- The Tesla Mannequin 3 with an LFP battery pack remains 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 frequently.
Granted, LFP batteries as a rule have a decrease power density than their NMC counterparts, however the truth that most EV makers suggest charging them to 100% typically makes up for the decrease density. In the meantime, NMC batteries needs to be recurrently charged to 80%, leaving full top-ups for lengthy journeys solely–this fashion, the degradation needs to be minimal. (One examine discovered that absolutely charging LFP batteries may also result in extra degradation, although.)
However how does an LFP-equipped EV truly fare in the actual 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 totally stress-free possession expertise.
The automobile was in-built Fremont, California, and has up to now pushed almost 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 power and almost 8 MWh of AC charging. Nonetheless, the drivetrain is authentic and the automobile has by no means wanted any repairs–simply new tires and washer fluid, in keeping with the proprietor.
The automobile’s battery initially had a usable capability of 57.5 kWh. Now, after doing a little 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 sort of spectacular, at simply 5%.
In line 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, that 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
Comparable outcomes have 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 normally have a decrease power 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 suggest charging them to 100% to protect their life. In the meantime, NMC batteries supply extra vary when absolutely charged, however the industry-standard suggestion is to solely cost them as much as 80% if you wish to decrease degradation and to go as much as 100% when it is advisable to take a protracted journey.
All this being mentioned, Tesla discontinued the LFP-powered Mannequin 3 in the USA in October of final 12 months, leaving simply NMC-powered fashions within the portfolio. However for those who’re in search of a used EV, this may be an important alternative.
