How long does a Tesla last?

How Long Do Tesla Batteries Last?

The battery life of Tesla models improves with each release, but are they cost-effective long term?

By Gary Smith (Contributing Writer) | Published on January 25th, 2021 | Last Updated on February 21st, 2021

By Gary Smith (Contributing Writer)
Published on January 25th, 2021. Last Updated on February 21st, 2021 .

Tesla has transformed the electric car market with its stylish and high-performance EV-vehicle lineup. With various electric vehicles to choose from in their fleet, you can find a Tesla that fits just about every need. The biggest question revolving around Tesla vehicles is “how long do Tesla batteries last?”. After all, you will want to make sure the cost of your battery and charger outweighs the cost of gas you would normally use. Today, we will look at how long Tesla batteries last and everything else you need to know about these batteries.

• How Far Can A Tesla Drive On One Charge?
• How Long Does A Tesla Battery Last?
• What Factors Affect How Long A Tesla Battery Lasts?
• Tesla’s Battery Warranty
• Tesla Battery Options

How Far Can A Tesla Drive On One Charge?

With a full charge, you can expect a great range from any of Tesla’s vehicles. The most basic, run of the mill Tesla, the Model 3 w/ Standard Range Plus will average about 250 miles per charge. The Model Y Long Range Plus, the longest range Tesla vehicle, will average about 316 miles on a single charge. To give you a better idea of what you can expect from each model, check out the chart below:

Model 3 Standard Range Plus

Model 3 Long Range

Model 3 Performance

Model S Long Range Plus

Model S Performance

Model X Long Range Plus

Model X Performance

Model Y Long Range Plus

Model Y Performance

How Long Does A Tesla Battery Last?

A Tesla battery is designed to last for 300,000-500,000 miles. This is based on current Tesla data at the time of this article. Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla, has hinted at creating a Tesla car battery with a lifetime of one million miles. Depending on how much you drive, you may or may not ever have to change the battery in your Tesla. According to CarandDriver.com, people drive around 13,500 miles a year on average. Based on this data, you can expect around 22-37 years of battery use on your Tesla. Of course, this is based on a well maintained, average use Tesla. Those who drive more or less a year or who own a higher performance Tesla may see different results.

What Factors Affect How Long A Tesla Battery Lasts?

While Tesla batteries have a long lifetime, there are certain factors that can affect how long they last. Let’s take a closer look at a few factors to consider for keeping your Tesla battery lasting longer.

1. Driving Habits — Driving style plays a huge role in how gasoline vehicles use gas, and the same goes with batteries in EVs. Harsh driving such as speeding or excessive acceleration and braking can cause a Tesla battery to wear out prematurely. This is due to the strain that the battery is put under to accommodate the extra demand. Driving in extreme temperatures such as frequently snow driving or driving where it is over 100 degrees for months at a time can slowly kill a battery as well. To ensure you get the most from your Tesla battery, maintain good driving habits, and ensure your tires are properly inflated to reduce unnecessary strain on your battery.
2. Car Maintenance — Keeping your car well maintained will ensure that your Tesla is running as smoothly as possible. If your car is having to work harder to make up for poorly maintained parts, you can expect your battery to work harder to compensate. Be sure to follow the maintenance schedule provided by Tesla to keep your vehicle running at it’s absolute best throughout the lifetime of ownership.
3. Proper Charging Habits — Last but not least, make sure that you are properly charging your Tesla. Tesla suggests a regular, every-day charging routine using a low-voltage charger for proper maintenance. While many charging stations offer high-voltage (supercharging) chargers, these are only meant to be used in emergency situations. These are not meant to be used every day. Tesla recommends that you do not let your batter go above 90% or below 20% if possible. This will ensure that your battery is keeping a steady, proper charge to keep it running smoothly for years to come.

Tesla’s Battery Warranty

Tesla offers a very good warranty to cover the batteries in their vehicles. The warranty that you get with your battery will depend on the vehicle that you choose. All models will carry an 8 year warranty, but the mileage is going to differ depending on the vehicle. The warranty will favor whichever occurs first. We have put together a quick list to show you what you can expect from your Tesla.

How long does a Tesla battery last?

Tesla is one of the best in the business at making electric cars, boasting class-leading ranges, plenty of technology and a dedicated following that some established car manufacturers can only dream of.

As great as its EVs can be though, they’re not immune from a problem that affects anything battery-powered — the life of the batteries themselves.

That’s not to put you off though, it’s something every electric car faces and it’s not too different from the amount of things that can go wrong on a petrol- or diesel-powered cars. It’s also fair to say that batteries losing capacity over time – technically known as ‘degradation’ – has turned out to be far less of an issue than was feared in the early days of EVs.

Nonetheless, if you’re wondering how long a Tesla battery will last, we have all the answers, plus we’ve compiled some useful tips on how to get the most from a Tesla battery..

What kind of battery does a Tesla use?

Tesla uses four different types of batteries across its model range. The first was produced by Panasonic for the original Roadster and has been developed for use in the Model S and Model X. These are similar to general use batteries and adapted for electric cars.

Tesla found that using larger capacity versions of the cells within a battery, with fewer cells per vehicle, worked better for their needs. These characteristics can be found in a new design that has been used in the Model 3 and Model Y, supplied by Panasonic and LG Chem.

In 2022, an even larger cell design was introduced by the firm, made in-house in collaboration with Panasonic. With improved cell chemistry and battery management, it’s more energy dense than older designs, meaning you get more energy capacity for the same weight. Currently, it’s only used in Model Ys built in Texas.

Finally, a new battery design is being used in single-motor, rear-wheel-drive vehicles built in Shanghai, some of which come to Europe and the US. This new construction is significantly cheaper to make and doesn’t require any nickel or cobalt, but is less energy dense, resulting in a lower range for the same weight as other cells.

Tesla is continuing to develop new technologies, and recently published a paper in which it claimed to have designed a battery that could last 100 years or four million miles under optimal conditions. A new chemical construction means the cells don’t break down as quickly during the charge-discharge cycle, meaning the battery has a longer useful capacity.

Do different Tesla models have different batteries?

Each Tesla model uses the different cell constructions as outlined above, but different battery sizes are also available depending on the model, with bigger batteries typically adding more range and more cost.

Battery capacity is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh), which is a measurement of how much energy is being used per hour. The standard Model 3 and Model Y get a 54kWh unit, while the Long Range and Performance versions get a 75kWh battery. Both the Model S and Model X use 100kWh batteries.

A car’s power output also affects its range, though. On the Model 3 and Model Y you can buy an entry-level single-motor version that will be the least expensive model because of its smaller battery and lack of an expensive second motor.

All cars have dual-motor versions with a bigger battery. At the top of the range of the Model 3 and Model Y is the Performance, which sacrifices a little range in favour of rapid acceleration, while Long Range models don’t have quite as much power but use their bigger battery to provide the longest distance between charges.

The Model S and Model X dual-motor, big battery versions act as the entry-level versions, topped by a triple-motor Plaid model that has a key focus on being very, very fast.

How long will a Tesla battery last on one charge?

As with all electric cars, each model of Tesla is given an official range based on a standardised industry testing system, but there are numerous factors that affect how far a car can travel in the real world. These include the weight of the car, plus the ambient temperature, the speed of your journey, as well as your driving style.

For example, batteries do not like cold weather, so you’ll find yourself charging more often in winter than in summer. Furthermore, if you’re regularly doing trips around town where you use the regenerative brakes often, you’ll see more range than when travelling at steady motorway speeds, which require lots of energy.

The official range of each Tesla model on sale in the UK is listed below:

What is the lifespan of a Tesla battery?

You might have noticed that the battery in your smartphone doesn’t last as long after a couple of years compared with when it was new. That’s because batteries degrade over time thanks to the charging and discharging cycle.

However, while this was a concern 10 or so years ago when electric cars first began to gain popularity, it has become clear that range isn’t affected too badly by battery degradation.

Tesla analysis released in 2021 suggested its Model S and Model X battery packs would lose about 10% of their energy capacity after 200,000 miles.

This tallies with real-world results. A group of about 350 owners in Belgium and the Netherlands have been pooling data and found batteries lose about 5% of capacity in the first 50,000 miles, but degradation tails off after that. The data suggests losses will hit 10% at around 190,000 miles.

Does Tesla give you a battery warranty?

Although the data above suggests there should be little worry about the long-term health of a Tesla battery, the American firm offers a warranty in case something goes wrong.

This comes in the form of a ‘Battery and Drive Unit Limited Warranty’ and covers “the repair or replacement necessary to correct defects in the materials or workmanship of any parts manufactured or supplied by Tesla, which occur under normal use”. This includes the battery retaining at least 70% of its original capacity over the course of the warranty.

Here are the three Tesla Battery and Drive Unit Limited Warranties available:

How do I look after my Tesla battery?

If you want to reduce the degradation of your battery, there are a few steps you can take.

Only use Superchargers when necessary

Tesla’s Supercharger network is an impressive thing — letting you take your Tesla’s battery from 10% to 80% in about 35 minutes — but using it too often can have a detrimental effect on the battery.

Faster charging rates, 125kW in this case, cause higher wear on batteries, so regular plugging in at home rather than relying on public Superchargers will help battery longevity. That’s not to say avoid them entirely, they are really useful after all, but try to use them as little as often.

Don’t charge above 80% unless you need to

Once a battery is above 80% of its total capacity, it takes on more stress when being charged, which negatively impacts its lifespan. If you don’t need to use the full range of your Tesla, keeping it below 80% charge is a safe bet to improve the life of the battery.

Maintain a regular charging schedule

If you can, stick to a regular schedule for charging where you can give your car a longer charge rather than plugging it in for short periods at random intervals.

Every ‘cycle’ of charge will take a small dent out of the battery life, with shorter and frequent charges providing more of a hit to the cell than longer, less-frequent ones.

Drive more smoothly

If you drive smoothly, you’ll be able to make the most of your Tesla’s range — and have to charge it less often as a result. Erratic driving will have a detrimental effect on range, so you’ll have to plug it in more — it’s as simple as that.

Easy ways to smooth your driving out include gradually applying the throttle when pulling away from a stop rather than slamming your foot down, as well as lifting off earlier and allowing the car to coast a bit when coming to a halt rather than braking abruptly.

How much would it cost to replace the battery in a Tesla?

A Tesla battery replacement would be in the region of £10,000 to £15,000 including labour costs, though this could be significantly cut down by purchasing a second-hand battery and using an independent specialist, rather than a Tesla service centre.

Battery costs are directly linked to the size of the battery, rather than the car they’re being fitted to, so a Model 3 and Model S with the same battery size would have similar repair costs, for example.

Get your next Tesla with carwow

If you’re looking to get a Tesla, you’ll find great deals on new, used and leased examples on carwow. There’s no need to haggle on the price, meaning you’re free to find the best deal on the car you want.

Selling your old car? You can do that through carwow, too. Simply upload images and details of your car and dealers will come to you with their best offers. Pick the best deal and the dealer will make payment and collect your vehicle.

How Many Miles Will a Tesla Last?

Buying a new car is generally a massive expense for most people. After the purchase, there is the cost of future maintenance to consider. Are car repair concerns the same with electric vehicles? How many miles will a Tesla last, and when should you expect to replace the battery in a Tesla EV?

How long do Tesla batteries last?

According to SolarReviews, the current batteries in Tesla cars are designed to last for 300,000 to 500,000 miles. After that point, the battery life will start to degrade and will likely need to be replaced. SolarReviews points out that a Tesla battery might still work beyond 500,000 miles, although with a reduced range per charge. There is also talk that Tesla is working on a battery life that will last for 1 million miles.

The average Tesla battery degrades about 10% after 160,000 miles, which means it’s still at 90% of its peak performance even after that many miles. Recharging does reduce a battery’s ability to hold a charge, especially if a full charge is needed daily. However, most people won’t need to charge to 100%.

Elon Musk has said the Model 3’s body and power source should be able to last for a million miles, according to Electrek. Still, since Teslas haven’t been around for very long, there isn’t much data on how long Tesla vehicles can last.

How many miles can a Tesla battery handle?

Because most Tesla models haven’t needed battery replacements so far, the exact replacement prices are unknown. Elon Musk has said it will cost between $5,000 and $7,000 for a new Model 3 battery module (not the entire battery pack). The Tesla Model 3 has four battery modules in a battery pack, while the Model S and Model X EV models have up to 16.

Tesla car batteries are covered by their warranty for eight years or 120,000 to 150,000 miles, depending on which comes first. Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles are covered up to 120,000 miles (or eight years), while the Model S and Model X are covered up to 150,000 miles (or eight years). However, the battery will likely do fine beyond either eight years or 150,000 miles.

In 2019, Electrek followed up with a Tesla Model 3 owner who had put 100,000 miles on his car in two years. His general maintenance in that time would have been just tire replacements if he hadn’t done things like drive through a stream or slam a door in high winds. His max range was reportedly reduced by about 2.5%. He mainly used DC fast-charging, which causes faster battery degradation, but his charge rarely went below 10% or above 60%.

Clean Technica included a report from an owner whose Tesla Model S passed 200,000 miles. The driver spent very little on maintenance, even with his car out of warranty. He reported spending $1,050 in the first 100,000 miles and $5,415 total in the first 200,000 miles. He replaced the regular 12V car batteries twice but not the Tesla batteries. He also calculated that he’d saved $20,000 when comparing gas prices to EV charging fees.

Will Tesla and EV batteries last for 500,000 miles?

It would be a significant game-changer if cars were able to routinely last for 500,000 miles. There are likely Teslas out there that are around that non-gas mileage now. One comparative example is a Tesla Model S operated by Tesloop, a Tesla-only shuttle service in Southern California. The company’s Model S reached 400,000 in three years, according to Electrek. It cost about $19,000 for maintenance in that time. Tesloop estimates it would have spent $88,500 to maintain a Lincoln Town Car or Mercedes GLS-Class over the same time.

Interestingly that Model S needed its battery pack replaced twice during the 400,000 miles. The first battery pack was replaced at 194,000 miles after a 6% degradation. Tesla found that Tesloop had been supercharging to 100% multiple times a day. The second replacement was at 324,000 miles after a 22% degradation due to a problem with the battery pack. Other Tesloop Teslas still have their original battery packs after 300,000 miles.

While the Tesla Model 3 body may be designed to last for a million miles, owners will likely need to replace the battery pack two or three times over the course of that many miles.