Out-of-Warranty Tesla Battery Life: The TRUTH

Summary

The video script discusses the user's experience with their 2018 Tesla Model 3, which has surpassed 120,000 miles, saving them a significant amount on fuel and oil. However, their battery warranty has expired, raising concerns about potential replacement costs. Despite Tesla's 2022 impact report suggesting minimal battery degradation, the user conducts a battery health test, revealing a concerning 7% battery health. The video explores methods to assess battery health, including using the Recurate tool and performing an official test from the car's service menu. The user decides to continue using the vehicle, despite the low battery health score, based on their current range and charging habits.

Takeaways

• 🚗 The user's 2018 Tesla Model 3 has surpassed 120,000 miles, saving a significant amount on gas and oil expenses.
• 💸 With the battery warranty expired, there's a concern about potential high costs associated with battery replacement in the future.
• 🔋 Tesla's 2022 impact report suggests that battery degradation is minimal, with batteries losing only 12% of their capacity after 200,000 miles.
• 📉 The user's Tesla Model 3 has an estimated range of 280 miles, which is about 90% of its original range, indicating good battery health.
• 🔌 Lithium-ion batteries in EVs are designed differently from those in mobile devices, allowing for more cycles and longer life.
• 🌡️ Electric vehicles have thermal management systems that help maintain optimal conditions for battery performance.
• 🛠️ Tesla's battery warranty for Long Range Model 3 covers 8 years or 120,000 miles, ensuring at least 70% capacity retention.
• 🔄 Recurrent is a free software tool that provides battery performance reports and connects EV owners with specialist dealerships.
• 🧠 The battery health test result for the user's Model 3 showed 7% health, raising concerns despite the car's good estimated range.
• 💰 A complete battery replacement for a Model 3 can be expensive, with a 2020 invoice showing costs around $14,250 in parts and $2,300 in labor.
• 🚫 The user decides to continue using the car, despite the low battery health percentage, due to the still-impressive estimated range and personal preference.

Q & A

What is the total distance the user has driven on their 2018 Tesla Model 3?

The user has driven 120,000 miles on their 2018 Tesla Model 3.

What is the user's concern regarding the battery warranty of their Tesla Model 3?

The user is concerned that their battery warranty has expired, which could potentially lead to high costs if the battery needs to be replaced.

How does the user describe the fear of battery failure in electric vehicles?

The user compares the fear of battery failure to swimming in the ocean with the risk of a shark attack, signifying it as a low probability event but still a cause of concern.

What does Tesla's 2022 impact report suggest about battery degradation?

Tesla's 2022 impact report suggests that even after 200,000 miles, their batteries only lose an average of 12% of their capacity, indicating minimal degradation.

How does the user plan to test the battery health of their Tesla Model 3?

The user plans to use a software tool called Recurrent to generate battery performance reports and also perform an official battery health test from the car's service menu.

What is the significance of the battery in an electric vehicle?

The battery is the most important and most expensive component of an electric vehicle, comparable to Michael Jordan in an NBA team.

What is the user's estimated range on a full charge when they first got their Model 3?

The estimated range on a full charge when the user first got their Model 3 was 310 miles.

What is the user's current estimated range after driving 120,000 miles?

After driving 120,000 miles, the user's current estimated range is approximately 280 miles.

What does the battery health test result show for the user's Tesla Model 3?

The battery health test result shows a battery health of 7% for the user's Tesla Model 3.

What is the user's decision regarding their Tesla Model 3 with a battery health of 7%?

The user decides to keep driving the Model 3, despite the low battery health, as they still get an estimated range of around 280 miles.

What is the approximate cost for a battery replacement for a Tesla Model 3 based on a 2020 invoice?

Based on a 2020 invoice, a complete 75 kilowatt hour battery replacement for a Model 3 cost about $14,250 in parts and $2,300 in labor.

How does the user maintain their battery and what are their charging habits?

The user follows healthy charging habits by avoiding supercharging, charging mostly at home, charging only to 80% for daily driving, and rarely going below 20% state of charge.