Used Tesla Model 3 Shows 70% Battery Capacity After 61,000 Miles

A used 2019 Tesla Model 3 has retained 70% of its original battery capacity after accumulating 61,000 miles, according to a battery health test conducted by its new owner.

Eric, from the YouTube channel “Drive Protected,” bought the high-mileage Model 3 for 12,000 Canadian dollars, or about 82,000 Swedish kronor. The previous owner said the car was still running on its original battery.

Rather than seeking a low-mileage used Tesla, Eric specifically wanted a car with significant mileage so he could examine how its battery had held up over time.

Tesla battery still has 70% capacity

The Model 3 had traveled 61,000 miles when Eric tested its battery health. Despite the mileage, the car was still capable of charging at up to 111 kW, although it had several other issues.

Those included problems with the tire-pressure monitoring system and brake components, along with a defective actuator that needed to be replaced. The actuator repair was estimated at around 13,000 Swedish kronor.

The more important question for Eric was how much capacity remained in the original battery.

He attempted to run Tesla’s battery health test, but initially ran into another problem: The vehicle’s 12-volt battery appeared to be completely dead, preventing the test from starting.

After addressing the issue, Eric was eventually able to run the battery health test. The process took about 10 hours to complete, according to CarUp.

Eric had expected the battery to retain around 60% of its original capacity. Instead, the test reported that the battery had 70% of its capacity remaining.

According to Eric, Tesla’s test also indicated that the vehicle was still using its original battery.

A high-mileage Tesla battery test

The result gives Eric a positive assessment of the used Model 3’s battery condition, particularly given the vehicle’s mileage.

The battery result was also important to Eric because he wanted to determine whether buying the high-mileage Tesla had ultimately been a good decision.

For a vehicle purchased specifically because of its high mileage, finding that the original battery retained 70% of its reported capacity was a better result than he expected.

The Model 3 still requires some repairs, but the battery test provides a more encouraging picture of how its original battery has held up after 61,000 miles.

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