How Long Will a Tesla Electric Vehicle Battery Last?

• Tesla electric vehicle batteries have an eight-year warranty
• There is a lot to learn about Tesla electric vehicle batteries
• From the Model S Plaid to the Model Y Long Range, there is an option for everyone

There are a lot of differences between an EV and a traditional gas-powered vehicle. For instance, the battery. How long will a Tesla electric vehicle battery last before it needs to be replaced? While Tesla has been successfully making electric cars for years, there are still a lot of unknowns about old EV batteries. Either way, the Model S Plaid is impressive and fast enough to deal with a few battery problems.

Tesla electric vehicle batteries have an eight-year warranty

iSeeCars did a deep dive into Tesla electric vehicle batteries recently. In the U.S., every electric vehicle battery has the same warranty, no matter what kind it is. From the $169,000 Lucid Air Dream Edition to the $27,800 Nissan Leaf, everyone gets the same eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty from the federal government.

In California, the warranty is extended to 10 years and 150,000 miles. That makes sense, given the sheer amount of EVs in the state. Elon Musk claims that Tesla batteries should last between 300,000 and 500,000 miles. Using the U.S. Department of Energy’s standard average of 15,000 miles driven in a year would put a Tesla’s battery life expectancy between 20 and 33 years.

“Assuming a single charge a day, that timeframe would involve between 7,300 and 12,045 charge cycles,” iSeeCars said. Tesla released the Model S in 2012, making it one of the oldest models on the market (save for the Roadster). Even so, that only puts the oldest Model S at 10 years old.

There is a lot to learn about Tesla electric vehicle batteries

While Tesla has been making electric vehicles for a long time, there is still a lot to learn about the life cycle. Most batteries are subject to some degradation after many charging cycles, but there haven’t been enough old Tesla batteries to figure out more yet.

The debate on whether Tesla would cover these problems under warranty is also up for debate. When the automaker didn’t cover it, buyers discovered the hard way that a new battery could cost $10,000 and $20,000.

In the end, batteries don’t fail often enough that it should be of much concern to the casual Tesla buyer. A Tesla electric vehicle battery will last for many years, but it is good to confirm there have been no previous issues if you buy a used Tesla. iSeeCars said a significant accident or flood could impact the battery pack and the warranty.

From the Model S Plaid to the Model Y Long Range, there is an option for everyone

A Tesla Model S | CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images

At the time of publication, the following models are available in the Tesla lineup. The cheapest option is the Tesla Model 3 for $40,390, while the most expensive is the Model X Plaid for $130,590.

A home charger will probably be your best bet if you are considering a Tesla. It allows you to charge at home when the electricity is cheaper, and you can monitor the charge from an app. Charging ensures your Tesla electric vehicle battery is ready for your daily drives, so there is no way around it. However, EV charging is easy once you get the hang of it.

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