Tesla Model S, Model Y lose 12% and 15% range on average after 200,000 miles, claims official report
Besides range, the most important problem for electric vehicles (EVs) is probably the inevitable decrease in their total range over time, owing to battery degradation. Last month, Tesla published information on the average decrease in range that its Model 3, Model Y, Model X, Model S vehicles experienced after being driven for 200,000 miles - and the results may put your fears at ease.
Why is range loss even a thing?
Battery degradation is generally influenced by a wide range of factors and circumstances in which the vehicle is driven in. It includes, amongst others, the number of battery charge cycles, the depth of each discharge cycle, the ambient temperature, as well as charging speed. High temperatures are typically linked with a surge in battery degradation, and the same applies to fast charging, albeit to a lesser extent. These factors, over time and with age, cause a gradual decline in an electric car’s battery capacity resulting in a decrease in its range.
What Tesla's report says
As spotted by InsideEV, Tesla's report highlights the fact that battery production can generate over a whopping 6 mt. tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions - the same amount it would take an average ICE vehicle around 1.3 years to produce. Therefore, it is clear as day that it is absolutely essential for these batteries to last as long as the car itself - which can only be possible if range degradation is brought down to a minimum.
Tesla estimates that vehicles are commonly scrapped after around 200,000 miles in the United States, and around 150,000 miles in Europe. Keeping those numbers in mind, and thanks to Tesla's decade-long data collection on battery degradation, the manufacturer estimates that the batteries in its Model 3 and Model Y LR lose only around 15% of their capacity, while those in the Model S and Model X lose an even lower 12% after clocking 200,000.
These numbers are undoubtedly impressive, but it should be noted that these are the 'average' values - so there will certainly be outliers who either experience far more, or even less degradation over time. We recently covered a 2016 Tesla Model S P90D with over 330,000 miles on the clock and still on its original battery and motors, which lost only around 40 miles of range in a real-world, uncontrolled test.
Practical strategies to reduce battery degradation
Owners of EVs can adopt several means to reduce the potential battery degradation. Battery degradation is most certainly inevitable, as batteries are consumables after all - but the extent of it can be controlled. Avoiding extreme temperatures - both hot and cold, keeping the battery between 20-80%, and using rapid charging sparingly - all of these methods are known to increase the battery's lifespan, which further ensures that the vehicle remains reliable for years to come without requiring battery replacements.
