The Tesla Model Y brings a lot of opportunities for customization. While the Model Y roof rack already got a thorough review from i1Tesla, a new video takes an even closer look at the accessory. How does the roof rack affect the overall performance and efficiency of Tesla’s latest electric vehicle?
The video begins by laying out the experiment. Testing the roof rack begins with a 50 mile drive without the roof rack on. After a brief cool down, the roof rack will be installed. Then, in driving the same distance with the roof rack, an inspection of the Model Y’s response in terms of efficiency.
As explained in the video, the roof rack being used implements an aerodynamic design. Tapered surfaces allow the rack to cut through the air. As a result, efficiency is not expected to change too much once the roof rack is in place.
The results of the experiment are quite surprising. Without the roof rack, the Model Y managed a range of 278 miles or 447 km. With the roof rack installed, the vehicle’s range measured in at 281 miles or 452 km. The negligible difference demonstrates the lightweight functionality of the Model Y roof rack. Besides the wind noise created by the rack, there is not much incentive to uninstall the roof rack when it’s not in use.
