Want to know about the Tesla battery life and its warranty?
We know it is the most valid question for every EV owner, well, the answer is quite complicated. This post guides you through every detail about the Tesla battery life, warranty, factors that impact the battery life span, and some tips that you must not ignore to save your Tesla battery and make it last a long.
The Average Tesla Battery Life
According to the CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk, the car batteries were built to last around 300,000 to 500,000 miles, or almost 1500 times of charging and discharging, before needing a battery replacement. However, on a single charge, the Tesla car batteries last for 336 miles. But keep in mind that each Tesla model comes in different ranges on a completely charged battery.
Here, we have shared how many mileage ranges all the Tesla models’ batteries last on one charge.
| Models | Mileage Range |
| Model 3 Standard | 267 miles |
| Model 3 long range | 334 miles |
| Model 3 performance | 315 miles |
| Model S | 375 miles |
| Model S Plaid | 348 miles |
| Model X | 332 miles |
| Model X Plaid | 313 miles |
| Model Y Long-range | 318 miles |
| Model Y Performance | 303 miles |
As compared to other EVs: Electronic vehicles available on the market, Tesla cars have impressive battery ranges. However, the Tesla Model 3 standard is the lowest-range model, lasting 267 miles, while the luxurious sedan Tesla Model S, is the longest-range Tesla, lasting 375 miles.
About the Tesla Battery Warranty
The battery and drive range of the Tesla warranty are covered separately and vary by model. The premium models, including Tesla Model X and S, have more mile protection. However, budget-friendly models, including Tesla Model Y and 3, have shorter mileage protection.
The Tesla Battery and drive unit warranty covers 2 things:
- Miles driven or length of time depending on the model (8 years or 100,000 to 150,000 miles driven), whatever comes first.
- A guaranteed battery capacity of 70% of its starting capacity during the warranty time.
Here, we have shared the battery warranties for all Tesla models.
| Tesla Model | Warranty | Battery Capacity Retention |
| Models S | 8 years or 150,000 miles range | 70% over the warranty period |
| Model X | 8 years or 150,000 miles range | 70% over the warranty period |
| Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive | 8 years or 100,000 miles | 70% over the warranty period |
| Model 3 long range | 8 years or 120,000 miles | 70% over the warranty period |
| Model 3 performance | 8 years or 120,000 miles | 70% over the warranty period |
| Model Y All-Wheel Drive | 8 years or 120,000 miles | 70% over the warranty period |
| Model y long-range | 8 years or 120,000 miles | 70% over the warranty period |
| Model y performance | 8 years or 120,000 miles | 70% over the warranty period |
Consequently, the Tesla Model S holds less than 70% of its original battery capacity after driving it for 8 years, or 100,000 to 150,000 miles range, whatever comes first. If any of the situations happen, then you are eligible for any free replacement necessary to correct defects in the materials precisely.
Factors that Impact Your Tesla Battery Life
Are you wondering why every Tesla car battery life range varies so much? It is because every Tesla car has elements that impact how long their batteries last. Here are the factors that impact the range of Tesla battery life.
- The Size of the Battery
A bigger battery stores more energy and has a longer range. That is why the Tesla Model S has a 98-kWh battery, whereas the Tesla Model 3 has an 80.5-kWh battery. So, it makes sense that the Model S has a longer battery range than the Tesla Model 3.
- The Powertrain Tech
Electric vehicles use powertrain technology, including smoothness, friction between wheels and the road, weight of the car, and clutch system, which play a role in impacting the mile ranges of Tesla battery life. The powertrain tech stores energy more effectively and will get more mileage out of the battery. Well, the newer Tesla vehicles have powertrain tech and lower weight, letting them use stored electricity more efficiently than older models, which have less efficient powertrains and larger frames.
Other Factors Impacting the Range of Tesla Battery Life
- Improper Battery Charging: It can cause a strain on the ability of the battery to hold a charge. If your car’s battery is fully charged, then you have charged the battery to fill up more. It will reduce the battery’s life and ability to hold a charge.
- Landscape: Driving in a hilly landscape can affect the range as your car has to work harder and needs more energy consumption to climb hills.
- Battery Degradation: After extended usage of your Tesla, its battery loses some of its ability to hold the charge, which is another factor that impacts the battery range of your Tesla.
- Temperature: Extremely hot or cold weather can reduce the range of your Tesla. Hot temperatures affect the batteries negatively and require more energy to cool them down. Instead, the cold temperature reduces the efficiency of the battery and limits its ability to deliver power.
- Regenerative Braking: Regenerative braking takes energy whenever you brake; this energy is then used to recharge the battery.
- Excessive Load: Booming extra loads like passengers and cargo can reduce the range as your car requires more energy to move the load.
- Wind Resistance: Strong winds at high speeds can also impact the range of the battery as they increase the smooth resistance, which requires more power to maintain the speed.
- Tire Pressure: Overblown tire pressure increases rolling resistance. It needs more energy to move the vehicle, which impacts the range of your Tesla battery life.
6 Tips to Increase Your Tesla Battery Life
- Drive smoothly: Aggressive driving, like sudden acceleration, driving within an extended speed limit, and hard braking, can reduce the battery life span more quickly. So, you must drive gently to extend your Tesla’s battery life.
- Avoid Fast Chargers: Fast charging produces heat, which is harmful to the battery pack. When you charge your Tesla at charging stations with superchargers can increase battery degradation. However, it is recommended that you never charge the battery over 90% and never let the battery drop under 20%, as it cuts off the battery life.
- Turn off features when you might not need them: Switch off features like Autopilot, sentry seat heaters, lessen the screen brightness, close windows to reduce wind resistance, and turn the steering to a standard mode to save the battery.
- Continues the consistent charging cycles: When you continuously charge the battery at the same time every day, it can contribute to a longer battery life.
- Use battery saving mode: Tesla uses batteries even when you are not driving it. Using the battery-saving mode on the Tesla X or S model can reduce battery usage when it is parked. However, in Tesla Models 3s and Ys, the battery saving mode will automatically enable itself when the battery percentage drops under 5%.
- Avoid carrying an excessive load: The less you carry the load in a Tesla, the less it weighs, and the less the car has to use the power to move, the more efficient its battery is. That is why you should avoid carrying excessive loads when you are driving a Tesla.
FAQs
Q: How far does a Tesla go on a single charge?
The farthest you can go on a single charge with a Tesla car is almost 405 miles.
Q: How much time does it take to charge a Tesla car?
It takes almost an hour to 12 hours to charge a Tesla car; thus, the time fully varies depending on the model and the type of charger. Standard outlets are the slowest, offering almost 3 miles of range per hour. However, the superchargers are the fastest and offer nearly 30 minutes full the battery. At the same time, the wall connectors take almost 8 to 10 hours for a full charge, but it depends on the model of the car.
Q: What is the average life expectancy of a Tesla car?
According to the Tesla owners, their car lasted well over a decade with proper maintenance.
Q: How often does a Tesla battery need to be replaced?
Tesla batteries are designed to last almost 8 years, or around 100,000 to 150,000 miles, as per the warranty. But factors like usage, model, driving conditions, and charging habits depend on how often you should replace a Tesla battery.
Q: What is the cost of a Tesla battery replacement?
Replacing a Tesla battery module may cost almost $5000 to $7000. But a complete battery pack replacement may cost $20000 to $30000. But keep in mind that the cost depends on your precise situation and the number of replacements required.
