• How much of an issue is battery degradation on modern EVs?
• To answer that question, Out of Spec Testing did a range test with a 2019 Tesla Model S.
• Despite it being less than 10 years old, the car has 250,000 miles on the odometer.

Battery degradation is inevitable in electric vehicles, but that doesn’t necessarily mean an EV will suddenly become undrivable after a few years on the road. In fact, the latest research shows that modern batteries could very well outlast the vehicle itself.

But statistics are one thing, and experiencing battery degradation first-hand is another. And what better way to show that you could still drive an EV after a quarter of a million miles than to actually show you an EV that has passed the 250,000-mile mark and is still on the road?

Thanks to our friends from Out of Spec Testing, we can do just that. In the video embedded below, you’ll see a 2019 Tesla Model S Dual Motor Standard Range that’s still up and running with what is believed to be its original battery pack. When new, the car had a total battery capacity of 75 kilowatt-hours and an EPA-rated range of 285 miles.

The car was recently bought used for just $9,000–including incentives–making it quite the bargain. That said, the 250,000 miles on the odometer could spell disaster anytime for any type of car and many would steer clear of such a high-mileage car. What sets this particular Model S apart, however, is that it still has a battery warranty from Tesla.

Pre-2020 Model S EVs came with an eight-year, unlimited mileage warranty for models with a battery pack larger than 70 kWh. So this car still has two years of warranty left, making it an even better deal.

But enough about that, let’s get to the actual range test. The car was fully charged, the tire pressure was set to the manufacturer’s recommendation, the suspension was set to the lowest height possible, the A/C was set between 68 and 72 degrees and Range Mode was activated. Range Mode is no longer offered on new Tesla models, but in this older car it disconnects the rear motor, effectively making it front-wheel drive to increase efficiency.

The ambient temperature was between 62 and 43 degrees and there were 20 mph winds throughout the test route. The speed was set to 71 mph, which is 70 mph on the GPS.

The test ended after 203 miles because the car couldn’t accelerate past 67 mph, but it kept going at slower speeds. Three miles later, the car wouldn’t accelerate at all, and warned the driver to pull over safely. In total, the car drove 206 miles and used 57.8 kWh of energy, leading to an average efficiency of 3.6 miles/kWh. By comparison, a 2023 Tesla Model 3 Long Range, which is considered a much more efficient EV, averaged 3.9 miles/kWh on the same test.

What about battery degradation? Well, the test revealed approximately 23% degradation after 250,000 miles. That said, the exact degradation rate is impossible to determine because the testers didn’t know the original usable battery capacity because nobody did a range test when the car was new. That said, the range loss is not bad at all for 250,000 miles. But what do you think? Let us know in the comments below.