Reality Check · Buffalo, NY
2026 Tesla Model Y in Buffalo, NY
Winter range, charging cost and how far it goes, worked out for Buffalo's weather, grid and prices.
In a typical Buffalo January (26°F), a Model Y gets an estimated 233 miles on a charge, 24% less than its 306-mile rating, and about 229 miles in the coldest week of the year (around January 25, when it averages 25°F). By April it's back to about 295. Power is pricey in New York (29.9¢/kWh), so charging at home costs about $115 a month for 38 miles a day, still less than the $208 an average small SUV costs on New York's gas. And Buffalo's grid (NPCC Upstate NY), 68% cleaner than the US average, makes it 90% less CO₂ than gas.
Partly estimated. 2 of 5 temperature bands are from 108 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 306-mile rating. Each band switches to its own drives once it has 20 from 3 drivers.
October range
294mi
At Buffalo's typical October day, 52°F · 35% highway
Winter lowEstimated
229mi
January, 26°F; Jan 25–31 at 25°F · lows near 18°F
Home chargingEstimated
$115/mo
10.0¢ a mile at 29.9¢/kWh. Average small SUV: $208/mo
Buffalo's grid
0.24lb CO₂/kWh
NPCC Upstate NY (EPA eGRID): 68% cleaner than the US, 90% less CO₂ than gas
Buffalo, 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 · 28°F
21% below its 306-mile rating · coldest week 229 mi
243mi
Spring Mar–May · 46°F
7% below its rating
286mi
Summer Jun–Aug · 70°F
3% below its rating
296mi
Fall Sep–Nov · 52°FNow
4% below its rating
295mi
A Model Y's range through a Buffalo yearEstimated
Each month at Buffalo's 30-year normal temperature, 35% highway. 86 days a year average below freezing.
How far it goes from Buffalo, on real roads
In October, from a full charge with 10% in reserve: about 132 mi out and back, 265 mi one way (January: 210 mi). Dots are DC fast chargers by network.
Fast charging around Buffalo
PlugLog's map of every public charger. Tesla-only Superchargers aren't counted.
- 64DC fast chargers within 25 mi
- 3.4 mito the nearest
- ChargePoint180 in reach
- FLO158
- Tesla Supercharger82
- EV Connect68
- Electrify America40
Road trips in October, about, by road: Harrisburg (259 mi) and Akron (232 mi) one way on a charge; Detroit (273 mi) with one fast stop.
Questions Buffalo drivers ask
How far can a Model Y go in a Buffalo winter?
About 233 miles on a typical January day (26°F) and about 229 in the coldest week of the year (around January 25, 25°F on average), estimated from real EV drives at those temperatures. That's 24–25% below its 306-mile rating, mostly from heating the cabin and the battery. Buffalo averages 86 days a year below freezing.
How much does it cost to charge a Model Y in Buffalo?
About $115 a month at home for 38 miles a day, at New York's average home electricity rate of 29.9¢/kWh: about 10.0¢ a mile. An average small SUV on New York'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 Buffalo?
At 38 miles a day, yes, all year: a 120 V outlet adds about 38 miles in 12 hours even in Buffalo's coldest week, and about 49 on an average day.
Is it greener to drive electric on Buffalo's grid?
Yes, more than most places. Buffalo's grid (NPCC Upstate NY) is 68% cleaner than the US average, so a Model Y charged on it makes 90% 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 Buffalo
Sources: temperatures, 30-year normals (NOAA 1991–2020) at Buffalo, NY; home electricity, EIA (New York, July 2026); gas, EIA weekly (New York); 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.