If you’re considering buying or leasing a Tesla, and want to know more about the battery tech, you’ve come to the right place. 

In this article, we’ll discuss how Tesla batteries work, the cost to replace them, and even tips on how to prolong their lifespan. 

Tesla Battery Technology

Tesla uses Lithium-Ion batteries in most of their vehicles, these use the same battery chemistry as laptop and phone batteries, but on a much larger scale. 

Lithium Ion batteries store and release energy by the moving of lithium ions across the electrodes inside the cells. This generates a voltage across the battery terminals. In a typical Tesla battery, there are over 7,000 cells working together to power the motor. 

The cells are not the only part of the battery system, though. To keep them operating at the prime temperature, complex cooling and heating systems are used. Some Teslas make use of the air conditioning system that cools the car interior, to remove heat from the batteries.

Lithium-iron-phosphate batteries (LFP) in Teslas

Alongside Lithium-Ion batteries, LFP technology is used in some Tesla models, including the single-motor Model Y and Model 3. LFP batteries use a slightly different technology that is thought to be slightly safer than Lithium-Ion batteries. 

LFP batteries have two distinct downsides: slightly reduced energy density, resulting in shorter range, and worse performance in cold weather. 

How Long Does a Tesla Battery Last?

Tesla quotes different mileage periods for each of their vehicles, but a blanket period of 8 years for all. All periods include the caveat that battery capacity should be at more than 70%.

• Model S: 150,000 miles
• Model X: 150,000 miles
• Model 3 Long Range: 120,000 miles
• Model 3 Performance: 120,000 miles
• All other models: 100,000 miles

For more information on Tesla’s warranty offering, read on to the warranty section below.

How Much Does A Replacement Tesla Battery Cost In The UK?

The average cost for Tesla battery replacement is between £13,000 and £20,000, depending on the vehicle model and age. 

One of the biggest factors on battery cost is the capacity, the performance versions have larger battery packs with more cells that cost more to replace.

• Model S: £13,000
• Model X: £14,000
• Model 3: £16,000
• Long Range or Performance Models: £18,000

Why Are Tesla Batteries So Expensive?

While all EV batteries account for a significant percentage of the cost of the car, Teslas are generally more expensive than most. This is due to a number of factors, including material costs, labour expenses and more.

Electric car batteries are packed full of expensive exotic materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel. This makes them a significant expense for even the most basic of EVs, Teslas are no exception.

Compared to some EVs, Tesla batteries cost considerably more, thanks to the complexity of the vehicle itself. In a similar way that luxury car brands such as Mercedes Benz cost more to fix, Teslas tend to have higher repair prices than the competition.

One other factor is the age of the vehicle, with some Model S Teslas approaching 12 years old, the parts availability is not as good as newer cars, meaning prices are increasing if you’re using a Tesla dealership.

Because the battery in any EV is buried underneath the passenger compartment, it isn’t a trivial task to remove it. This is one of the main reasons electric car batteries are so expensive to replace.

How To Make Your Tesla Battery Last Longer

To avoid costly battery replacements, we recommend taking care of your car’s battery from the moment you receive the car. This isn’t as simple as just having the maintenance done, how you use the car has an impact too. Advice varies from time to time and between manufacturers, but the best advice to extend the life of your Tesla battery is as follows:

1. Regular Maintenance and Monitoring of Battery Health

To keep abreast of what habits affect the battery’s health, check in regularly with the battery monitor on your vehicle. It has great information about battery temperatures, state of charge and more. 

2. Proper Charging Habits

Whilst super-charging stations are convenient, the use of them regularly can negatively affect the battery's health. Most EV manufacturers advise using the slower standard household wall chargers. 

It is said that 10% battery health can be retained over 8 years if using slow charging vs supercharging. 

H3 3. Driving Habits

One of the other factors that strongly affect battery life is temperature. Batteries do not perform well when too cold or too hot. This can be a problem in some countries where there are extreme temperatures year-round. 

One of the ways electric vehicles mitigate high temperatures is to run the battery cooling system whilst parked, this can stop the battery from overheating.

Tesla's Battery Warranty

Tesla offers quite a good warranty on their batteries compared to other brands, as we discussed above, all models come with at least 100,000 miles of warranty period, or 8 years, whichever is sooner. 

If you intend to keep your EV for over 5 years, it is vital to check the warranty period from the manufacturer. For some comparison, Renault offers 8 years/100,000 miles, Toyota offers 15 years, and Ford only offers 3 years/60,000 miles. 

If you do need to replace the battery on your Tesla or other EV, make sure you check your warranty period as early as possible, as Tesla will not honour any claims made out of the period. 

How to Claim on Battery Warranty Tesla UK

Contact the dealer or Tesla Centre you bought your car from to understand how to make a warranty claim, Tesla will need details such as date of purchase, current mileage, battery capacity and more. 

Tesla Battery Replacement

If you're considering an EV, it’s vital to ascertain what battery warranty the manufacturer gives and compare that to how long you intend to keep the car. Having to pay out of pocket for an EV battery replacement will rarely make for a cost-effective purchase!

Use Bumper for costly repairs: Bumper offers zero-interest car repair payments when taking your car to one of our many nationwide approved partners.

Author - Joseph Law

Joseph has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his five cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.