Reality Check · Washington, DC
2025 Tesla Model Y in Washington, DC
Winter range, charging cost and how far it goes, worked out for Washington's weather, grid and prices.
Washington's winters are cool rather than cold: on a typical January day (38°F) a Model Y gets an estimated 250 miles, 10% under its 277-mile rating, about the same as in the coldest week (around January 16, when it averages 37°F). By June it's back to about 295. Charging at home at Washington, DC's average rate (25.2¢/kWh) costs about $96 a month for 38 miles a day, against $208 for an average small SUV on the Central Atlantic's gas. And Washington's grid (RFC East), 22% cleaner than the US average, makes it 76% 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
269mi
At Washington's typical October day, 61°F · 35% highway
Winter lowEstimated
249mi
January, 38°F · lows near 30°F
Home chargingEstimated
$96/mo
8.3¢ a mile at 25.2¢/kWh. Average small SUV: $208/mo
Washington's grid
0.60lb CO₂/kWh
RFC East (EPA eGRID): 22% cleaner than the US, 76% less CO₂ than gas
Washington, 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 · 40°F
8% below its 277-mile rating · coldest week 249 mi
255mi
Spring Mar–May · 58°F
About its rating
269mi
Summer Jun–Aug · 79°F
6% above its rating
293mi
Fall Sep–Nov · 61°FNow
About its rating
273mi
A Model Y's range through a Washington yearEstimated
Each month at Washington's 30-year normal temperature, 35% highway. No day of the year averages below freezing.
How far it goes from Washington, on real roads
In October, from a full charge with 10% in reserve: about 121 mi out and back, 242 mi one way (January: 225 mi). Dots are DC fast chargers by network.
Fast charging around Washington
PlugLog's map of every public charger. Tesla-only Superchargers aren't counted.
- 241DC fast chargers within 25 mi
- 0.5 mito the nearest
- Tesla Supercharger303 in reach
- ChargePoint264
- EVgo236
- Electrify America112
- Blink103
Road trips in October, about, by road: Pittsburgh (237 mi) and Virginia Beach (195 mi) one way on a charge; New York (255 mi) with one fast stop.
Questions Washington drivers ask
How far can a Model Y go in a Washington winter?
About 250 miles on a typical January day (38°F) and about the same in the coldest week of the year (around January 16, 37°F on average), estimated from real EV drives at those temperatures. That's 10% below its 277-mile rating, mostly from heating the cabin and the battery.
How much does it cost to charge a Model Y in Washington?
About $96 a month at home for 38 miles a day, at Washington, DC's average home electricity rate of 25.2¢/kWh: about 8.3¢ a mile. An average small SUV on the Central Atlantic's average gas ($4.31 a gallon) costs about $208 a month for the same driving.
Can I charge a Model Y on a regular 120 V outlet in Washington?
At 38 miles a day, yes, all year: a 120 V outlet adds about 43 miles in 12 hours even in Washington's coldest week, and about 46 on an average day.
Is it greener to drive electric on Washington's grid?
Yes, more than most places. Washington's grid (RFC East) is 22% cleaner than the US average, so a Model Y charged on it makes 76% 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 Washington
Sources: temperatures, 30-year normals (NOAA 1991–2020) at Washington Reagan Airport, VA; home electricity, EIA (Washington, DC, July 2026); gas, EIA weekly (the Central Atlantic); 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.