Tesla Battery Replacement Costs

[The Critic]

https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/service-says-22k-for-new-battery-on-2012-model-s.221438/

Kind of a corner case situation, but $22K to do a Model S battery out-of-warranty. Basically same ballpark as a new long block engine from the dealer on a higher-end 4-cyl car.

 

[RooflessVW]

If I'm reading that correctly, that's his second battery. It only lasted 1.5 years.

Top quality.

 

[The Critic]

If I'm reading that correctly, that's his second battery. It only lasted 1.5 years.

Top quality.

First one was a warranty replacement. Sounds like their "reman" had some issues.

 

[RooflessVW]

First one was a warranty replacement. Sounds like their "reman" had some issues.

And they hung him out to dry on it, because of course they did.

I don't see a mention of mileage...

 

[Cujet]

As I understand it, those batteries can be repaired by a company called Gruber. For a fraction of the cost. However, it's still not cheap at about $2K per bad module.

https://insideevs.com/news/451095/tesla-model-s-battery-pack-repair-gruber-motors/

As I've mentioned before, I drive these things often and know many owners of early Model S cars. Every one of my friends with the early cars has had a warranty replacement battery. Tesla was good enough to provide batteries with increased capacity to many owners. My friend with the P85D got a 90KWh battery pack and I believe the guy with the 60 got a 75 (by memory). It does seem that the smaller battery packs "gave up the ghost" earlier.

 

[Silver]

I think a lot of these type things are costed based on ratios.

For example say this $22,000 car needs a $22,000 battery. You could easily spend the value of a vehicle on an engine replacement if you paid the dealer to do it.

I think it's downright disgusting, but I can definitely see where they get their numbers ignoring actual cost.

 

[pbm]

I think it's obvious that 'electric' vehicles aren't the panacea that some want us to believe.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

First one was a warranty replacement. Sounds like their "reman" had some issues.

Maybe the reman was done by Cardone

 

[vw7674]

First one was a warranty replacement. Sounds like their "reman" had some issues.

their story is they cull the low-performing cells.
Seems like ten years(ish), they are all prone to be low-performing cells.
How much is a new battery pack, non-refurb? Actual cost. ?
edit: I see the poster 'assumed a level of risk..' running an EV for 8 1/2 years.
and I guess a 'new' pack is $22k, but they send you out the door with a 1/2 life warranty. Strange. And not financially coherent. The old tesla is worth the pack you're willing to buy for it. And no more.

 

[PandaBear]

Most products have unforeseen design problem early on, so I'd not be surprised if a new pack is "new" they will have some problem until a couple years in, unless you are buying a product that's a copy of a boring design from another company so you are buying a boring old mature design.

Most of the time out of warranty replacement would be with junkyard swap. A lot of Tesla got totaled because body work is expensive and parts are expensive, and the pack has quite a lot of value, so it is worth "parting out" to fix multiple other Tesla.

I would never buy a small volume production car, gasoline or electric. Finding parts when it is old would be a big problem.

 

[atikovi]

First one was a warranty replacement. Sounds like their "reman" had some issues.

Back in the day, the Honda Insight warranty replacements crapped out right after their 3/36 warranty expired. Rumor has it they just cherry picked the best cells from bad batteries to use in the replacements.

 

[atikovi]

I think it's obvious that 'electric' vehicles aren't the panacea that some want us to believe.

You have look at them as being disposable cars. Yet, a 2012 year old Leaf that is basically worthless if the battery goes out, still brings $4-5K.

 

[Trav]

https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/service-says-22k-for-new-battery-on-2012-model-s.221438/

Kind of a corner case situation, but $22K to do a Model S battery out-of-warranty. Basically same ballpark as a new long block engine from the dealer on a higher-end 4-cyl car.

Okay but with reasonable care the gas engine can go 200K and more. The longer and more these EV vehicles are out there they will be exposed for just how expensive they really are. This guy saved a bunch on gas but spent more than a new car and a lot of time and electricity doing it. A very poor deal IMHO.

 

[pbm]

Okay but with reasonable care the gas engine can go 200K and more. The longer and more these EV vehicles are out there they will be exposed for just how expensive they really are. This guy saved a bunch on gas but spent more than a new car and a lot of time and electricity doing it. A very poor deal IMHO.

Yes...but it's keeping our pols and their donors (who see $$$$) very happy...

 

[The Critic]

Okay but with reasonable care the gas engine can go 200K and more.

Definitely not in Euro-land these days.

 

[skyactiv]

Okay but with reasonable care the gas engine can go 200K and more. The longer and more these EV vehicles are out there they will be exposed for just how expensive they really are. This guy saved a bunch on gas but spent more than a new car and a lot of time and electricity doing it. A very poor deal IMHO.

A co-worker bought a used Nissan Leaf cheap. Said it only has a 40 mile range.

 

[MalibuRam65]

Okay but with reasonable care the gas engine can go 200K and more. The longer and more these EV vehicles are out there they will be exposed for just how expensive they really are. This guy saved a bunch on gas but spent more than a new car and a lot of time and electricity doing it. A very poor deal IMHO.

He should of brought a 2012 Camry motor still would of been running Strong at 200k . Heck even a 2.4 Ecotec will still be fine at 200k if taken care of

 

[PandaBear]

A co-worker bought a used Nissan Leaf cheap. Said it only has a 40 mile range.

You have look at them as being disposable cars. Yet, a 2012 year old Leaf that is basically worthless if the battery goes out, still brings $4-5K.

Leaf has a bad design, but they don't suddenly die because of that, just deteriorate their range way faster than the original customer anticipation.

Those 4-5k Leaf would still be able to go 20 miles round trip to school and back, so the car is still valuable for that. Now if you have a bad battery that short out and the car won't work until it is replaced, then the car is worth whatever a working one subtract a junkyard swap battery cost. If the battery is worth more than the used car due to shortage, then the car is worth scrap value for parting out to collision repair or being a donor for a crash replacement with battery carry over.

As I always said, reliability is never about "in theory" but more about manufacturer's effort. Prius in theory would be a bad car but proven in reality, it is the most reliable car on the road. Tesla can make a gas car and still be the least reliable one because they are small volume boutique that has a move fast and break things mentality.

 

[atikovi]

Those 4-5k Leaf would still be able to go 20 miles round trip to school and back, so the car is still valuable for that.

So can a $500 beater, and more.

 

[PandaBear]

So can a $500 beater, and more.

Depends on where you are, they pay you $1200 to crush a working beater here so nope, no such thing as $500 beater here. A working reliable car that starts every day would be at least 3k.