How Long Does A Tesla Battery Last?
Tesla’s EVs outperform almost all other electric cars when it comes to acceleration, charging speeds, maximum range, and battery durability.
In this article, we explore how long a Tesla battery lasts on a single charge, the average lifespan of a Tesla battery, tips to maximise the life of your Tesla battery, and much more!
Teslas have some of the longest range and most durable batteries available right now. To see how much you could save by leasing a Tesla, why not compare electric car lease deals with Lease Fetcher?
What battery options do I have when buying a Tesla?
Electric cars generally cost more to buy than petrol or diesel cars. This is because electric car batteries are made of expensive materials such as lithium, cobalt, and various rare earth metals.
Manufacturers recognise that would-be EV owners can’t always afford (and don’t always need) the biggest batteries, so they often provide a range of battery and motor configurations to suit different customers.
As it stands, Tesla produces four different electric cars: The Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y. Each is available with a selection of battery and motor configurations that provide varying range:
Tesla Model S Battery Options
In its current iteration, Tesla’s flagship Model S is available with a 100kWh battery only. Customers can choose between:
- The standard dual motor all-wheel-drive variant, which offers 405 miles of range on a single charge
- The faster, more power-hungry tri-motor ‘Model S Plaid’, which offers a slightly reduced range of 396 miles.
Tesla Model 3 Battery Options
The Tesla Model 3 is available in 3 configurations:
- The single motor rear-wheel-drive Model 3 manages a very respectable 305 miles on a single charge.
- The dual-motor Model 3 Long Range bumps this up to 374 miles.
- If you’re looking for a car with impressive acceleration that can also go the distance, the Model 3 Performance brings the best of both worlds, with a significantly improved 340 miles of range compared to the standard model.
Tesla Model X Battery Options
Like the Model S, the Model X is available in two variations:
- A standard all-wheel-drive version (348 miles).
- A tri-motor Model X Plaid (333 miles).
Tesla Model Y Battery Options
The Tesla Model Y is the newest addition to Tesla’s line-up. It’s available in two dual-motor variants:
- ‘Long Range’ with 331 miles.
- ‘Performance’ with 319 miles.
How long is Tesla’s battery warranty?
If you’ve read our post on how long electric car batteries last, you’ll know that all EV batteries are expected to degrade over time. When this happens, the amount of energy they can store reduces. This is natural - but you are covered by warranty if the battery degrades quicker than expected.
Tesla’s battery warranty varies between vehicles. See the table below:
| Model | Warranty |
|---|---|
| Model S or Model X | 8 years / 150,000 miles (whichever comes first) |
| Model 3 or Model Y (Performance or Long Range) | 8 years / 120,000 miles (whichever comes first) |
| Model 3 (Rear-wheel-drive) | 8 years / 100,000 miles (whichever comes first) |
All Tesla batteries must be unable to hold more than 70% of their original charge capacity in order to be eligible for a repair or replacement.
How does Tesla’s battery life & warranty compare to other electric cars?
When it comes to battery warranties, Tesla’s are broadly in line with those of other EV manufacturers.
The Nissan Leaf, Renault Zoe, Mercedes EQC, and Audi E-Tron all have 8 year, 100,000 mile battery warranties with a minimum acceptable battery capacity of 70%.
The Kia e-Niro and MG ZS EV have slightly less generous 7 year warranties.
However, the Tesla Model S and Model X battery warranties stand head and shoulders above the rest, with an unmatched 150,000 mile warranty.
How much does it cost to replace a Tesla battery?
Ok, so Tesla provides a fairly generous battery warranty - but is it enough for high-mileage drivers who are likely to exceed 100,000 to 150,000 miles in their first few years of ownership? If not, how much would a Tesla battery cost to replace when it’s out of warranty?
The cost to replace an electric car battery depends on the capacity in kWh. The higher the capacity, the more expensive it will be to replace.
In 2021, the typical cost of an EV battery was about £97/kWh. This puts the price of a new 100kWh Tesla Model S battery at around £10,000.
Replacing an electric car battery is no small feat. It requires specialist training and the ability to work with high voltage components. For this reason, labour costs can often be in excess of £150/ hour. It can take up to 12 hours to replace a Tesla battery pack, so don’t be surprised if labour costs add an extra £2,000 onto that figure!
Thankfully Tesla are working on a million mile battery (clue in the name, it will last a million miles before needing replaced!) and manufacturers are exploring new battery chemistries to bring the cost of future electric car batteries down even further.
Top tips to maximise your Tesla’s battery life
To keep your Tesla battery in tip top shape for longer, here are some handy tips:
Avoid discharging your battery completely
Completely discharging your battery can damage your battery. Tesla recommends maintaining a regular, every-day charging routine using a low-voltage charger at home to reduce the likelihood of running out of charge.
Avoid charging the batteries to over 80%, unless it is necessary
Fully charging your battery can cause damage and reduce battery longevity over time. Tesla allows you to choose between ‘daily’ or ‘trip’ charging limits in the mobile app and vehicle touchscreen. ‘Daily’ assumes that you won’t be needing to use 100% of your car's stated range, so it stops charging the car between 80-90%. If you need the full range (i.e. 100%) of your battery for a long-distance trip, you can increase the limit to the ‘trip’ range as necessary.
Drive smoothly & avoid excessive acceleration
Tesla has made headlines with some of the quickest production cars on the market. The Tesla Model S Plaid is capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in a blisteringly-fast 1.99 seconds. As with any other car, that doesn’t mean you should have your foot to the floor at every green light.
If you want to extend your range as much as possible, be sure to drive smoothly by gradually applying the throttle when you need to accelerate.
Use regenerative braking whenever possible
All electric cars feature regenerative braking in addition to standard friction brakes. This means the car captures energy that would be lost in the braking process, and uses it to power the car. Tesla gives you the option to change the strength of regenerative braking so you can support your battery.
Don't supercharge, unless it's necessary
If you’ve got one of the latest smartphones with rapid charging capability, you’ve probably noticed it often gets warm when plugged in. Because fast charging requires a higher current, more heat is generated. Unfortunately, excess heat can lead to faster battery degradation.
Electric cars, like smartphones, have sophisticated thermal management technologies built in to try and reduce the impact of fast charging. This isn’t always 100% effective, especially when charging in warm weather. You can reduce the amount that you need to use rapid charging stations by charging overnight or during work hours, if your workplace provides electric car charging facilities.
Additional tips to increase range
The main tips and tricks for increasing your Tesla’s battery life are summarised above, but if you really want to eke out those extra miles, be sure to:
- Maintain your Tesla’s tyre pressure. This can reduce rolling resistance.
- Remove unnecessary cargo. Extra weight requires more energy to shift.
- Remove roof racks or rear storage racks when not in use. These will increase drag.
- Equip Tesla’s aero wheels. These can add up to 10 miles of range!
Conclusion
Tesla produces some of the longest lasting electric car batteries on the market, both in terms of their typical range on a single charge and their overall longevity. Unfortunately, like all batteries, they degrade over time.
While it’s unlikely that you’ll ever have to foot the (eye-watering) bill for a replacement due to their robustness and the generous manufacturers’ warranties, there are some things you should be doing to keep your Tesla battery on top form.
Want to learn more about electric car batteries? Keep reading our comprehensive guide to EVs for an insight into electric car battery recycling and electric car servicing.
If you’re in the market for an EV, you’ve come to the right place - compare electric car lease deals with Lease Fetcher and we’ll make sure you get a shiny new Tesla for less!
