The video taps into a familiar anxiety among Tesla and EV drivers.
She was supposed to be heading to a feel-good comedy at the movie theater. Instead, a TikTok creator found herself in a real-time EV thriller, watching the battery percentage on the Tesla she was riding in cling to life at 1% charge and silently praying the GPS was right about making it to the charger.
The viral clip from makeup artist Alexis Oakley (@alexisoakleyy) shows her lowkey stressing on her way to a Freakier Friday showing, while the Tesla’s instrument panel makes it clear she has no business venturing anywhere but the nearest Supercharger station.
“I’ve never been more stressed in my life,” she says with a nervous laugh in the clip. “We’re about to get to the supercharger with 1% left. It actually said that we were gonna get there with 0% left, and it just went up a second ago.”
Oakley’s video taps into a familiar anxiety among Tesla and EV drivers: watching the battery fall into the single digits and not knowing whether the car will hold out long enough to reach a charger. Her narration walks the line between panic and comedy, but for many owners, this is a rite of passage.
Tesla’s in-car trip planner attempts to predict the arrival state-of-charge to the nearest percent, and EV veterans know this number can shift depending on conditions such as terrain, weather and driving speed. In Oakley’s case, the estimated arrival state-of-charge had already changed mid-drive, which served as a reminder that those projections aren’t static.
What 1% Battery Really Means
So how far can you go on 1%? It depends.
Tesla doesn’t officially state how much buffer exists once a vehicle hits 0%, but owners have long known there’s a built-in safety margin. However, that buffer is not consistent across all models, software versions or conditions.
For most modern Teslas, 1% of the battery capacity represents a range of between 2 and 4 miles under ideal conditions. But real-world results vary significantly depending on speed, weather, elevation, HVAC usage and even tire pressure.
Still, betting on the buffer is a risky move. Efficiency varies by model and conditions, but for a Tesla Model 3 with an EPA range of 330 miles, a 1% charge might represent roughly 3.3 miles, assuming optimal conditions. On a highway in cold weather, that figure can drop significantly due to increased energy consumption.
That’s why most EV drivers, especially those unfamiliar with their vehicle’s low-battery behavior, are advised to maintain at least a 10-20% reserve for unplanned delays or detours.
Tesla’s Energy App can help drivers monitor projected range with more nuance. It shows how terrain and speed are affecting energy use and whether you’re tracking above or below the expected efficiency curve for a given trip.
In a 2023 test by Edmunds, the Model 3 Long Range fell just short of its EPA-rated 358 miles when driven conservatively. The takeaway: Projected range can be reliable, but only when driving conditions match those assumed by the car’s software.
Tesla’s navigation system attempts to account for these variables in real-time, dynamically adjusting its estimate of the remaining battery percentage. That explains why Oakley saw her projected arrival shift from 0% to 1%, even though she was still on the same route.
EV drivers should also be aware that updates to Tesla’s software can impact how battery percentages behave at very low states of charge. In recent years, Tesla has reportedly tightened access to reserve capacity to avoid battery degradation or shutdowns under load. So even if you’ve made it on 0% before, it’s not a guarantee you’ll make it again.
Why Range Anxiety Still Happens
Although Tesla has the most robust fast-charging network in North America, with over 2,200 Supercharger stations in the U.S., range anxiety hasn’t completely disappeared.
That’s because battery percentages are still abstract. Unlike a gas tank, where “E” is universally understood, EV range depends on variables like incline, speed, HVAC use, and regenerative braking. That uncertainty can make 1% feel more dangerous than it is, especially when paired with real obstacles like full Supercharger queues or out-of-service stalls.
If you find yourself close to empty, there are a few ways to stretch what’s left:
- Reduce speed: Driving at 55 mph instead of 75 mph can dramatically improve range.
- Turn off climate control: HVAC systems draw a surprising amount of energy. If conditions allow, drive with minimal heating or cooling.
- Avoid full stops: Smooth driving helps conserve battery life through regenerative braking.
- Use Tesla’s Energy Graph: If your trip is plotted, it will show whether you’re trending above or below expectations and help guide adjustments
Apps like A Better Routeplanner allow for more granular trip planning, with real-time consumption estimates. The app even accounts for wind, elevation and vehicle load, offering extra peace of mind for road trips or unfamiliar routes.