Different charging patterns and the age of the battery can affect how much battery life it loses over time.
There is no recipe for keeping your EV's ideal 100 percent of its original range after miles accumulated, at least not yet.. But with a certain number of cycles, EV owners can limit battery wear and tear to a minimum over time.
For the entry-level rear-wheel drive Tesla Model 3 with a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, Tesla says one of the best ways to minimize battery drain is to fully charge it to 100 percent at least once a week.
But will this really ensure the best preservation of the range? How does the battery's health change if you regularly charge it to 80 percent instead of 100 percent? And what is the average degradation percentage of a Model 3 LFP battery? Some owners have shared their observations on Reddit to help answer these questions.
Before that, here's some important battery information: LFP batteries tend to be more affordable and have a longer charge cycle compared to their NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) counterparts, making them more suitable for entry-level models like the Model 3 with rear wheel drive.
In recent years, car manufacturers have moved away from metals such as cobalt for certain applications due to ethical concerns.. LFP batteries, despite their lower energy consumption and comparatively shorter range, have become quite popular due to their cost-effectiveness. Tesla uses CATL LFP batteries for standard Model 3 and Model Y vehicles worldwide.
Moving on, dozens of Model 3 LFP battery owners seem happy with their EVs. Model 3s aged 10 to 12 months seemed to experience a similar level of degradation—about two percent—in a variety of use cases, ranging from charging to 80 or 100 percent daily or just once a week.
Several owners repeated that battery age was a bigger deterioration factor than mileage, at least in the first few years. Please note that factors such as driving style, climate, maintenance and charging patterns are among several factors that will affect the long-term range of your electric vehicle.
However, for one owner, the maximum range dropped by 2.2 percent after driving more than 20,000 miles.
Model 3 LFP purchased in January 2023. 21,504 miles, full charge shows range of 266 miles compared to initial range of 272 miles, 2.2 percent worse. I live in an apartment, so I charge 100 percent whenever possible and don't worry about it. I'm very pleased with the performance and battery life. I'm really pleased that the battery statistically lasts longer, and the fact that it's safer and doesn't use conflict minerals is also a great bonus. Posted by a user with the nickname @TechSupportTime on Reddit.
However, there were some exceptions. Older models naturally suffered more degradation, and another owner said his Model 3 lost nearly five percent of its range in two years.
2022 RWD LFP. 85,000 miles. [Bought model 3] about two years ago (November 2021). Current maximum range is 259 miles. Therefore, approximately 4.8 percent degradation. Charges to 100 percent daily, but I mostly use the car for 30 minutes after charging is complete (so the car doesn't stay at 100 percent for long). Posted by a user with the nickname @tontot on Reddit.
It is also possible that for some owners the Battery Management System (BMS) may not be displaying true range due to inaccurate calibration and voltage variations in individual cells according to the Tessie data logging app. But the BMS can be easily calibrated by allowing the range to drop to 10 percent for an hour and then charge to 100 percent. This allows the system to reset and show a more accurate range according to Tessie.
Nine month old [model 3] rear wheel drive with 13,684 miles. Charge to 100 percent five days a week and Tessie says I'm down 2.3 percent. I'm not worried about it and neither should you do what the manual says and enjoy the car. The BMS is smart and the battery will be great. This is written by a user with the nickname @krdell on Reddit.
Dozens of other owners also shared tips for getting the most range from the LFP Model 3 battery over time. The insights from these drivers, who have already put thousands of miles in their electric vehicles, can help those who have just purchased a new Tesla.