Reality Check · Washington, DC
2026 Tesla Model Y in Washington, DC
Winter range, charging cost and how far it goes, worked out for Washington's weather, grid and prices.
Winter barely touches range in Washington: at a typical January's 38°F, a Model Y gets an estimated 282 miles on a charge, within 8% of its 306-mile rating. Charging at home at Washington, DC's average rate (25.2¢/kWh) costs about $92 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 77% 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 Washington's typical October day, 61°F · 35% highway
Winter lowEstimated
280mi
January, 38°F · lows near 30°F
Home chargingEstimated
$92/mo
7.9¢ 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, 77% 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
5% below its 306-mile rating · coldest week 280 mi
290mi
Spring Mar–May · 58°F
4% below its rating
295mi
Summer Jun–Aug · 79°F
About its rating
301mi
Fall Sep–Nov · 61°FNow
4% below its rating
295mi
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 132 mi out and back, 265 mi one way (January: 253 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 Supercharger314 in reach
- ChargePoint272
- EVgo244
- Electrify America120
- Blink108
Road trips in October, about, by road: New York (255 mi) and Pittsburgh (237 mi) one way on a charge; Durham (284 mi) with one fast stop.
Questions Washington drivers ask
How far can a Model Y go in a Washington winter?
Washington's winters are mild: about 282 miles on a typical January day (38°F) and about the same in the coldest week (around January 16, 37°F), estimated from real EV drives at those temperatures. That's within 9% of its 306-mile rating.
How much does it cost to charge a Model Y in Washington?
About $92 a month at home for 38 miles a day, at Washington, DC's average home electricity rate of 25.2¢/kWh: about 7.9¢ 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 47 miles in 12 hours even in Washington's coldest week, and about 49 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 77% 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.