Glossary of terms
This glossary explains the technical terms used in your Car Pulse Tracker report. The same glossary is included at the bottom of every report, translated into your selected language.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Battery SoH (State of Health) | A percentage showing how much of the battery's original usable capacity remains. Tesla calculates this from direct physical measurement of the battery, not estimation. A new battery starts at 100%; typical degradation is 3-5% in the first 10,000 km, then slows over time. |
| Battery Level (SoC) | The current state of charge of the battery shown as a percentage of total capacity, the number you see on the dashboard. |
| Usable Battery Level | The portion of battery charge actually available for driving. Tesla reserves a small buffer (typically 2-3 kWh) to protect the battery from complete discharge, so usable level is slightly lower than battery level. |
| Battery Capacity (kWh) | The total energy the battery can store, measured in kilowatt-hours. For example, a 75 kWh battery can theoretically deliver 75 kW of power for one hour. |
| Rated Range | Tesla's standardized range estimate based on EPA or WLTP test conditions. It is not a guarantee of real-world driving distance, which varies with speed, temperature, terrain, and driving style. |
| Estimated Range | A range prediction that factors in the vehicle's current state of charge and recent driving conditions. More realistic than rated range but still an estimate. |
| Ideal Range | The theoretical maximum range assuming perfect driving conditions: flat road, moderate speed, mild weather. Useful as an upper bound, not an everyday expectation. |
| Charge Limit (SoC Target) | The battery percentage at which charging will stop. Tesla recommends setting this to 80-90% for daily use and 100% only before long trips, to preserve long-term battery health. |
| Charging State | The current charging status of the vehicle: Charging, Complete, Disconnected, Stopped, or NoPower. "Complete" means the charge limit has been reached. |
| Charger Power (kW) | The power currently flowing into the battery during a charging session, measured in kilowatts. Higher kW means faster charging. |
| Charger Voltage (V) | The input voltage from the charging source. Home outlets are typically 230 V (EU) or 240 V (US); DC fast chargers operate at 400-800 V. |
| Charge Energy Added (kWh) | The total energy added to the battery during the current or most recent charging session. |
| Charge Rate | The speed at which range is being added during charging, typically measured in km/h or miles/h of range gained. |
| Fast Charger / DC Fast Charging | High-power charging (50-250 kW) that charges the battery directly with DC current, filling 10-80% in roughly 20-40 minutes. Tesla Superchargers are DC fast chargers. |
| CCS (Combined Charging System) | A universal DC fast-charging connector standard used by Tesla in Europe and increasingly worldwide. It supports both AC and DC charging through the same port. |
| Off-Peak Charging | A setting that delays charging to a time window when electricity rates are lower (typically overnight), helping reduce charging costs. |
| Scheduled Departure | A feature where you set the time you plan to leave, and the car automatically preconditions the battery and cabin so both are ready at departure time. |
| Preconditioning | Heating or cooling the battery and cabin before driving or before arriving at a fast charger. A warm battery charges faster and delivers better range in cold weather. |
| Charge Port / Charge Port Latch | The physical connector on the vehicle where the charging cable plugs in. The latch locks the cable in place during charging to prevent accidental disconnection. |
| Odometer | The total distance the vehicle has driven since manufacture. In the report this is converted to kilometres. |
| Sentry Mode | A security system that uses the vehicle's cameras and sensors to monitor for threats while parked. Requires at least 20% battery. When a threat is detected, cameras record and the mobile app sends an alert. |
| Valet Mode | A mode that limits vehicle speed and restricts access to personal information and certain features (e.g. glovebox, HomeLink) when handing the car to a valet or other driver. |
| Dashcam | Uses the vehicle's built-in cameras to continuously record video while driving. Recordings are saved to a USB drive and can be reviewed later. States include Recording, Paused, or Unavailable. |
| Software Version | The firmware currently installed on the vehicle. Tesla delivers new features, performance improvements, and bug fixes through over-the-air (OTA) software updates. |
| Climate Keeper (Dog / Camp Mode) | Keeps the cabin at a set temperature while the car is parked. Dog Mode displays the temperature on-screen to reassure passers-by. Camp Mode also keeps screens and USB ports active for overnight stays. |
| Inside / Outside Temperature | Cabin temperature estimated from internal sensors; ambient temperature filtered based on vehicle speed and sensor placement. |
| TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) | Sensors in each wheel that report tyre pressure in bar or PSI. A soft warning indicates pressure is slightly low; a hard warning means pressure is critically low and driving may be unsafe. Positions are labelled FL (front left), FR (front right), RL (rear left), RR (rear right). |
| Basic Vehicle Warranty | Covers most vehicle components for 4 years or 80,000 km (50,000 miles), whichever comes first. |
| Battery and Drive Unit Warranty | Covers the high-voltage battery and drive unit for 8 years or 160,000-240,000 km depending on model. The battery must retain at least 70% of its original capacity during this period. |
| Warranty Odometer Limit | The mileage threshold at which a warranty expires, even if the calendar end date has not passed. Whichever limit (date or mileage) is reached first determines expiry. |
| Recent Alerts | Warnings or notices generated by the vehicle's onboard systems. Each alert has a code name and user-friendly description. Repeated alerts may indicate a recurring issue that needs attention. |
| Charging Alerts | A subset of alerts specifically related to charging, for example charge cable faults, reduced charge rate, or charge port issues. |
| Trim | The specific configuration variant of a model, for example Standard Range, Long Range, or Performance. Different trims have different battery sizes, motors, and features. |
| VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) | A unique 17-character code that identifies your vehicle worldwide. It encodes manufacturer, model, year, and production sequence. Position 10 indicates the model year. |
| Factory Options | Features and equipment selected or included at the time of manufacture, identified by Tesla option codes. These confirm the exact specification of the vehicle. |