The electrification of the auto industry is now in full swing, with many automakers vowing to go all-electric in the near future. However, Tesla has been all-electric since the beginning. 

The battery in an EV is the heart and soul of the vehicle. In essence, it takes the place of the engine, so how long it lasts is an important feature. Let’s take a look at how long the battery in the Tesla Model 3 should last and what other automakers are doing in the EV market.

Tesla is no longer the only EV game in town

Being a pioneer in the field of EVs has some advantages and some disadvantages. One of the biggest disadvantages is that, if you are successful, others will want a piece of the action. Tesla gained notoriety in 2012 when it released its flagship car, the Model S. Since then, it has begun losing some of its market share to some of the biggest automakers in the world.

Companies such as Ford and Chevrolet have begun investing billions into EV production. For example, Ford’s F-150 Lightning has been so popular that they are no longer accepting orders for them for the current model year. It simply can’t keep up with the demand. 

Chevrolet has the Chevy Bolt EV and EUV with the electric versions of the Blazer, Equinox, and Silverado on the way. Hyundai is also making a solid showing in the EV market with its Ioniq 5 and Kona Electric. One of the main concerns among consumers about EVs is the battery. Range anxiety is a factor that has kept many consumers from making the transition to EVs. 

How long will the battery in a Tesla Model 3 last?

The cost to replace the battery in an EV can be very expensive. It’s not as easy as going to your local auto store and picking up a new battery for a few hundred bucks. Also, you can’t just change the battery yourself in an EV. It will have to go to the shop.

Slash Gear states that the battery should outlast the car. In April 2019, Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted on Twitter that the Tesla Model 3’s “drive unit & body is designed like a commercial truck for a million-mile life.”

As for the battery specifically, he said the Model 3 battery “should last 300k to 500k miles,” or for 1,500 cycles. To put this into perspective, according to the U.S. DOT, Americans drove an average of 14,263 miles per year in 2019. This means that the Model 3’s 300,000 to 500,000-mile lifespan is the equivalent of 21 to 35 years of operation. 

The Tesla Model 3 specs

The 2023 Tesla Model 3 has a charge range of between 272 miles for the base model and 358 miles for the Long Range model. The base model has rear-wheel drive, and the Long Range and Performance models have all-wheel drive. The Model 3 can go from 0-60 mph in as little as 3.1 seconds and has heated front and rear seats. 

As for pricing, the Model 3’s MSRP starts at $46,990. The Model 3 Long Range model begins at $55,990, while the Tesla Model 3 Performance starts at $61,990. It is also Tesla’s least expensive and most popular car.

As battery technology improves, battery life expectancy and performance will also improve. In the interim, you can expect that the battery in your Tesla will last a good long time with proper care and maintenance.