Reality Check · Rochester, NY
2026 Tesla Model Y in Rochester, NY
Winter range, charging cost and how far it goes, worked out for Rochester's weather, grid and prices.
In a typical Rochester January (26°F), a Model Y gets an estimated 236 miles on a charge, 23% less than its 306-mile rating, and about 233 miles in the coldest week of the year (around January 23, 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 Rochester'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 Rochester's typical October day, 52°F · 35% highway
Winter lowEstimated
233mi
January, 26°F; Jan 23–29 at 25°F · lows near 18°F
Home chargingEstimated
$115/mo
9.9¢ a mile at 29.9¢/kWh. Average small SUV: $208/mo
Rochester's grid
0.24lb CO₂/kWh
NPCC Upstate NY (EPA eGRID): 68% cleaner than the US, 90% less CO₂ than gas
Rochester, 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 · 29°F
20% below its 306-mile rating · coldest week 233 mi
246mi
Spring Mar–May · 47°F
6% below its rating
287mi
Summer Jun–Aug · 70°F
3% below its rating
297mi
Fall Sep–Nov · 52°FNow
4% below its rating
295mi
A Model Y's range through a Rochester yearEstimated
Each month at Rochester's 30-year normal temperature, 35% highway. 80 days a year average below freezing.
How far it goes from Rochester, on real roads
In October, from a full charge with 10% in reserve: about 132 mi out and back, 265 mi one way (January: 213 mi). Dots are DC fast chargers by network.
Fast charging around Rochester
PlugLog's map of every public charger. Tesla-only Superchargers aren't counted.
- 42DC fast chargers within 25 mi
- 2.9 mito the nearest
- ChargePoint139 in reach
- FLO106
- Tesla Supercharger54
- EV Connect52
- Electrify America40
Road trips in October, about, by road: Allentown (262 mi) and Harrisburg (254 mi) one way on a charge; Poughkeepsie (268 mi) with one fast stop.
Questions Rochester drivers ask
How far can a Model Y go in a Rochester winter?
About 236 miles on a typical January day (26°F) and about 233 in the coldest week of the year (around January 23, 25°F on average), estimated from real EV drives at those temperatures. That's 23–24% below its 306-mile rating, mostly from heating the cabin and the battery. Rochester averages 80 days a year below freezing.
How much does it cost to charge a Model Y in Rochester?
About $115 a month at home for 38 miles a day, at New York's average home electricity rate of 29.9¢/kWh: about 9.9¢ 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 Rochester?
At 38 miles a day, yes, all year: a 120 V outlet adds about 39 miles in 12 hours even in Rochester's coldest week, and about 49 on an average day.
Is it greener to drive electric on Rochester's grid?
Yes, more than most places. Rochester'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 Rochester
Sources: temperatures, 30-year normals (NOAA 1991–2020) at Rochester Gtr International Airport, 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.