Beyond Imagination! Tesla Reports EV Batteries Still Maintain 80% Capacity After 200,000 Miles

2025-07-25 | Calvin

On July 2, Tesla released the latest statistics on the lifespan of its electric vehicle batteries. The data shows that over the course of about a decade of mass sales of Tesla electric vehicles, the battery capacity drops to 80% of its original capacity after an average of 200,000 miles (approximately 320,000 kilometers), regardless of the battery's chemical composition.

However, in the European market, where local driving distances are generally lower than in the United States, Tesla's battery capacity reaches 80% much earlier. On average, this degradation occurs after around 150,000 miles (approximately 241,000 kilometers), indicating a 20% drop in capacity. This phenomenon suggests that, in addition to mileage, the age of the battery also plays an important role. Whether a vehicle owner in the U.S. drives 20,000 miles per year or an owner in Europe drives 15,000 miles annually, the battery in both vehicles will experience a 20% capacity degradation over the same time frame.

Tesla emphasizes that, despite the gradual decrease in battery capacity, the battery's lifespan still far exceeds the lifespan of the vehicle itself. After more than ten years and 200,000 miles of use, owners typically look to upgrade their vehicles.

Currently, the average vehicle lifespan on public roads in the U.S. is rapidly approaching 13 years, setting a new record. This means that Tesla may need to make further improvements in terms of battery lifespan and warranty policies. Chinese companies have already begun efforts in this direction, with the world’s largest battery manufacturer, CATL, collaborating with electric vehicle maker NIO to standardize battery warranties for 15 years and reduce battery capacity degradation to 15%.

It remains unclear whether Tesla will follow suit. Tesla's lithium iron phosphate battery plant in the U.S. is nearing completion, and its production equipment will be provided by CATL.