Tesla Model X

Back in 2023 a friend of mine shared with me a crowdfunding project for a Tesla freezer/fridge electric cooler from TesCooler. I went ahead and ordered it, knowing the version for the Model X would be the last to get manufactured. It was originally estimated to be delivered in December of 2023, but there were delays. I finally received our TesCooler from AcoPower in mid-April 2024. TesCooler for the Tesla Model X Meet the TesFridge – your ultimate road trip companion for making memories and keeping things cool, no matter where the journey takes you. Picture this: seamlessly fitting into your Tesla’s sub-trunk, it’s all about maximizing space while packing in up to 40 liters of goodness. But here’s the kicker: thanks to its top-notch cooling compressor, this bad boy can transform a lukewarm 50°F (10°C) to a chilly -4°F (-20°C) in just half an hour. It’s currently available for the Tesla Model 3, Model Y, and Model X – No Tesla Model S option as of this post. TesCooler Specs Here’s the specs directly from the manufacturer: Optional Battery Power I did not opt for it, but there is a portable battery you could also take if you plan to use your cooler away from your vehicle. The optional battery provides up to 10 hours of power, it’s like having your own personal fridge on the go. Ready to chill out and explore like never before? Packaging The packaging of the Tescooler was pretty solid, the only concern is the outer box did not have the same message about keeping it upright. Sure enough, FedEx delivered it with it up on it’s side. Unboxing the TesCooler T-36 (For Tesla Model X) Here’s the TesCooler for our Tesla Model X unboxes, there’s some protective plastic over the power controls and some quick reference instructions on the lid. Everything Included with the Tesla Electric Cooler Open the lid and you’ll find everything that comes with the cooler. There’s separate bags for the following: Installing the Tesla Electric Cooler As mentioned above, you’ll want to install the foam spacers first. These provide a tighter fit for the cooler and will install in the sub trunk on the wall closest to the rear of the vehicle. They simply attach with velcro. Connecting the 12v Power Cord Before simply placing your cooler into the rear sub-trunk of your Tesla, connect the power cord. Some years of the Tesla Model X might have the 12v power supply in another location, but our 2020 has it located here on the left. Installation Complete That’s all it takes to install the TesCooler from ACOPower in your Tesla Model X. Once you’ve plugged in the cooler, you can short-press the power button to get it powered up. TesCooler Review I just installed our TesCooler, made sure everything powered up, but will have to take some time to actually use it. The cooler could have been made a bit wider to fit the full width of the sub-trunk, but this could allow for some small items to still be stored in the sub-trunk. I’ll check to see if the mobile connector bag fits, but expect more to come as we get a chance to actually use this cooler.

With the increasing popularity of electric cars, many people are wondering if it is possible to tow a trailer with a Tesla, and in the snow. My dad and I picked up a couple of used snowmobiles this past summer along with a Sled Bed trailer and recently hit the snowy roads to a Washington State Sno-Park with them. We’ve previously covered Can Tesla Cars Tow Trailers, however, in this article we’ll focus on towing in the snow. The short answer is yes, you can tow a trailer with a Tesla in the snow. However, there are some things you need to keep in mind before you hit the snowy road. Towing a trailer in snow can be challenging and requires extra precautions to ensure safe and smooth driving. The most important thing to remember is to slow down and take your time. Snow and ice can create slippery and unpredictable driving conditions, so it’s essential to drive at a slower speed and leave extra space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. Vehicle Range Towing a trailer with an electric vehicle can drastically reduce its range, so can cold weather. Steep inclines do as well. Combine two or even three of these components, and you’ll find yourself depleting the battery much faster than you’d like. Have the Right Equipment When towing a trailer in snow, it’s also crucial to have the right equipment. Make sure your Tesla and trailer are equipped with appropriate tires, such as snow or winter tires, that are designed to provide better traction and control in snowy conditions. You may also want to consider using tire chains for added traction. Depending on where you’re traveling, chains, or at least traction tires may be required. Additionally, it’s important to use the right type of trailer for snowy conditions. A lightweight trailer may not provide enough traction and stability in the snow, while a heavy trailer may put too much strain on your Tesla. A well-balanced trailer with good weight distribution and appropriate brakes is essential for safe towing in snow. Prepare for your Trip Before setting out on your trip, check the weather forecast and road conditions to ensure that it is safe to travel. It’s also a good idea to pack an emergency kit with essentials like food, water, warm clothing, and a shovel in case you get stuck in the snow. Firstly, it’s important to know the towing capacity of your Tesla. The Tesla Model X has a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, while the Tesla Model Y has a towing capacity of up to 3,500 pounds. This means that you need to make sure that the weight of your trailer, plus everything you’re carrying in it, does not exceed the towing capacity of your Tesla. Exceeding the towing capacity can lead to safety issues and damage to your vehicle. Once you have determined that your trailer is within the towing capacity of your Tesla, the next thing to consider is the range. Towing a trailer requires more energy than driving without one, so your range will be reduced. This means you need to plan your trips carefully and make sure you have enough range to get to your destination, as well as any charging stations along the way. You may need to make more frequent stops to recharge your Tesla, which can add time to your journey. Ideally, you want to know the roads you’ll be traveling to before you head out. Are there steep inclines, areas that are prone to closures, Tesla superchargers along the way, third party charging (if needed), etc? Know the Current and Expected Road Conditions It’s crucial to check road conditions in winter weather because snow, ice, and other winter weather conditions can make driving hazardous and increase the risk of accidents. Road conditions can change quickly during winter storms, making it essential to stay informed about the latest updates to ensure that you can travel safely. Checking road conditions can help you plan your route and adjust your travel plans accordingly. For example, if you see that a particular road is closed or experiencing severe weather conditions, you may need to find an alternate route or postpone your trip until conditions improve. We were heading home once and found weather conditions worsened to the point where the highway mountain pass was closed. There’s not a lot of options for detours in this area and many motorists were parked waiting for over 2 hours already when we got to that point. Moreover, road condition reports can help you prepare for the driving conditions you may encounter, such as black ice, slushy roads, or heavy snow. This can help you adjust your driving accordingly, such as driving at slower speeds, leaving extra space between vehicles, and increasing your following distance to reduce the risk of accidents. Additionally, checking road conditions can help you prepare your vehicle for the trip. For example, if you know that you’ll be driving in snow and ice, you may want to equip your vehicle with winter tires, chains, or other traction aids to improve your vehicle’s grip on the road. Electric Trailer Brakes Multiple times my dad has asked me if my trailers had electric brakes, none of them do. Trailers with electric brakes can be beneficial in snowy conditions as they can provide improved control and stability when towing in slippery conditions. Electric brakes are designed to provide proportional braking force based on the amount of braking applied to the towing vehicle. This means that they can help prevent the trailer from sliding or swaying on slippery roads, providing better control for the driver. Electric brakes also have the advantage of being more responsive than those without any. They can quickly and easily adjust to changing road conditions, such as sudden stops or turns, providing more precise control over the trailer’s braking. However, it’s important to note that the effectiveness of electric brakes in the snow also

We’ve driven in snow and ice conditions in a Tesla for over 4 years, but this was the first time we experienced damage to the wheel well liner. Snow, and ice managed to build up inside of our wheel well and caused enough pressure or force to pull the liner out from the retaining push clips. Read on to see how you can repair, or even prevent this from happening to your wheel liner. What Do Wheel Well Liners Do? Wheel well liners are a crucial part of any automobile, providing protection from dirt, debris, and moisture. They are often made from plastic or rubber and fit snugly against the wheel wells, helping to protect them from the elements. However, snow and ice can cause significant damage to these parts over time. As snow accumulates in the wheel well, it can freeze and expand, cause pressure or force, and lead to cracks and tears in the liner. In addition, moisture from melted snow or ice can seep into the interior of the car, damaging sensitive electrical components. How it Happened My wife had been driving our Tesla Model X and mentioned she heard a noise while driving. This was happening primarily after she let off on the accelerator or was turning. At first, I thought it might have had something to do with the regenerative breaking, but after looking inside the wheel well I noticed a section that was bulging downward. Upon a closer look, I saw sections of the wheel liner had pulled loose. Replacement Wheel Well Liner Retaining Clips Since the liner pulled out from the original retaining clips, the holes in the liner had been widened and the OEM clips would now longer work. It would require a clip with a wider head. As much as I’ve had several poor experiences, I was off to one of my local automotive stores. At first I tried going to O’Reilly’s, but their inventory was extremely limited and I ended up at Autozone, who has consistently provided me with really bad customer experiences. Despite my dislike for Autozone, I was able to find some clips that ended up working. The diameter of the “pin” section of the clip appeared to be identically as the OEM Tesla clip and the head was wider. You’ll notice on the picture above, two black air lines for the air suspension and two wire looms for electrical. The Tesla wheel well liner is protecting these components (and others) from road debris. Our liner did have a tear in it, so I’ll need to replace it later. These are the retaining clips I picked up from Autozone. They’re listed as an OEM replacement for Nissan, but had the same diameter as the Tesla’s, but with a wider head that I needed. Autozone allowed me to open up the package before purchasing to verify fit. To remove the existing retaining clip I used a trim remover tool similar to this one on Amazon. Eventual Liner Replacement I actually ran into a mobile Tesla repair technician a couple weeks after this occurred. He had asked if we had any issues with our Tesla and I mentioned the wheel well liner issue. The tech gave me some retaining clips he had and recommended reaching out to him in the spring. I wasn’t interested in having it replaced with a new one right now only to have it get damaged as we’re still in the middle of winter. The technician gave me his business card and said I could contact him later. I’ll update this post when I get an official quote for how much it will cost to replace the wheel well liner. It will be out-of-pocket since we’re out of warranty. Currently, these wheel well liners are around $200 on eBay which I think is absurd. Hopefully Tesla might actually sell them for less. Possible Prevention Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to prevent excessive damage to your wheel well liners during winter months. First, make sure to regularly inspect your wheel wells for any cracks or tears in the liner. If you find any, be sure to repair them immediately. Second, try to keep snow and ice away from the wheel wells as much as possible. You can do this by brushing off excess snow when clearing your driveway or parking lot, or covering the wheel well with plastic sheeting when parking in snow. While the steps above may not always be convenient or even feasible, it’s certainly worth at least inspecting any snow or ice build up when you can. I’ve driven in sub-zero weather before, and the snow and ice can quickly build up, and it doesn’t come off easily. In these cases where it’s extremely hard, you may actually cause more damage trying to remove the build up of snow and ice. I’ve also read where this done happen to several makes and models of vehicles. One post I saw recommended the use of Pam, the spray cooking oil as it’s supposed to prevent snow or ice from building up. I may try this at some point, but similar to tire shine products, I’m sure you’d want to make sure not to get any on the tread of your tires. It would likely cause some traction issues if you have any type of oil on your tire treads. I’ll have to research this one some more and will likely test one side to compare to the other to see how well it works. Wrap-Up I’m still not sure what was different about the snow and ice on the roads when my wife drove on this day. We’ve been through much heavier, thicker snow conditions and ice before. Ideally I’ll replace this one and not have to worry about this issue again. Remember: even small cracks or tears can quickly lead to costly repairs, so it’s important to stay on top of maintenance and repair issues as they arise. Your car

Tesla has updated their website highlighting a 371 mile range per charge for the Long Range Plus model. The Long Range Plus previously had a 351 mile EPA rating. The Performance model has also seen an increase, it is now up to 341 miles of range, which is up from 305. This is two fairly substantial increases in range in less than a year. The Tesla Model X range increase for the Long Range Model went from 330 miles late last year to now 371 miles with the Long Range Plus. With this 41 mile increase, it’s nearly half of what the original LEAF had for range. How Did Tesla Do It? There doesn’t seem to be any official announcements yet from Tesla how this increase was obtained. Whether it might be a hardware, a battery chemistry change, or if it may have been improvements to the efficiency within the software. With technology there always seems to be iterative improvements over time. It’s possible Tesla has been able to increase the battery density of the Model S and X cells. I believe the 0-60 times are unchanged, here’s the current specs for both versions of the Model X: What About the Tesla Model S? The Tesla Model S Performance now shows a range of 387 miles from 348. Interestingly, the Long Range Plus remains at 402 miles per charge. Is it possible Tesla hasn’t gotten around to updating it? It’s a bit odd that both versions of the Model X are showing increases, but only the Performance version on the Model S. It’s quite possible Tesla is awaiting an updated number from the EPA. Other Changes? Other than the range increase on both the Long Range Plus and Performance models, there doesn’t appear to be any other changes to the Model X at this time. It’s been rumored that it might be due for a refresh of at least the interior. However, nothing new has surfaced of late. Our 2020 Model X We took delivery of our 2020 Tesla Model X toward the end of December, 2019. At the time, it had an EPA rating of 330 miles per charge. A few months later, via a free over-the-air software update, it was bumped up to 351 miles per charge. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for our estimated range especially after the next few software updates, but I’m guessing we’re maxed out on our range. What’s Next? The new 4860 cells announced during Tesla’s Battery Day back in September appear to be at least 1-2 years away. Will Tesla continue to try and innovate with the current cells? We’ve previously discussed it, but there are people waiting to see a refreshed vehicle from Tesla. Particularly, with the Model S that hasn’t seen many changes since it first went into production back in 2012. With the Tesla Roadster expected to get 620+ miles per charge, the Tri-Motor Cybertruck with 500+, it’s safe to wonder how much more development will be placed on range. At some point there will likely be a plateau. How much range does the average driver really need? Road trips are one thing, but daily driver another. I can see where there will be more focus on longevity of the batteries as well as charging speeds. Tesla was rumored to possibly announce their million mile battery during Battery Day. While they didn’t announce it in September, they might be very close. They’ll likely have plenty of cycle testing not only in a lab, but real world testing as well. As far as charging speed goes, Tesla is currently able to deliver 250 kW’s with their version 3 Supercharging stations. With incremental software improvements charging times have also improved over the years. The goal always seems to be around making charging nearly as fast as filling up at the pump, at least while on the road. Tesla had previously toyed with the idea of battery swaps, but seem to have moved on from those tests. Nio on the other has implemented battery swap stations. Summary I find it exciting to see continued improvements to range and the overall product. The fact Tesla is able to do so much of this with free over-the-air updates is amazing. Your vehicle will be more capable in many areas than when you first purchased it. It’s hard to find any other auto manufacturers today that are doing anything remotely similar. Let’s see what’s next. While it might seem minuscule to some, 20 extra miles of range is no small feat. It would be one thing to add more batteries, but the fact Tesla continues to find ways to squeeze more range from the same size battery pack really showcases some serious innovation. Are You Considering a Tesla Purchase? If you’re looking to purchase a new Tesla vehicle or Tesla Energy product, please consider using my referral code (link to Tesla with my code): https://ts.la/kevin82163 Looking for More Articles on Tesla? Check out our other Tesla posts here: https://fabville.com/category/automotive/electric-vehicles/tesla What are your thoughts on the recent range increase? Leave your comments below.

While dropping off our Tesla Model X for ceramic coating, there was already a black Model X in the shop getting a chrome delete and a matte finish clear wrap. The full blackout look gives a sleek look in my opinion.