Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
Tesla appears to be preparing a new “Low Power Mode” for its vehicles, according to references uncovered in the latest Tesla app update (via Not a Tesla App). The upcoming feature looks designed to tackle the long-standing issue of vampire drain, giving owners more control over how much energy their cars consume while parked for extended periods.
Low Power Mode will work much like a smartphone’s equivalent, significantly reducing standby energy use without fully shutting down the car. Owners will still be able to wake their vehicle remotely through the Tesla app, but features like Sentry Mode, Summon Standby, Dog Mode, and Cabin Preconditioning schedules will be automatically disabled unless re-enabled manually.
Tesla will also allow some customization, letting users selectively keep certain features active — such as Sentry Mode or Cabin Overheat Protection — while Low Power Mode is on. The app even hints at an option to set a discharge limit, allowing Low Power Mode to automatically kick in once the battery drops to a specific percentage.
This discovery comes just weeks after Tesla added a new AI-powered support tool to its mobile app, dubbed Tesla Assist. The company also slightly reduced the EPA-rated range for the Model 3 Long Range RWD in the U.S. just days ago, although that change is likely tied to updated EPA testing standards rather than the vehicle itself.
With Tesla continuing to add features that consume energy in the background, Low Power Mode could make life a lot easier for owners who frequently leave their cars idle at airports, vacation spots, or long-term parking. Given that the feature already has code presence in the app, Low Power Mode could arrive as soon as the upcoming 2025.32 software update, which is currently being tested internally.
