Tesla Model 3 Battery Life

Bad Care Of Your Tesla

Sometimes, you might return home after a tough day, and you leave your Teslas lights are on. Its a mistake that you might have made once in a while.

You should know that if you make it a norm, it will kill your battery. So, before you close the door behind your sweet Tesla, ensure no car system is running.

More Tricks To Improve Your Tesla Car Battery

The above tips will boost your batterys range by a greater mile. Here are a few minor tricks to increase your Tesla battery range.

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Model 3 Vs Mustang Mach

The Mustang Mach-E has only just been released but it definitely has its sights set on the Model 3 and the Model Y.

Its priced similarly, has a multitude of options, similar range, and its performance is right up there with the Teslas.

Since its just been released, theres not much information about high mileage Mustang Mach-Es.

One thing that the Mustang Mach-E has got going for it is build quality. Ford has been making cars for over a century just like GM. Its got car manufacturing down to a science, and the Mach-E doesnt have all the build quality issues and niggles that Model 3s have been plagued with since its introduction.

The Mustang Mach-E has the same battery warranty as the Model 3 at 8 years and 100,000 miles, so its reasonable to expect to get at least 10 years of service out of the vehicle.

Consumer Reports gives the Mustang Mach-E 3 out of 5 for Predicted Reliability, which is similar to the Model 3. But its really too early to tell whether it deserves that rating.

So far, Mustang Mach-E has been praised for its build quality which is more than can be said for the Model 3 especially its earlier versions.

On top of the 8-year or 100,000-mile drivetrain warranty that Ford offers with the Mustang Mach-E, it wouldnt be ludicrous to assume that it wouldnt last the same 300,000 miles that the Model 3 claims it can achieve.

Winner: Draw

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Charging Options For Tesla

Each Tesla is equipped with a particular lithium-ion battery depending on the cars desired functionality, such as energy storage, speed, and charge time. A 100kWh battery pack is available for the Model S and Model X, allowing them to go further on a single charge.

The charger you use determines the time it takes to charge your car battery. Tesla, unfortunately, do not come with a wall charger you must purchase one separately. On the other hand, a mobile charger is included as a backup option.

Tesla Superchargers can be found in high-traffic areas for Tesla owners to use for a fee when they need a charge when they arent at home. They are becoming more widely available worldwide and can charge cars for up to 200 kilometers in 15 minutes. On the other hand, using these charging stations is stressful on your battery and should be used rarely to preserve its life and functionality.

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Model 3 Vs Bmw 3 Series

Although the BMW 3 series still doesnt come in an EV variant, we cant ignore the fact that many people who are looking to buy the Model 3 would also consider a similarly priced German luxury sedan like the BMW.

After all, a lot of Tesla buyers see Model 3 as a luxury brand and want to be seen driving around in a premium vehicle. In the same way, a BMW would also fit the bill.

The 3 series is also the best selling car in its segment, which is quite a feat considering its competition from the likes of Audi, Mercedes and Lexus.

Although BMWs have a reputation for being unreliable after the warranty has expired, these are often the case for vehicles that havent been properly taken care of.

Apart from electrical niggles, you can expect a modern BMW 3 series to last between 200,000 250,000 miles / 13 17 years on the original drivetrain.

This is noticeably less than the Model 3s promised 300,000 mile longevity, but still very respectable for an internal combustion vehicle.

Winner: Tesla Model 3

Why Is The Range Different For Each Tesla Model

Your Tesla’s range depends on the model of the car, its battery size, and how you drive.

Model

Teslas Model 3 is meant to be a more affordable option, so it comes with a smaller internal battery. The battery size is one of the largest factors in determining the cost of an EV – the bigger the battery, the more mileage range .

If you are interested in owning a Tesla for your daily commute or for simply running errands, the Model 3 car is a great option. You can compare it to the Nissan Leaf or Chevy Volt in terms of practicality and affordability, but the Tesla offers a more sleek, aesthetically appealing car with a higher mileage range.

The Long Range Models, such as the Model S cars, offer unparalleled acceleration, going from 0 to 60 miles per hour in as little as 3.1 seconds. So if you are looking for an electric car that can perform even better than its gas-powered counterparts, a Long Range Model would be a great choice.

The Plaid Model is similar to the Long Range but comes with more features, like enhanced interior styling, a carbon fiber spoiler, and better traction control. The Performance Model can accelerate even quicker, going from 0-60mph in 1.99 seconds.

Not your typical commuting car, but if you are interested in performance and style, the Plaid is the one to choose.

Battery size

How you drive

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Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries

Some vehicles are equipped with a Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery. To determine if you vehicle is equipped with an LFP battery, navigate to Controls> Software> Additional Vehicle Information. If your vehicle is equipped with an LFP battery, “High Voltage Battery type: Lithium Iron Phosphate” is listed. If your vehicle does not have an LFP battery, the high voltage Battery type is not specified.

If your vehicle is equipped with an LFP Battery, Tesla recommends that you keep your charge limit set to 100%, even for daily use, and that you also fully charge to 100% at least once per week. If Model 3 has been parked for longer than a week, Tesla recommends driving as you normally would and charge to 100% at your earliest convenience.

In addition, a best practice is to allow Model 3 to “sleep” regularly by parking it with Sentry Mode disabled, when possible. Consider using the Exclude Home,Exclude Work, and Exclude Favorites settings to prevent Sentry Mode from automatically activating at locations it is not needed .

Following the above guidance maximizes available range and improves the vehicle’s ability to accurately determine the state of charge and estimated range.

Overcharging And Trickle Charging

At some point, you must have let your phone charge to 100% during sleep. Yes, it feels great, but it will damage your battery if you make it a habit.

The same applies to Tesla cars. No one feels safe when they sleep while their Tesla car is at zero charge.

This act is trickle charging. It makes your battery have a lot of heat. Such conditions reduce your batterys life span and make it lose power fast.

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How Do I Check If The Battery On A Used Tesla Is Still Good

Checking the current battery capacity on a used Tesla is easiest if you own it or have access to it, since it could require going on at least one long test drive.

Heres a procedure for recalibrating your current range estimate:

This procedure should give you some insight into the health of the vehicles battery, but keep in mind that the range estimate is not an absolute metric. The best use for this method is to collect multiple data points over time.

There are also quite a few apps to check for Tesla battery health and track it over time . If you are buying a used Tesla, its worth asking the owner if theyve used any tracking apps with data you could examine.

Finally, a Tesla-certified inspection can give you an idea of the vehicles battery health and the assurance that everything is functioning as it should. Remember that the warranty does last for at least 8 years and over 100,000 miles in most Teslas, so this isnt a huge necessity for owners . For the pre-owned Tesla buyer, though? A thorough inspection of the battery and drive unit before purchase is just good common sense, especially if the vehicle is out of warranty.

Things To Know About Tesla Batteries

A Tesla has two batteries: a propulsion battery used to power the vehicle motors and a 12-volt battery to power accessories and security. Everything in this article focuses on the larger propulsion battery, which is both expensive and labor intensive to replace.

Up until very recently, nearly all Tesla batteries used nickel cobalt aluminum or nickel manganese cobalt types of lithium ion chemistries. More recently, Tesla has begun to introduce lithium iron phosphate LFP batteries in the Model 3 â as well as the Model Y in China. If your vehicle has an LFP battery, you can read more about LFP batteries for electric cars here.

Car and Driver tracked the battery capacity on their Model 3 and found a 7% decline in only 24,000 miles. However, the report does mention a reliance on supercharging, which is known to degrade batteries a bit faster. On this particular vehicle, should degradation continue in the same way, the battery would be eligible for replacement under Teslaâs 70% battery capacity retention warranty.

Speaking of Model 3 warranties, all of them come with 8 year coverage, and either 100,000 or 120,000 miles . If your battery degrades more than 70% in that time, Tesla will replace your battery – not necessarily with a new one, but with one that does exceed the 70% limit. Warranties that are still in effect can be transferred when a vehicle is sold, and used Teslas purchased from the manufacturer have an additional year warranty.

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How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Tesla Battery

In April 2019, Musk claimed replacing the battery modules not the complete pack of a Tesla Model 3 will cost between $5,000 and $7,000.

FindMyElectric found in April 2021 that Tesla battery replacements, including labor, tend to cost a bit more:

• Between $13,000 to $20,000 for a Model S premium sedan
• At least $14,000 for a Model X premium SUV
• At least $13,000 for the Model 3 entry-level sedan
• A similar price for the Model Y compact SUV, but as the car only launched in 2020 its too new to say for sure

Of course, theres the Tesla warranty that covers packs that degrade at high speed.

The batterys high price is one of the main issues around whether electric cars can replace traditional vehicles. A longer overall lifespan will reduce the need to replace the battery, but a cheaper pack would make both the initial price and replacement cost less painful.

Fortunately, the industry has made big progress in reducing prices. BloombergNEF found in December 2020 that pack prices have fallen from $1,100 per kilowatt-hour in 2010 to $137 in 2020, an 89 percent decrease. Average pack prices are expected to reach around $100 by 2023, a price cited by industry analysts as the point where electric cars will cost about the same as non-electric cars.

Home And Destination Charging

Charging is possible by using a regular wall plug or a charging station. Public charging is always done through a charging station. How fast the EV can charge depends on the charging station used and the maximum charging capacity of the EV. The table below shows all possible options for charging the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range. Each option shows how fast the battery can be charged from empty to full.

= Limited by on-board charger, vehicle cannot charge faster.

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Tesla Is No Longer The Only Ev Game In Town

Being a pioneer in the field of EVs has some advantages and some disadvantages. One of the biggest disadvantages is that, if you are successful, others will want a piece of the action. Tesla gained notoriety in 2012 when it released its flagship car, the Model S. Since then, it has begun losing some of its market share to some of the biggest automakers in the world.

Companies such as Ford and Chevrolet have begun investing billions into EV production. For example, Fords F-150 Lightning has been so popular that they are no longer accepting orders for them for the current model year. It simply cant keep up with the demand.

Chevrolet has the Chevy Bolt EV and EUV with the electric versions of the Blazer, Equinox, and Silverado on the way. Hyundai is also making a solid showing in the EV market with its Ioniq 5 and Kona Electric. One of the main concerns among consumers about EVs is the battery. Range anxiety is a factor that has kept many consumers from making the transition to EVs.

Figuring Out Your Own Numbers

Battery longevity and performance are measured in controlled environments to get comparable results between various tests. However, driving in the real world comes with a lot of variables.

Before relying too much on official numbers, consider your driving habits, the distance you drive regularly, and how well you take care of your Tesla batteries.

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Dont Leave Your Tesla Parked For Too Long

If you know youll be leaving your Tesla car inactive for a while, its best to disconnect the battery. This will help to prevent it from draining unnecessarily.

• To do this, open the hood and locate the negative battery terminal. Then, using a wrench, loosen the nut that secures the cable to the terminal.
• Carefully remove the cable from the terminal, and make sure that it doesnt come into contact with any other metal surfaces.
• Once the battery is disconnected, cover the terminal with a heavy-duty plastic bag to insulate it and prevent accidental shorts.
• Finally, close the hood and store the key fob in a safe location.

When It’s Time To Replace Your Tesla Battery

Tesla batteries are far from cheap. Replacing a single battery can cost you anywhere from $5,000 to $7,000. But Tesla vehicles don’t run on a single battery.

Battery replacements also vary wildly, with some remanufactured packs priced at a little over $16 thousand. On the other hand, a new pack on the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range starts at $40,000 and could go all the way up to $84,000 for the Model S Long Range.

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How Long Do Tesla Batteries Last

According to , Tesla car batteries are supposed to technically last for 300,000 to 500,000 miles, which is 1,500 battery cycles. Thats between 22 and 37 years for the average car driver, who, according to the Department of Transportation, drives about 13,500 miles per year.

Importantly, this is not the same distance that Tesla warranties. After 100,000 to 150,000 miles , Tesla no longer covers repairs and replacements for you if your battery degrades past a certain point, so theres no promising how well your battery will work after being driven that far.

If youre driving 300,000 to 500,000 miles on one Tesla car battery, youre probably working with a pretty beat up battery by the end. Pricing for replacing your Teslas battery is hard to come by, but you dont have to wait for all that mileage to make a replacement. In the same tweet mentioned above, Musk claims that it would cost between $5,000 and $7,000 to replace a battery module but keep in mind that the battery pack in your Tesla contains multiple modules, so it may not be cost effective to replace your whole battery.

Comparing It To What Might Be Expected

Once you’ve worked out the figure above, you can compare it to the usable capacity figures in the table below. The figures below are from various sources on the internet and are the theoretical limits, sometimes worked out by reverse engineering the battery management system and sometimes by tearing down the battery packs. In practice, and for a number of reasons, you can expect your car to be below these figures with 5% and more quite normal, even when new as explained below.

Tesla have applied a model 3 warranty limit of 70% retained/30% degradation after 8 years/120k miles/180km to be acceptable. They have not stated a figure for the MS or MX. Superficially it’s therefore not unreasonable to assume a 10-15% degradation after 4 years is within spec, however degradation is not linear. Reports suggest there is an initial drop within the first few months and then the rate of degeneration tails off. A typical scenario is therefore a 5% drop fairly quickly and then a further 5% drop over the life of the car. If your car has between 5% and 10% degradation, a higher figure on older cars, it’s quite normal. If the figure is above that, for instance the car is an 85 and have been hit by #batterygate, then react accordingly if buying or if you are an owner then consider challenging Tesla and get the issue logged if in warranty.

Battery

Please if you find figures that are significantly different using the approach as this guide is provided based on community sourced information.

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