In public discourse, there are all kinds of myths about the long-term reliability of electric cars in general and Teslas in particular. "The battery is significantly weaker", "The materials and workmanship are not durable", "All this technology is sure to break down quickly", - many of these statements have been heard by everyone. But what is the reality? How does a Tesla feel after more than 100,000 kilometers?
YouTuber Andy Slye has answered precisely these questions in a video. He has driven his Tesla Model 3 over 100,000 miles (i.e. almost 160,000 kilometers) in four years. We have summarized the most important findings for you here.
Tesla condition after 100,000 kilometers
Myth 1: Battery and tires
Fact is: Batteries actually lose capacity over time. This is due to chemical reasons and cannot be avoided today. In the case of the Model 3 tested, however, the loss over 4 years was a reasonable 2.2%.
The tires also lasted a surprisingly long time for an electric car, only having to be replaced after almost 60,000 kilometers - a good value even for a combustion engine. However, if you buy a more powerful Tesla with all-wheel drive, you will probably have to change the tires much sooner.
Myth 2: Processing
As Andy Slye stated in the video, the materials and workmanship are okay, but not exactly luxurious. After 100,000 miles, one or two pieces of trim, such as on the B-pillar, had actually come off, which definitely devalued the interior visually.
If you are used to German premium brands, you may be a little disappointed here. However, it is also worth mentioning that the test car was one of the first Model 3s to be produced. Since then, the quality at Tesla is known to have improved significantly.
Myth 3: Technology
As with smartphones and tablets, it would not be surprising if the performance of the central computer or display were to decrease over the years. According to Slye, however, this is not the case and operation feels like it did on day one. In addition, the possibilities have grown steadily through constant over-the-air updates and have made the Model 3 even more interesting over time.
The performance of the autopilot has also not decreased at all and has made life with the Tesla very pleasant.
