After the software update in July 2018, Tesla released a new feature called Tesla Cabin Overheat Protection. It helps to keep the inside of the car cool and stop it from getting too hot. You can turn it on for only 12 hours, and it takes about 15 extra minutes to start working.
If you’re new to this and don’t know much about it, don’t worry! Here, I’ll talk about what Cabin Overheat Protection means, how it works, how to use it, and more.
So, keep on reading for more details!
What Is Tesla Cabin Overheat Protection?
The Cabin Overheat Protection (COP) is a safety feature that Tesla added in the 2018.24.1 software update. It just stops your car’s cabin from getting too warm in boiling weather outside.
This doesn’t protect your car’s components near the cabin instead it tries to maintain the same temperature that you pick in the setting. The main goal of this feature is to make your life comfortable and easy.
Just like other cars, the inside of Tesla cars faces regular heat under hot weather. If you leave your kids or pets inside the car for a certain period, it may make them fried up. That’s pretty risky!
Thinking of that, Tesla offers this feature so that the cabin area stays the same under harsh temperatures. Plus, it keeps the inside items from melting in the car.
Another reason why this option is added to Tesla is to cool down the car’s screen which can get damaged by heat easily. Apart from this, this setting can work fine for short-term use to get rid of extreme heat.
To sum it up, this option helps your car’s cabin to stay at normal temperature when you park and leave it outside, right under the sun.
How Does Cabin Overheat Protection Tesla Work?
The COP in all series of Tesla cars starts to work after fifteen minutes when you turn it on. It has some rules to flow the air with an air conditioner or no air conditioner power.
Its main purpose is to keep the cabin under the chosen temperature when you park and leave the car. According to Tesla, it can keep out the heat and maintain the selected temperature for twelve hours after you get out of the car.
If you select the No A/C mode, the car will use less energy. However, this can cause the interior temperature to rise above 100°F – 105°F (38°C – 40°C). And just so you know, the COP won’t work if the battery level goes below 20% charge.
How to Use Cabin Overheat Protection (COP)?
You can use the COP in all Teslas either by using the car’s screen or using the mobile app. Let me share both methods and the instructions below:
Via Touchscreen
To begin with, use the car’s screen and go to Controls > Safety > Cabin Overheat Protection. You’ll find the section by scrolling down.
Next, based on your need, pick one mode:
- Off: Select this mode if you want to turn off Cabin Overheat Protection setting.
- No A/C: Click on this mode if you want to operate only the fan to get rid of the heat. Note that this mode is only available for MY and M3 cars.
- On: Choose this mode if you want to turn on the air conditioner when the cabin inside surpasses 105° F (40° C) or the chosen temperature. You can select 30°C, 35°C, or 40°C for COP’s Approximate activation temperature.
The Cabin Overheat Protection may not work properly if the AC is not cold enough when you turn it on.
Via Mobile App
Start by opening the Tesla App on your iPhone or Android device. After that, hit on the Climate option (right below the Controls) and scroll down to find the Cabin Overheat Protection section.
Then, based on your preference, pick one mode: Off, No A/C, or On (same options that I’ve mentioned above).
If the Cabin Overheat Protection keeps turning off or not working, then ensure to fix it by checking this guide!
How Much Battery Does Cabin Overheat Protection Use?
To keep the interior from getting too hot, the Cabin Overheat Protection runs the fans or AC system based on the mode you’ve chosen.
And for that, the car uses about 0.75 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of power that comes from the battery. It can use more power based on how you use the feature!
So, if you turn this option on for 8 hours, the car will use around 6 kWh (0.75 kWh x 8 hours) of battery power to maintain your interior cabin temperature.
As the sun heats up your car, the system turns on and uses a lot of battery power if runs for hours. And so, the Tesla Cabin Overheat Protection battery drain!
To get rid of the battery drain issue, here are some perceptions you should take:
- As running AC takes more power, turn it off when using the COP. In other words, go with the No A/C mode.
- Never use the Sentry Mode, Dog Mode, Smart Summon, and so on when running the COP.
- Do not use 3rd-party apps when using the COP as both will drain the battery badly.
If you see the interior temperature cross above 105° F (40° C), turn off the COP and rely on the Tesla ventilated seats (for Model X and S only).
Should I Use Cabin Overheat Protection Tesla?
No matter how helpful this feature is when the interior temp is around 90°F – 100°F, I would suggest not using it for a long time.
You should use this only when you leave your kids or pets inside the car and want them to stay safe. It’ll keep the interior cool when you park the car and leave it. However, do not use this for a long period as it’ll drain a lot of battery and boil the interior.
Keep in mind that this feature is made for a purpose that Elon Musk shared in the tweeter a long while ago. So, don’t overuse it!
This is in addition to existing Cabin Overheat Protection, which come on automatically at high temps to ensure any babies or pets in the car are safe
– Elon Musk
Ending Notes
Tesla Cabin Overheat Protection is indeed a great setting that helps to cool the cabin area inside the car. But, know that it has some limitations like making the car superhot.
Plus, do not leave your kids or pets inside the car as it can make them face heat waves if the car automatically powers off, the outside weather is extremely hot, and so on.
Hope this guide helps you to know what’s the COP, how it works, and so on details to understand this feature better. See Ya!
