Tesla’s rolling out a new feature that’ll help drivers squeeze more miles from their battery. The company’s new Low Power Mode seeks to stop what owners call “vampire drain” – the slow battery loss that happens when electric vehicles sit parked.
The feature works like a smartphone’s battery saver. When activated, it shuts down background systems that aren’t essential. Tesla owners have been asking for this control over their car’s energy use, especially those who leave their vehicles at airports or parking lots for days.
Low Power Mode automatically kicks in when the battery drops to 10 percent, though drivers can change this threshold. The system turns off several features to save energy. Sentry Mode, which records activity around the car, won’t work when the vehicle’s unplugged. Climate controls, including Camp Mode and Cabin Overheat Protection, shut down. The mobile app can’t activate seat heaters or steering wheel warmers either.
Cybertruck owners will lose access to their truck’s power outlets in this mode. Features like Summon Standby and scheduled preconditioning also stop working. The car warns users when they try to turn on restricted features through the app. Drivers can override these limits if needed, but they’ll get a confirmation prompt first.
Tesla’s made the feature easy to find. Drivers can turn it on through their car’s touchscreen under Controls, then Charging, then Low Power Mode. The mobile app also has a quick action button for it. Users can even replace other shortcuts, like the hands-free frunk button, with the Low Power Mode toggle.
The system behaves differently when the car’s plugged in. Some features stay active during charging, even in Low Power Mode. During Supercharging sessions, Keep Climate On and Camp Mode remain available to drivers. Owners can customize which functions remain on, letting them tailor the system to their needs.
Code for this feature already exists in Tesla’s latest mobile app, uncovered through software analysis. The update addresses a common complaint about phantom drain during long parking periods. It gives drivers more control over their vehicle’s energy consumption, potentially extending the distance they can travel before needing to recharge. Without Low Power Mode, owners have reported battery degradation from frequent deep discharges caused by phantom drain. Tesla expects to release the feature with software update 2025.32 in the coming weeks, with testing currently underway.