- EV batteries rarely fail completely, and when they do, it doesn’t necessarily mean the end for the car.
- A recent video demonstrates that battery replacement can be cost-effective and, in some cases, even an opportunity to upgrade to a better battery for a reasonable price.
- Ultimately, replacing an EV battery seems comparable in complexity and cost to replacing an engine. However, creating a battery that lasts 250,000 miles seems more achievable than building an engine that can reach the same mileage.
Many people overestimate the concerns surrounding EV battery longevity. While battery pack replacements are undoubtedly expensive, so are engine replacements. And recent studies suggest it’s easier to engineer a battery that outlasts the average car’s lifespan than an engine capable of reaching 250,000 miles without significant repairs. Modern EV batteries (post-2015) rarely experience complete failure.
However, when a battery does fail, it doesn’t spell the end of the EV’s lifespan. A recent video from Out Of Spec Renew showcases how it can actually be a chance to upgrade the vehicle.
The subject is a 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus with 144,000 miles. This is a relatively early stage for significant battery issues, as Model 3 batteries typically exceed 200,000 miles without problems. We’ve even witnessed Model S batteries lasting over 430,000 miles. But, similar to gasoline cars, some exceptions exist, and certain vehicles require premature engine or battery replacements. The cost of used Tesla batteries seems to be around $4,000, which aligns with the price of a used engine for a comparable car.
The good news for Tesla owners is that they’re not restricted to using the same battery pack that originally came with their car. This makes sourcing batteries from salvaged vehicles a viable option. Furthermore, as the video illustrates, a dead battery can be viewed as an opportunity for a substantial upgrade.
“We’re going to be swapping this pack out. The customer actually sourced the pack, but upon my recommendation, we went ahead and sourced a lithium-iron-phosphate 60 kilowatt-hour pack,” explains Alex from Out Of Spec Renew.
While most Western EVs utilize nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery chemistry, lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) technology is more prevalent in China. Despite having a lower energy density, LFP batteries compensate with increased stability. LFP packs are less sensitive to being charged to 100% and typically exhibit less overall degradation compared to NCM batteries. Therefore, by upgrading to a larger LFP pack, the customer gains extended range and improves the car’s long-term degradation performance.
The video, characteristic of Out Of Spec, is quite lengthy but well worth watching. It provides a valuable understanding of Tesla’s robust service data program—the service mode in a Tesla provides considerably more data than a gasoline car without an external scan tool—and highlights the relatively straightforward “plug-and-play” nature of new battery packs. Aside from the physical installation of the pack, the process is relatively simple. You update the pack information in the car’s computer, bleed the cooling system, and that’s essentially it.
At least, that’s how it should be. In this particular instance, Alex encountered a minor issue. During the test drive, a “power reduced” warning appeared as the inverter began to overheat. Upon closer inspection, he discovered that he had forgotten to remove a rag that was used to plug one of the battery’s coolant lines during shipping. The rag was sucked into the cooling system, and unsurprisingly, coolant lines aren’t designed to have rags inside. Once the rag was removed, everything functioned as expected.
Degradation tends to be worst during the first couple years of ownership, then levels off.
Photo by: InsideEVs
It’s no more complicated or difficult than replacing an engine. Although battery packs can be expensive, the readily available supply of Tesla batteries keeps the costs from being excessively high. Furthermore, as more vehicles are wrecked or scrapped, and as new battery prices decrease, it should become increasingly affordable.
Contact the author: Mack.Hogan@Insideevs.com