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Tesla has been producing electric vehicles successfully for years now. But since electric cars are still relatively new, there isn’t too much of a history of base opinions on. Braden Carlson says that this is an example of a “modern EV with hefty extended use,” and that is a valid statement. What sort of upkeep has this 2015 Tesla Model S 70D needed during its long life?

This 2015 Tesla Model S 70D has 424,000 original miles

How does the 2015 Tesla Model S 70D hold up?
How did the 2015 Tesla Model S 70D hold up after more than 400,000 miles? | Tesla

The 2015 Tesla Model S 70D was a big deal when it first hit the scene. To be fair, it is still a big deal now, too. MotorBiscuit’s Braden Carlson had the opportunity to drive a 2015 70D that the original owner used for Uber for more than 400,000 miles. How has the electric vehicle held up to all of that wear and tear?

The 70D model is not technically a performance model, but it has dual motors and a smaller battery. Inside EVs says that with 424,000 original miles, it might be one of the highest-mileage Tesla’s out there. Many of the policies and technology on the 2015 Model S are no longer relevant. Case in point: The 2015 Model S used to come with an unlimited-mileage powertrain warranty. That is no longer the situation.

Battery technology has come a long way since 2015. The vehicle in this video had the battery replaced under warranty at 250,000 miles, which is pretty high. Tesla now replaces batteries at 150,000 miles.

This 2015 Tesla Model S 70D has been well cared for by the owners

The motor lasted until 380,000 before it needed to be replaced, which is still many miles. Since it was used as an Uber initially, the owners put around 70,000 miles a year on this Model S. It also still has the original rear drive unit.

The 2015 70D has had the rear axels replaced and the front upper control arms. The owner also replaced the rear upper links, front lower fore links, and front aft links at the same time (around 375,000 miles). The owner replaces the Media Control Unit at 335,000 miles and the AC compressor around 300,00 miles.

With so many miles, the Tesla Model S has some regular wear and tear. Any car would show wear and tear after more than 400,000 miles. Overall, the interior and exterior of this particular electric car are in great shape. Carlson notes a few issues with the window and other minute details but nothing glaring. It still has Tesla Autopilot available for use, too.

For now, this electric vehicle is aging like a fine wine

Black 2015 Tesla Model S parked in front of Giant Dipper Rollercoaster in San Diego, California
High-Mileage 2015 Tesla Model S | MotorBiscuit, YouTube

Back in 2015, early buyers were gifted unlimited Tesla Supercharger access. That is a pretty invaluable perk these days, as the cost keeps going up. After giving it a bit of a test, this 2015 Tesla Model S 70D didn’t disappoint. Carlson even delivered some food in the EV and had no complaints.

When he interviewed some other Tesla drivers, the drivers didn’t seem too concerned about the longevity of the EV. In other cases, the owners were concerned but willing to take the risk. “Am I worried about the longevity? Absolutely, but I think it’s because the jury’s still out on Some cars report a million miles and stuff like that, so I’m willing to take that chance because of the other immediate benefits that I get owning the vehicle,” Tesla owner David said.

As time marches on, there will likely be more examples of high-mileage Tesla EVs popping up. If nothing else, it shows potential buyers the importance of proper maintenance and upkeep. Since electric vehicle technology has come such a long way since 2015, it is exciting to think about what might be in the store the future of EVs and hybrid vehicles.

This article was updated on 10/14/2022

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