Both Teslas are three years old, so this is a good look at how mileage affects battery degradation.
One of my favorite aspects of contemporary electric vehicles is:
The battery life extends beyond that of most vehicles.
It’s the strongest indication of optimism that once the early issues are resolved, electric vehicles could potentially prove to be much more dependable than conventional gasoline-powered cars. I’ve touched on this topic previously, but it continues to hold true.
new video from RSEV
offers further proof that this isn’t really a concern.
In this comparison, they look at a 3-year-old red
Tesla Model 3
With 2,995 miles compared to a blue one with 217,500 miles. The blue vehicle experienced far more wear and tear, accumulating an extensive amount of mileage and frequent rapid charges during its time as a taxi service. One might anticipate significant battery deterioration or perhaps even total failure considering such high usage; however, this was not the case. Despite covering as great a distance as the
The average American drives for 16 years.
The Model 3 retains an impressive 88.5% battery capacity along with more than 300 miles of actual driving range.
That’s remarkable news considering how batteries typically deteriorate. The most significant drop in performance occurs within the initial one or two years, or around the first 20,000 miles. During this period, you might observe as much as a 10% decline. However, after this phase, the battery stabilizes considerably, with the subsequent 150,000 miles seeing far less deterioration compared to what was experienced during the first 20,000 miles. This stability is particularly noteworthy.
battery failure is uncommon and even rarer.
If we manage to achieve a future where every car for sale comes with a powertrain that is virtually assured to last 200,000 miles under normal use, we will surpass our current situation, wherein only specific makes and models can do so without incurring expensive repair costs.
Further Reading
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Study Reveals EV Batteries Often Last Longer Than The Vehicle Itself With Negligible Wear
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Contemporary Electric Vehicle Batteries Seldom Malfunction: Research Shows
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This Tesla Model S Has Retained 64% of Its Original Range After Covering 430,000 Miles
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EV Battery Degradation Simply Isn’t a Big Problem
The positive aspect of this video is for those who do not drive frequently. Given that electric vehicles tend to lose a substantial amount of their initial range within the first year, I anticipated that the 2,998-mile Tesla would show considerable wear after just a few years. However, that’s not the case; it has retained almost all of its capacity. The battery remains at an impressive 99.5% of its original state.
The positive developments extend past the battery for the high-mileage blue vehicle as well. According to the host, the sole repair required from Tesla was replacing one of the O-rings on the tailgate struts. All other components have remained in excellent condition, with the seat bolsters faring notably better compared to 99% of 200,000-mile cars I check daily on Craigslist. Additionally, the rear seat is performing admirably, which is quite impressive considering it served as a taxi.
It’s heartening to observe how Tesla managed to turn things around after an initially rocky launch of the Model 3, which faced numerous quality problems. Gradually though, the brand has made consistent strides in enhancing production standards. Early versions of this model were notorious for their leaky windows and bumpers detaching during rainy weather; but more recent iterations have proven much sturdier, capable of logging up to 200,000 miles before showing signs of wear like excessive noise.
If you’re concerned about the long-term reliability of your electric vehicle (EV), rest assured that everything should turn out fine. While many manufacturers may face initial challenges with their new EV models, once they iron out the problems over time, these vehicles will likely become far more dependable compared to typical cars powered by conventional engines.
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