There’s a Tesla on our roads that’s covered 700k MILES and is still going

Is considered one of your massive considerations about switching to an electrical automotive based mostly on fears the batteries should be changed after a brief period of time because of degradation and at an astronomical value?

If that’s the case, it would put your thoughts comfy to know there are 309 Teslas at present in use in Britain with greater than 200,000 miles on the clock – and greater than 5,300 have lined in extra of 100,000.

However this pales compared to what’s believed to be the highest-mileage instance in Britain.

Official figures held by the Driver and Automobile Requirements Company (DVSA) reveals there is a Mannequin S that is being pushed round with virtually 700,000 on its odometer.

That is based mostly on mileage information recorded on the time of MOTs.

The UK-registered Tesla, which has clocked 697,744 miles at its final annual check-up, has already lined the equal of theoretically driving world wide 28 instances, says LeaseLoco, which analysed the DVSA stats.

That is Cash believes the high-mileage Mannequin S is probably going a taxi or personal rent automobile used for airport runs, which explains its monumental use.

It is a exceptional achievement given Tesla solely launched Mannequin S – its first mainstream EV – within the UK a decade in the past in the summertime of 2014.

The automotive leasing web site says there are 5 Mannequin S Teslas on UK roads which have clocked greater than half one million miles.

The second most-used Tesla – one other Mannequin S – has 564,860 miles on the clock, DVSA data recommend.

On a single cost, the newest model of the Mannequin S boasts a variety of as much as 405 miles (relying on spec), assuming no degradation over time. 

Primarily based on this vary, the 700,000 Tesla proprietor would have charged no less than 1,723 instances since they bought the automotive.

Nonetheless, earlier variants of Mannequin S provided nearer ranges of round 285 miles, which means much more connections to the grid.

What’s unclear from the DVSA data is whether or not any of those high-mileage Teslas have had their unique batteries changed underneath guarantee. 

Primarily based on the Mannequin S model with the longest vary, the proprietor of the near-700k Tesla would have charged no less than 1,723 instances

The US EV large steered by Elon Musk gives a battery and drive unit guarantee for eight years or 100,000-to-150,000 miles, whichever comes first.

The guarantee ensures the battery’s capability shall be no less than 70 per cent over the guarantee interval.

If the battery degrades greater than 70 per cent throughout the guarantee interval, Tesla will exchange it with a battery that meets the 70 per cent restrict.

Musk tweeted again in 2019 {that a} Tesla battery ought to final for 300,000 to 500,000 miles.

If that is true, there are 54 Teslas within the UK with between 300,000 and 500,000 miles on the clock that could possibly be due a brand new battery, granted they have not already had the unique unit changed.

Extremely, 5 Teslas have exceeded Elon’s prediction in the event that they have not had a substitute battery but.

In keeping with DVLA figures, there have been greater than 194,000 Tesla house owners registered to drive on UK roads in Q1 2024.

It means 0.2 per cent have greater than 200k on the clock and 2.8 per cent have lined in extra of 100,000 miles.

And it is not simply Mannequin S Teslas which have been totting up main mileage.

There are 807 Mannequin 3s in Britain with over 100,000 on the clock and 491 Mannequin Xs. 

Extremely, given there are fewer than 30 Tesla Roadsters registered in Britain, six of those have over 100k on the odometer, DVSA data recommend. 

The Mannequin S was the primary mainstream Tesla launched within the UK again in 2014. Many are used as eco-friendly personal rent, luxurious taxi and airport shuttle companies

‘The truth that a Tesla within the UK has clocked 700,000 miles is a testomony to the sturdiness and longevity of electrical autos,’ John Wilmot, chief government of LeaseLoco.

‘It is unimaginable to assume that, only a decade after the Mannequin S first hit UK roads, a number of Teslas have surpassed half-a-million miles. This milestone reveals that with correct care and upkeep, EVs can go the gap, making an electrical automotive a wise alternative for these contemplating a brand new automotive.’

Wilmot provides that regardless of the continuing considerations about battery life, most electrical automotive house owners will not have to fret about this till approach into the longer term.

Nonetheless, he says there are nonetheless hurdles in the way in which which are stopping shoppers making the swap to an electrical. 

‘The extra speedy concern is charging their EVs whereas on the street,’ he informed us.

‘EV house owners aren’t simply coping with vary nervousness – the concern of working out of energy with out discovering a charging cut-off date. 

‘They’re additionally experiencing cost nervousness – the uncertainty of whether or not a charging station shall be accessible and functioning after they want it.

‘If we wish to see a mass transition to EVs throughout the subsequent decade, these anxieties have to be addressed. 

‘Electrical automotive house owners want confidence that there shall be sufficient dependable charging factors to make sure they by no means run out of battery, and that these stations shall be operational and accessible after they want them.’