- 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 automobile.
- Regardless of consistently DC quick charging it to 100%, the battery has minimal degradation.
A few of the largest 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 most of the time have a decrease vitality density than their NMC counterparts, however the truth that most EV makers advocate charging them to 100% typically makes up for the decrease density. In the meantime, NMC batteries needs to be repeatedly charged to 80%, leaving full top-ups for lengthy journeys solely–this manner, the degradation needs to be minimal. (One research discovered that absolutely charging LFP batteries may result in extra degradation, although.)
However how does an LFP-equipped EV truly 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 specific 2022 Tesla Mannequin 3 has proved to be a very stress-free possession expertise.
The automobile was in-built Fremont, California, and has thus far pushed practically 110,000 miles. It’s powered by an LFP battery pack that sends juice to a rear-mounted electrical motor. The automobile has been used extensively as a ride-sharing car in Texas, with a lot of DC quick charging and plenty of metropolis driving.
In whole, the automobile has been DC quick charged with a whopping 22 megawatt-hours of vitality and practically 8 MWh of AC charging. Nonetheless, the drivetrain is unique and the automobile has by no means wanted any repairs–simply new tires and washer fluid, in accordance with the proprietor.
The automobile’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 automobile was taken into consideration after a full cost and a protracted journey, the theoretical battery degradation is kind of spectacular, at simply 5%.
In accordance with Kipp, the utmost driving vary is now 258 miles, down from the 272 miles when the automobile was new.
The automobile has been consistently 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 seeking to get an LFP-equipped EV, which is often cheaper than an NMC-powered one.Â
Related outcomes had been achieved by a number of different Tesla Mannequin 3 house owners, with some reporting degradation as little as 2% after 20,000 miles and round 5% after 85,000 miles.
LFP batteries often 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 provide extra vary when absolutely charged, however the industry-standard advice is to solely cost them as much as 80% if you wish to decrease degradation and to go as much as 100% when you could take a protracted 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 could be a terrific alternative.
