The world is shifting toward a greener, carbon-free future, and electric vehicles are one big switch in that direction.

If you settled on getting a Tesla electric car, you must wonder, “How long do Tesla cars last?”

Tesla car batteries supposedly have a lifespan of between 300,000 to 500,000 miles. Plus, electric motors have fewer moving parts than combustion engines do, which limits the wear and tear of the car. So, Tesla vehicles will outstand time better than conventional cars.

In this article, we’ll dive deeper into the lifetime of Tesla cars, the factors that affect battery life, and a few tips on maximizing your battery's efficiency and range.

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You first need to know the difference between the electric vehicle’s range and battery life, as many people use these two terms interchangeably.

Battery range is how long the car can go on a single charge, while battery life expresses the duration you get to use your car before you need a new battery pack.

It’s also important to note that when the battery life decreases, the vehicle’s range diminishes accordingly.

With that said, it’s clear that the longer the range and the battery life, the better the car.

What Is the Difference Between Battery Range and Battery Life?

Tesla has been at the forefront of the electric cars industry because they provide high-quality batteries that have a long lifespan.

Tesla started using lithium-iron-phosphate batteries instead of nickel-cobalt ones. This transition in battery chemistry has many advantages.

For instance, lithium-iron-phosphate batteries have more stable chemistry and are less of a fire hazard than nickel-cobalt batteries. 

On top of that, the performance of lithium-iron-phosphate batteries doesn’t degrade over time as fast as batteries made of nickel-cobalt.

The company claims that the battery pack should last for around 300,000-500,000 miles, or about 25-35 years, before it needs replacement.

However, Tesla is relatively new, and the produced cars haven’t been put to test for long enough to confirm those claims.

As for the battery range, Tesla cars can go for 267-375 miles after one charge, which is the highest range compared to other brands. Still, The range will slightly differ from one model to another.

What Are the Range and Battery Life of Tesla Cars?

Over time, it’s normal for a car battery’s capacity to drop. Luckily, Tesla offers an eight-year warranty for all its vehicles, or what is equivalent to 150,000 mileage use.

During the warranty, the car is supposed to retain a minimum of 70% of its original capacity. Therefore, the company will cover any damage that might occur to the battery within that time frame or miles of use.

How Long Is Tesla Cars’ Warranty?

Tesla’s stated values for range and battery life are estimated for ideal conditions, while in reality, multiple factors will affect those numbers. Those factors include:

A rule of thumb is the more frequently you charge a battery, the lower its capacity gets. For that reason, any factor that depletes the energy, and increases the recharge times, will eventually decrease the battery’s life.

Battery percentage can go from 10% to 80% in only half an hour using Tesla’s supercharger network.

The superchargers deliver voltage up to 125kW, which is useful for very long trips. The drawback of such a high energy flow is the quick-wear out of the battery.

A key factor that influences the battery capacity is your driving pattern. 

Although Tesla cars can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.4 seconds, erratic driving will rapidly consume energy and increase the plugin times.

Currently, Tesla offers four main models on the market, and they’re:

The above models differ in design and manufacturing parts. Thus, their ranges and battery lives won’t be the same.

As the battery-size increases, the amount of energy it could store will escalate. 

This will affect how long the car can go before it needs to recharge, and less recharging means a longer lifespan.

Low-weight models use electricity more efficiently and minimize the tire and air friction of the car. Subsequently, the consumed energy and the required recharges will be less. 

What Are the Factors That Affect the Battery Life and Range?

Getting the most out of your Tesla is not impossible. Now that we discussed the different factors influencing energy usage and battery life, determining what good practices to follow will be easier.

To extend your car’s range and battery life, you should:

Every charge cycle can lower your battery life a bit.

That’s why charging your Tesla car battery for a longer time to a fuller state is better than random short periods of charging that lead to increased charging recurrence.

Fully charging your Tesla car battery might take anywhere from one to 12 hours, depending on the type of charger you’ll use.

As we mentioned above, supercharges will adversely affect your car’s battery. Alternatively, use standard outlets that pump in lower energy to your car’s battery over a longer time frame.

You’re less likely to encounter malfunctions if you know how to care for your car.

Make sure your tires are fully inflated and that the car isn’t overloaded because this will reduce the stress on the battery. Additionally, drive without excessive speed or forceful stops to preserve your battery’s life.

How to Maximize the Battery Life of a Tesla Car?

Elon Musk has stated that Tesla is working on a new battery that should have a lifespan of one million miles. Tesla took the initiative in making this battery by funding research on lithium-ion batteries and their ability to power electricity for an electric car for one million miles.

This type of battery is still a work in progress, but it would be a new era for the industry of electric vehicles.

The Million-Mile Battery

When it comes to the question, “How long do Tesla cars last?” The answer is yet to be discovered.

Tesla claims an estimated battery life ranging between 300,000-500,000 miles. Yet, the actual lifespan depends on multiple factors like the driving style, the weather, the charging pattern, and the car model itself.

Thus, practices like slow driving, keeping your car in good condition, using slower chargers, and scheduling your charges can help you make the best out of your battery and make your Tesla car last longer.

How Long Do Tesla Cars Last?

What Is the Difference Between Battery Range and Battery Life?

What Are the Range and Battery Life of Tesla Cars?

How Long Is Tesla Cars’ Warranty?

What Are the Factors That Affect the Battery Life and Range?

How to Maximize the Battery Life of a Tesla Car?

The Million-Mile Battery

Conclusion

How Long Do Tesla Cars Last?

What Is the Difference Between Battery Range and Battery Life?

What Are the Range and Battery Life of Tesla Cars?

How Long Is Tesla Cars’ Warranty?

What Are the Factors That Affect the Battery Life and Range?

How to Maximize the Battery Life of a Tesla Car?

The Million-Mile Battery

Conclusion

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