where the temperature is well below zero, drivers often use a combination of gasoline (or diesel) and alcohol-based additives just to make sure fuel doesn’t freeze over.
In a way, cars behave like humans.
In cold weather, your body will have to burn a significant amount of calories just to keep you warm.
It’s the same with a car, which needs a lot of fuel just to actually start and function.
This YouTuber’s experiment showed that while extreme cold can slow charging and increase energy use, you can still get the job done with a bit of patience.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
