Tesla Model 3 clocks 200,000 miles on original battery and motors with minimal range loss, sidelining EV longevity woes
Electric Vehicles, or EVs, have long been associated with woes of longevity and battery degradation. These fears aren't without merit, however, constant improvements and advancements to battery technologies in every possible regard, including longevity, have alleviated some of these concerns. Last month, we covered a multi-part series of a Tesla Model S with over 430,000 miles clocked on its original battery with only about 26% range degradation, which goes to show that EV longevity has indeed come a long way.
Now, thanks to a recent video published by the YouTube channel 'Tesla Joy', we get to have a glimpse of a 2018 Model 3 Performance that has clocked over 200,000 miles on its original battery. According to the vehicle's owner, Lawrence, the Model 3 is still running on its original battery, which has so far exhibited between 9-10% degradation, as indicated by his battery capacity calculations. Interestingly, Lawrence notes that this degradation figure has remained constant since the car hit 100,000 miles, with the initial drop in battery capacity being more pronounced in the first 50,000-70,000 miles, after which it kind of plateaued.
Lawrence notes that he was a frequent user of supercharging and that with proper preconditioning, the supercharging rate still reaches up to 250 kW. This is similar to Rory's experience, who, despite relying heavily on supercharging, did not notice any significant battery damage due to supercharging alone.
As for maintenance, the car has mostly required minimal maintenance, as reported by Lawrence. The original brake pads are still in use, and apart from a control arm 'squeak', there appear to have been no major mechanical maladies. There was, however, a supercharging circuit repair before the 155,000-mile mark - but that's got more to do with his Model 3's age than usage. Predictably, Lawrence has cycled through several sets of tires, which have often been victims of rogue nails rather than honest wear and tear.
However, Lawrence's experience has not been all roses either, and he expressed some dissatisfaction with Tesla's after-sales support, which is to be expected, considering that critics of Tesla's service are far from scarce. Moreover, he was particularly unhappy regarding a persistent seat sensor issue that plagued his Model 3 and required a rather expensive out-of-warranty repair.
Lawrence's experience with his 2018 Tesla Model 3 Performance portrays the vehicle's undeniable longevity and low maintenance cost. His experience aligns with that of many others with high-mileage Teslas - EVs are relatively cheap to maintain as compared to ICEs which require frequent and expensive services, and batteries do indeed last a long time - long enough for the battery to outlast the car itself.
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