Roof boxes and bike racks

Anything that disturbs the airflow over a Tesla costs range. The faster you go, the more it costs.

Rough effect at motorway speeds

• Roof box: owners commonly report 10 to 25% less range, depending on the box and speed.
• Bikes on the roof: often worse than a box, because bikes are not streamlined.
• Rear tow bar bike rack: usually the smallest effect, because the bikes sit in the car's wake.

These are rough figures. Your car's energy graph will show the real effect on your trip.

Tips

1. Pack inside first. Many Teslas have a deep sub-boot and a frunk. See Boot and frunk space.
2. Take the box off when you don't need it.
3. Drive a little slower. At 60 mph the extra drag matters much less than at 70 mph.
4. Add a charging stop if the Trip Planner looks tight; it doesn't know you have a roof box.
5. Check the roof load limit in your handbook, and use the roof bars Tesla approves for your model.
6. Mind the height in multi-storey car parks and some charging canopies.