Oliver Haslam on May 11, 2023, 6:50 pm

Tesla Puts The Model X And Model Y Through Hot Weather Testing In UAE

Tesla has shared footage of it putting the Model X SUV and Model Y crossover through their paces during extreme weather testing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The footage shows both electric vehicles being tested outside Dubai in an attempt to ensure that they do not suffer any ill effects from the heat and other environmental stresses put upon them.

A NotATeslaApp report explains why the UAE was chosen specifically for these tests.

The Tesla team chose the UAE for its unique, consistently hot climate, which provides an excellent environment for testing vehicle performance in extreme heat. The primary focus was on mileage accumulation, hot weather-related tests, and product launch testing.

Similar tests are often run in much colder countries like Norway to ensure that the colder weather doesn’t cause an issue — something particularly important for electric vehicles whose batteries could be impacted by extreme cold.

During the UAE tests, Tesla drove the cars between 250 and 400 kilometers daily. Superchargers were used while the air conditioning and cabin overheating protection will also have been stressed. While charging, for example, keeping the car cool while stationary and in extreme heat isn’t the easiest thing to do — and something that is sure to highlight issues if there are any to be found.

“The UAE’s climate poses unique challenges for vehicles, with temperatures soaring to 51 degrees Celsius and humidity reaching up to 80-90%,” the report notes.