UPDATE YOUR TESLA APP TO AVOID PHANTOM DRAIN!

EV Channels Review

This episode of the Out Of Spec Podcast addresses the common EV concern of 'phantom drain' or 'vampire drain.' The hosts clarify that this refers to battery loss while the vehicle is parked, distinguishing it from energy consumption during use. They highlight a recent Tesla mobile app update (version 4.35.0 or similar) designed to mitigate this by waking the car only when a command is sent, potentially reducing battery draw by up to 40%. The discussion explores various causes, including Sentry Mode, telematics, temperature fluctuations affecting the Battery Management System (BMS), and the app's constant communication. While acknowledging that some drain is inevitable due to the nature of EVs, the hosts emphasize that significant loss without active features enabled warrants investigation. They also touch upon how EVs built on ICE platforms might differ in power draw compared to ground-up EV designs and express curiosity about how app updates affect shared vehicle access. The overall verdict is that phantom drain is a manageable aspect of EV ownership, not a reason to avoid EVs, and that staying informed and updating apps is key.