We have owned our 2026 Tesla Model Y AWD Long Range Juniper since late September, and I have been on a mission to test it up here in Alaska and see how it weathers (pun intended) the harsh elements of the Last Frontier. 

I have written a few articles thus far, reporting outstanding performance on icy roads and in slush thanks to its dual-motor all-wheel drive, low center of gravity, and refined suspension. The car feels confidently planted in Standard and Chill modes, with regenerative braking becoming intuitive after initial adjustment, app-based preconditioning delivering a toasty cabin and warmed battery even at -12°F, and Hurry (“Mad Max”) mode providing exhilarating acceleration (0-60 in 3.9 seconds) on dry highways. The ultra-quiet cabin has even doubled as a mobile podcast studio, thanks to built-in Zoom.

Despite a roughly 20% drop in range in extreme cold (mitigated by home charging) and minor annoyances like frozen window auto-drop issues or slow rural Wi-Fi software updates (solved via Starlink), I run stock all-season tires with no regrets after 15 years of Alaskan winters.

In the article, I praise the evolving FSD features and declare the refreshed Juniper Model Y a true “winter warrior,” redefining toughness for EVs in the Last Frontier. I also plan an upcoming summer road trip to test unsupervised autonomy on long hauls like Anchorage to Homer or Fairbanks.

Articles were also written about a visit to the service center in Anchorage and, as a dog trainer, about the cool new updates to the Dog Mode, including Live Updates. Still, I really put the car to the actual test today when it was -18 degrees (Fahrenheit) during a frigid snap as we wrap up 2025, and needless to say, I am not surprised but not too happy at its performance. 

I jumped in the car at 8 am after preconditioning it using the app’s form so it would not only be roasty-toasty in the cabin but also ready to hit the road for my 50-mile drive to Chugiak to record a few podcasts with my co-host. 

I unplugged at 84%, pulled out of the garage, and hit the road. 

By the time I arrived at my destination, I was at 59%. A profound loss of 25%. It was zero degrees in Chugiak. I reported that you can expect a 20-30% drop in range in extreme cold temps, and they weren’t lying. 

I used all the everyday things: the heater was set to 72, and I had the audio system on, but I did not use navigation or FSD (Full-time Supervised Driving). I only sat “idling” for about 15 minutes during the whole trip, and I did not drive like a maniac.

I decided to push on, and we recorded podcasts for about four hours. 

I drove into Anchorage for a Costco run and headed home. 

By the time I was about 25 miles from home, I got a pop-up on my screen saying my battery was low (15%) and that I needed to find a charger to complete my trip. 

When I pulled into the driveway, I was at 5%.

So, what does all this mean? The simple math shows I used 79% of the battery on a 140-mile round trip, and I was really cutting it close. 

More alarming was that the percentage dropped from 15% to 5% dang quickly. 

What does all this mean?

As I discussed with my wife, Michele, I could have stopped at the Supercharger and topped it off, but I wanted to do a true test.

I now fully understand that the charger infrastructure up here in Alaska is not quite ready for prime time.

While new Superchargers are coming online, only one is currently on this route I took today. There are just a few others on Plug Share, including one at a car dealer.

Even after years of Tesla’s battery tech, even on a 2026 “Long Range,” it loses a whole lot of range in the extreme cold.

If I were just a few miles farther from home, if I had a few more errands to run, or if I used any other features, such as heated seats/steering wheel, FSD, or more aggressive driving, I probably would not have made it home without a charge. 

What do you think? Let me know in the comments or join the conversation on Reddit.