Measured battery life - 2019 Model 3 Std. Rng. Plus

bwilson4web

bwilson4web

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Using recorded data of my 2019 Model 3 Standard Range Plus, here is the projected battery life to 70% capacity, the value that Tesla uses for a warranty battery replacement. I am beyond warranty so I will pay about $13,000 to replace it:
Expected_battery_life.webp

  • Six years, 150,000 miles on the original battery (2170 cells)
  • Tesla battery test report 77%, 70% is Tesla threshold
  • Replacement sometime in 2025
    • $13,000 estimate
I have always known the battery would age and this is well within my expectations. Other parts age too like front end suspension and steering parts. Some minor paint scratches and other odds and ends, the car still meets my requirements for an exceptionally efficient ride, ~$2.50/100 miles City and ~$7.00/100 miles Highway.

With six years of experience, I also know how to extend the next battery service life. Since I am 75 years old, it should be good until I am 82 or older. Looking forward to the future.

Bob Wilson
 
You remind me of my son with his 2018 LR M3 bought in June/2017. It now has over 350K kms and still going. Many repairs, incl a new battery at about 200K kms (insurance claim), and many repairs, incl several suspension parts replacements. He never really liked the car, but couldn't bear losing so much on his initial purchase price. And with such low trade-in values, he decided to run it into the ground. Will be interesting to see how long it lasts. The new battery has already lost quite a big of range, down to well below 500 kms. And there are many minor things wrong with it, but not worth fixing and he can live with them.
 
insightman said:
With Elon's, er, eroding popularity, a used church-on-Sunday Tesla M3 might soon be selling for $13K.
Click to expand...
I've been shopping and the cheapest one I've found went for $25,500. Regardless, I have too much in this one to switch:
  • $8,000 - Full Self Driving bought for $6,000 in 2019
  • $1,200 - light weight rims, long lasting tires, and pizza pan wheel covers
  • $1,100 - anti-rock, clear windshield film
  • $400 - 2" receiver hitch
In a few years, perhaps:
images


Bob Wilson
 
bwilson4web said:
here is the projected battery life to 70% capacity Since I am 75 years old, it should be good until I am 82 or older.
Click to expand...
Do you do enough long-distance driving to need more than 70% of the original capacity/range of the vehicle? That's still something like 170 miles of range - which is something like 2.5 hours of highway driving...
 
The 170 mile range worked fine for me but my concern was losing more capacity.
The car just finished charging and shows 212 miles at 98% SOC ~= 216 mi at 100%. This is inline with what the expected range should be. I was hoping for 240 mi but I'll discuss that with them when I get there.

The common risk is the battery may need to go through a 'balance' cycle to get all the cells and modules on the same charge curve point.

Paid more than expected but I'll survive. I didn't realize one of my rear tires was so worn ... will be better in the future.

Bob Wilson
 
Last edited:
Speaking with the service rep, I got 'conflicting' stories. One claimed they were new cells software adjusted for the expected wear. Another said the replacement 'matches' the original battery and 'new would cost 3x.' At this point, I am satisfied with the battery repair but unhappy no one gives a consistent, believable story. My leading hypothesis:
  • software inhibited - the Canadians (and Hertz) could by a Model 3 Standard Range, 220 mi, compared to my Model 3 Standard Range Plus, 240 mi. I really doubt there were two separate battery assemblies and drive units. But a software configuration could easily "derate" the EV:
  • . upload_2025-5-10_15-51-19.webp
A more severe problem was having the front end diagnosed and fixed. There was an additional, $600 charge because one of my rear tires was too worn (my mistake for not checking.) Without calling, they went ahead and put two new Tesla tires on the rear. Worse, it looks like the alignment has a problem discovered on the drive home . . . on Friday afternoon.

So more to be done but I'll do it myself ... so I'll know who the idiot was that screwed it up. <GRINS>

Bob Wilson
 
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