A Tesla Model S or Model X will retain 88% of its battery capacity at the 200,000-mile mark, the company says. At that point, Tesla believes, its cars are likely to be scrapped.
The numbers come from Tesla’s 2022 Impact Report — a summary of how the company sees its impact on the environment and the cultures where it sells cars.
Related: Electric Car Range — Everything You Need to Know
Nonprofit organizations routinely provide impact reports. Not all for-profit companies do so. But Tesla says its “mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.” So the company, despite its famously murky communications, provides a detailed impact report every year.
The latest version includes the claim that “even after 200,000 miles of usage, our batteries lose just 12% of their capacity on average.” The company estimates that “a vehicle gets scrapped after approximately 200,000 miles of usage in the U.S. and roughly 150,000 miles in Europe.”
Tesla provides no information on how it reached its conclusion, saying only that “since we’ve been selling EVs for over a decade, we have a reliable data set that shows us battery degradation over time.” It also notes that mileage is not the only factor affecting battery life. The numbers come from a study of Model S and X batteries, Tesla says.
Related: Study — These EVs Need Their Batteries Replaced Most Often
Some Model Y SUVs and Model 3 sedans use a different battery chemistry. The company says it plans to disclose numbers on those batteries when it has sufficient data.
Every aspect of electric car ownership seems to be controversial as Americans get to know a new technology. But it’s worth noting that gasoline-powered cars lose range and efficiency over time as well.
Tesla offers different warranties for different batteries. The battery found in the Model S and Model X is covered for eight years or 150,000 miles. Model 3 sedans get an 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty. Model Y SUVs are covered for eight years or 120,000 miles.
