Battery life is one of the top concerns of owners or potential buyers of electric vehicles. Tesla is the pioneer of technology and innovation with its battery longevity ranging between 300,000 to 500,000 miles. According to an Impact Report released by Tesla in 2019, Tesla Model S and X batteries retain over 80% of their range even after driving 200,000 miles.
Tesla is designing vehicles with a battery life that will outlast the vehicle itself. Tesla also started offering a minimum 70% battery retention guarantee over a period of 8 years or 100,000 to 120,000 miles. A study on 286 Tesla Model owners across the world revealed that Tesla vehicles lose just 5% of their capacity in the first 50,000 miles. They reach over 150,000 miles before coming to a 10% loss in battery.
Maarten Steinbuch and Merijn Coumans started working together with the Dutch-Belgian Tesla forum in 2015 and created a public spreadsheet. Tesla owners can enter data about the battery life of their Tesla vehicles. This project is still being updated. According to this data, most of the Tesla owners retain 90% of their battery capacity even after reaching a six-digit figure on their odometer. The 2019 Impact Report reiterated such projections and figures. This clearly demonstrates the power and longevity of Tesla car batteries.
Imagesource:Tesla Impact Report 2019 (https://www.tesla.com/ns_videos/2019-tesla-impact-report.pdf)
After One Charge
Tesla batteries last at least an average of 262 miles on a single charge. Obviously, this depends on how you are driving and the road conditions. That means if you are driving a Standard Model 3 for 50 miles in one direction, you will need charging after the fifth trip. You can literally cover the distance between New York and Washington DC with one charge. Just make sure to charge your car after the trip. The Telsa with the greatest distance on a single charge is the Model S Long Range Plus, which provides a range of 405 miles on just one charge. And even if your vehicle is low on battery, the ubiquitous destination and superchargers will make sure that you have a seamless and enjoyable road experience.
Model Range
Model 3 Standard Range Plus 262 miles
Model 3 Long Range 353 miles
Model 3 Performance 315 miles
Model S Long Range Plus 405 miles
Model S Plaid 396 miles
Model X Long Range Plus 360 miles
Model X Plaid 340 miles
Model Y Long Range Plus 326 miles
Model Y Performance 303 miles
Source: Solar Reviews [https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/how-long-do-tesla-batteries-last]
Battery size is an important determinant of the mileage of your car. The Tesla Model 3 has the smallest battery size and provides the shortest range, while the Model S Long Range Plus has the biggest size and provides the longest range. But with the increase in battery size, the cost of the vehicle also increases. Keep in mind that the battery life depends on other factors, such as your driving speed and weather conditions. If you are consistently driving fast or driving in snowy conditions, your battery will deplete faster.
Tesla Battery Warranty
Model S (40, 60 from 2012-2015)
Battery Life Length: 8 years / 125,000 miles
Battery Capacity Retention: N/A
Model S (pre-2020)
Battery Life Length: 8 years / unlimited miles
Battery Capacity Retention: N/A
Model S (after 2020)
Battery Life Length: 8 years / 150,000 miles
Battery Capacity Retention: 70%
Model 3 (Standard Range)
Battery Life Length: 8 years / 100,000 miles
Battery Capacity Retention: 70%
Model 3 (Performance, Long Range)
Battery Life Length: 8 years / 120,000 miles
Battery Capacity Retention: 70%
Model X (pre-2020)
Battery Life Length: 8 years / unlimited miles
Battery Capacity Retention: N/A
Model X (after 2020)
Battery Life Length: 8 years / 150,000 miles
Battery Capacity Retention: 70%
Model Y (Performance, Long Range)
Battery Life Length: 8 years / 120,000 miles
Battery Capacity Retention: 70%
Million Mile Battery
Elon Musk said that Tesla is working on batteries that could power electric vehicles for 1 million miles over the course of its lifespan. Although this is not on the market yet, the talk of such a battery has definitely increased the excitement level in people. The work on this battery started around four years ago. In September 2020, a research group headed by Jeff Dahn, one of the world’s best lithium-ion researchers, published a research paper on a lithium-ion battery that could power an electric vehicle for a million miles. The research was apparently funded by Tesla. The extraordinary research pushed the charge cycles from 1,000 to 4,000 with a specific combination of cathode and electrolyte materials.
The battery will be low-cost and long-lasting and will be introduced first in China. The battery is co-developed by Tesla experts along with Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd (CATL). Earlier in 2020, CATL claimed that it is ready to produce batteries that can last 16 years and 1.2 million miles. It is said that this battery will lower the cost per kilowatt hour to under $100. It is still not officially clear when these long-lasting batteries will be launched but given the recent developments, it seems that it may be right around the corner.
