- The Tesla Mannequin 3 with an LFP battery pack continues to be completely usable after 110,000 miles.
- That is what one proprietor says about his automotive.
- Regardless of always DC quick charging it to 100%, the battery has minimal degradation.
A number of the greatest benefits of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, in comparison with nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) cells, are decrease manufacturing prices and minimal degradation over time, even when absolutely charged regularly.
Granted, LFP batteries as a rule have a decrease vitality density than their NMC counterparts, however the truth that most EV makers advocate charging them to 100% generally makes up for the decrease density. In the meantime, NMC batteries ought to be usually charged to 80%, leaving full top-ups for lengthy journeys solely–this manner, the degradation ought to be minimal. (One research discovered that absolutely charging LFP batteries may result in extra degradation, although.)
However how does an LFP-equipped EV really fare in the true world? Fairly good, because it seems. As you’ll see within the video embedded beneath, revealed by Brandon Kipp on YouTube, this explicit 2022 Tesla Mannequin 3 has proved to be a very stress-free possession expertise.
The automotive was inbuilt Fremont, California, and has to date pushed almost 110,000 miles. It’s powered by an LFP battery pack that sends juice to a rear-mounted electrical motor. The automotive has been used extensively as a ride-sharing car in Texas, with numerous DC quick charging and plenty of metropolis driving.
In complete, the automotive has been DC quick charged with a whopping 22 megawatt-hours of vitality and almost 8 MWh of AC charging. Nonetheless, the drivetrain is authentic and the automotive has by no means wanted any repairs–simply new tires and washer fluid, in response to the proprietor.
The automotive’s battery initially had a usable capability of 57.5 kWh. Now, after performing some fast maths the place the whole driving vary of the automotive was taken under consideration after a full cost and an extended journey, the theoretical battery degradation is sort of spectacular, at simply 5%.
Based on Kipp, the utmost driving vary is now 258 miles, down from the 272 miles when the automotive was new.
The automotive has been always charged as much as 100%, as per Tesla’s suggestions, which means the entire pack has been used extensively and with minimal degradation. That’s excellent news for anybody trying to get an LFP-equipped EV, which is normally cheaper than an NMC-powered one.Â
Related outcomes had been achieved by a number of different Tesla Mannequin 3 homeowners, with some reporting degradation as little as 2% after 20,000 miles and round 5% after 85,000 miles.
LFP batteries normally have a decrease vitality density than their NMC counterparts, which ends up in a decrease vary ranking, however the upside is that they’re cheaper to make and most carmakers advocate charging them to 100% to protect their life. In the meantime, NMC batteries supply extra vary when absolutely charged, however the industry-standard advice is to solely cost them as much as 80% if you wish to reduce degradation and to go as much as 100% when you have to take an extended journey.
All this being stated, Tesla discontinued the LFP-powered Mannequin 3 in the USA in October of final yr, leaving simply NMC-powered fashions within the portfolio. However in case you’re searching for a used EV, this is likely to be an awesome alternative.