Tesla considers many variables to calculate how much energy the car will use during a drive, making their estimates extremely accurate.
It is not uncommon to arrive at your destination with your battery within 1-2% of the calculation, if not on exactly the same number.
When the calculation is off, it can often be attributed to external variables like a strong headwind.
Tesla appears to have figured out a way to consider wind and other external variables in their calculations.
According to hacker @greentheonly, the 2022.8.2 software update released this week includes an undocumented change – the trip planner now accounts for cross/headwinds, air density and humidity.
The interior cabin radar finally starts to get signs of life so might come live relatively soon? (on s/x cars)
Trip energy accounting now takes into account cross/headwinds, air density and humidity when available (possibly China only for now?)
— green (@greentheonly) March 16, 2022
It is unclear at this time how the trip planner measures and takes these variables into account. As green notes in his tweet, the feature might only be available in China where the automaker includes things like an Air Quality Index reading on the display.
If it is available in North America, it will be particularly useful when driving across the Prairies, where you can often encounter very strong headwinds which reduces the range of your Tesla considerably.
