Model 3 Goes 606.2 Miles on “Hypermiling” Jaunt, but There’s a Problem

Model 3 hypermiling hypermile record 606.2 miles

For those who are unfamiliar with the term, “hypermiling” is when you push your EV to its distance limit by trying to recreate ideal driving conditions, such as minimal elevation, optimal speed, having the air-conditioning off, stripping down accessories and so on. Two Tesla Model 3 fans have now successfully “hypermiled” their car to an insane 600 miles on a closed circuit route in Denver after 32 hours of continuous driving. 606.2 miles, to be precise, which beats the previous hypermiling record of 560 miles, as reported by Electrek. That’s nearly double the Model 3’s EPA upper limit of 310 miles.

There’s a problem, though. After the successful run, they charged the Model 3 for 24 hours but the charge wouldn’t take. As of this writing, they’re waiting on the service center to take the car in for a checkup.

Hypermiling is not just for Model 3 or Tesla cars. It’s a sort of hobby pursued by EV enthusiasts to see who can get the right conditions and go the longest distance for a particular vehicle with comparable specs.

But is it okay for the battery?

Opinions differ on this but Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, such as the ones used in the Model 3 and other Tesla EVs before it, are kind of similar to what you have in your smartphone or tablet. The scientific principles of charging and discharging are very similar, although with some differences.

When you look at it from that angle, it makes sense that letting the charge run dry wouldn’t necessarily be the cause for the Model 3 in this story to be unable to recharge. The problem is likely elsewhere, but we haven’t had a tweet from Sean Mitchell (one of the drivers) yet, so we’ll have to wait and see what the service center says.