How Many Miles Do Tesla Batteries Last?

Buying a new car these days involves not just choosing what make and model to get, but also deciding between gas or electric power. One thing you need to consider when going the electric route is how long the car and its battery will last. Early models from Tesla were known to have very short lifespans. Over the years, however, that has improved significantly.

Tesla was one of the first companies to really push electric cars aggressively and is still the leader in the electric car segment. While there is still a perception that EVs are expensive to own partly because of the need to eventually replace degrading batteries, Tesla’s advancements in lithium-ion batteries is making this a thing of the past.

So how long do Tesla batteries last and when should you expect to replace it?

How many miles do Tesla batteries last?

The part of Teslas that people most commonly have concerns with is the battery, as it has become common knowledge that electric vehicles (EVs) develop problems with them down the line. According to Solar Reviews, however, Tesla’s lithium-ion batteries have the potential to last up to 300,000-500,000 miles before they need replacing.

Of course, there haven’t been that many EVs that have covered those distances. However, recent research suggests that on average, a Tesla’s battery degrades by just about 10 percent after 160,000 miles of use. Having 90 percent storage capacity after all of those miles is exceptional.

The Service Life of a Tesla

Field experts project that EVs can generally outlast internal combustion engines.

A gasoline-powered vehicle has an average lifespan of 150,000 miles or eight years while an electric vehicle has a lifespan of 200,000 miles or 12 years.

The decreased number of moving parts in an electric vehicle plays a huge role in prolonging its lifespan.

Unlike internal combustion engines, electric vehicles don’t have parts that require frequent lubrication and they don’t come with exhaust systems, either.

The lifespan of electric vehicles like Tesla models depends greatly on their battery pack,

Being mindful of outside temperatures, rarely using fast charging, and keeping a close eye on the charging level of electric vehicles are essential to maintaining good battery health.

Why do Tesla’s Lithium-ion Batteries Need to be Replaced?

Like the batteries found in smartphones, the lithium-ion batteries in Tesla vehicles degrade after many cycles of charging and discharging. This is because of the chemical changes that happen in the battery. EVs are unique in that after some time, their batteries cause their maximum range to decrease. Imagine a gas-fueled car’s gas tank getting smaller and smaller the more miles it accumulates. Nonetheless, 300,000 miles is quite a lot and if a car’s battery is able to last that long, it would take years of regular use before the battery’s maximum range on a full charge can be degraded enough for the battery to need replacement.

Tesla has invested quite a lot in making its batteries reliable. The company’s car batteries are covered by a warranty for eight years or 120,000 to 150,000 miles, depending on which comes first. The Model 3 and Model Y are covered for 120,000 miles, so if you own either of those models, you can drive 15,000 miles a year or 41 miles a day before you exceed that distance before your eight-year warranty is up. The Model X and S are covered for 150,000 miles, so if you own either of those models, you can drive 18,750 miles a year or 52 miles a day before you reach that threshold before your eight years are up. It’s very likely that your battery will last beyond the warranty period without any problems, but it’s nice to know that you’re covered for those eight years.

This is probably why Tesla’s customer satisfaction continues to be high. That said, this wouldn’t be possible if the company hadn’t gone through several challenges to be able to make its batteries as dependable as they are now.

How Much Does It Cost to Charge a Tesla?

Given that the battery size and capacity of a Tesla car can vary from one model to another, you can expect some notable differences in terms of charging costs.

Below are the estimated charging costs for each Tesla vehicle:

• Model 3: $9.62 to fully charge
• Model S:$18.29 to fully charge
• Model X:$18.30 to fully charge
• Model Y: $113.58 to fully charge

Tesla’s Battery Advancements

Replacing a part that costs thousands of dollars after only two years is quite a nuisance for any car owner, especially knowing they’re going to have to replace it again down the line.

Many companies made fully electric cars before Tesla, but no other company has come close to being as successful. This is largely due to Tesla’s advancements in making its batteries retain their charge capacity over a long time. Early electric vehicles, like the Nissan Leaf, which was released in 2010, had owners complaining about batteries needing to be replaced after only a few years of use.

With most car owners expecting their cars to be an appliance, Tesla had to make sure its EVs are as reliable and cheap to maintain as a regular car. How did Tesla manage to make its batteries capable of lasting for so long?

Let’s start by briefly talking about how lithium-ion batteries work. Lithium-ion batteries work by transferring lithium ions between the two regions of the battery called the anode and the cathode. During charging, lithium ions pass from the cathode into the anode, creating free electrons in the anode and a charge at the positive current collector. Current can then flow from the positive current collector, through the device being powered, and back to the negative current collector.

What Conditions Affect Battery Longevity?

Several factors hasten the degradation of lithium-ion batteries. One of them is temperature, which affects how fast a battery can charge or discharge. Charging on an extremely cold day, for example, can take up to twice as long as usual. Aside from charge time, temperature also plays a big part in how much stress a battery endures. Batteries have temperature ranges where they can discharge and charge optimally with the least stress. Early Nissan Leafs did not have active battery cooling, for example, while Teslas had a thermal management system.

Batteries also have an ideal charge and discharge voltage. An increase in the voltage can cause excess heat and excess chemical activity in the battery. This can cause chemical deposits in the cathode and anode, which can significantly hurt the battery’s charge capacity.

Expected Range of Different Tesla Models

Lastly, the expected life of a Tesla battery depends on the model. Tesla offers long-range, Plaid, and performance variants of its Model 3, Model X, and Model S vehicles. The long-range Model 3 features larger batteries and higher kilowatt-hour charge capacities, increasing the Model 3’s range by an additional 90 miles. The performance variants feature dual-motors and all-wheel drive on top of the upgraded battery.

Because the performance models can discharge energy faster with their powerful motors, their battery life might decrease because of the increased stress.

How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Tesla Battery?

The cost to replace an old Tesla battery varies from one model to another, with the price tag ranging anywhere between $5,000 and $20,000.

• Model 3: $14,000+
• Model S: $13,000-$20,000
• Model X: $14,000+
• Model Y: $5,000-$5,500

When buying a new battery, always keep in mind that the warranty coverage can be affected by the following:

• Defaced or altered VIN
• Altered odometer
• Vehicle labeled as rebuilt, salvaged, dismantled, etc., or declared as total loss

For Tesla vehicles, additional warranty limitations include:

• Unauthorized repairs
• Off-road driving
• Failure to bring vehicle to an authorized Tesla repair facility upon discovering the defect

Note that the prices listed in this article may have changed from the time of writing. Remember to shop around and do your research to get the best deal possible.