Reality Check · San Francisco, CA
2025 Tesla Model Y in San Francisco, CA
Winter range, charging cost and how far it goes, worked out for San Francisco's weather, grid and prices.
Winter barely touches range in San Francisco: at a typical January's 52°F, a Model Y gets an estimated 263 miles on a charge, within 5% of its 277-mile rating. Charging at home at California's average rate (33.6¢/kWh) costs about $131 a month for 38 miles a day, against $289 for an average small SUV on San Francisco's gas. And San Francisco's grid (WECC California), 44% cleaner than the US average, makes it 82% less CO₂ than gas.
Partly estimated. 2 of 5 temperature bands are from 139 real drives of this model; the rest come from 1,548 real drives in EVs at each temperature (and Recurrent's winter study below freezing), applied to its 277-mile rating. Each band switches to its own drives once it has 20 from 3 drivers.
October range
271mi
At San Francisco's typical October day, 62°F · 35% highway
Winter low
263mi
January, 52°F · lows near 46°F
Home chargingEstimated
$131/mo
11.3¢ a mile at 33.6¢/kWh. Average small SUV: $289/mo
San Francisco's grid
0.43lb CO₂/kWh
WECC California (EPA eGRID): 44% cleaner than the US, 82% less CO₂ than gas
San Francisco, season by seasonEstimated
A Model Y's range on a full charge, averaged over each season's months (30-year normal temperatures), at 35% highway.
Winter Dec–Feb · 53°F
5% below its 277-mile rating · coldest week 263 mi
263mi
Spring Mar–May · 57°F
4% below its rating
265mi
Summer Jun–Aug · 61°F
3% below its rating
269mi
Fall Sep–Nov · 61°FNow
About its rating
270mi
A Model Y's range through a San Francisco yearEstimated
Each month at San Francisco's 30-year normal temperature, 35% highway. No day of the year averages below freezing.
How far it goes from San Francisco, on real roads
In October, from a full charge with 10% in reserve: about 122 mi out and back, 244 mi one way (January: 237 mi). Dots are DC fast chargers by network.
Fast charging around San Francisco
PlugLog's map of every public charger. Tesla-only Superchargers aren't counted.
- 291DC fast chargers within 25 mi
- 0.2 mito the nearest
- EVgo363 in reach
- Tesla Supercharger246
- ChargePoint224
- Electrify America146
- EVCS71
Road trips in October, about, by road: Fresno (200 mi) and Sacramento (94 mi) one way on a charge; Bakersfield (314 mi) with one fast stop.
Questions San Francisco drivers ask
How far can a Model Y go in a San Francisco winter?
San Francisco's winters are mild: about 263 miles on a typical January day (52°F) and about the same in the coldest week (around December 28, 52°F), estimated from real EV drives at those temperatures. That's within 5% of its 277-mile rating.
How much does it cost to charge a Model Y in San Francisco?
About $131 a month at home for 38 miles a day, at California's average home electricity rate of 33.6¢/kWh: about 11.3¢ a mile. An average small SUV on San Francisco's average gas ($6.00 a gallon) costs about $289 a month for the same driving.
Can I charge a Model Y on a regular 120 V outlet in San Francisco?
At 38 miles a day, yes, all year: a 120 V outlet adds about 46 miles in 12 hours even in San Francisco's coldest week, and about 46 on an average day.
Is it greener to drive electric on San Francisco's grid?
Yes, more than most places. San Francisco's grid (WECC California) is 44% cleaner than the US average, so a Model Y charged on it makes 82% less CO₂ than an average small SUV.
Check it for your own address
Your street, your daily miles, any temperature on the knob.
Model Y Reality Check near San Francisco
Sources: temperatures, 30-year normals (NOAA 1991–2020) at San Francisco Dwtn, CA; home electricity, EIA (California, July 2026); gas, EIA weekly (San Francisco); grid CO₂, EPA eGRID 2023; cold-weather range, PlugLog's real drives and Recurrent's winter study (Nov 2025); chargers, Open Charge Map and PlugLog. Updated Oct 22, 2026.