February 18, 2025 – A recent study has revealed that even a Tesla Model S with extremely high mileage can still maintain impressive battery performance, making it capable of handling long-distance trips. This conclusion was drawn from an actual test conducted by the Out of Spec Testing team, who put a 2019 Tesla Model S Standard Range through its paces.
The test subject, a 2019 Tesla Model S Standard Range equipped with the original 75 kWh battery, had a range rating from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of 285 miles per charge at the time of its release. Remarkably, despite being just six years old, this particular vehicle had already clocked over 250,000 miles.
For the test, Out of Spec followed a similar protocol to previous range tests, driving the high-mileage Model S on the highway at a constant speed of 70 miles per hour until the battery was depleted. The conditions on the test day were less than ideal for electric vehicles, especially one with such high mileage. Team member Ryan Cassel noted that wind speeds reached 20 miles per hour, with temperatures fluctuating between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Despite the challenging conditions, the 2019 Model S Standard Range achieved a range of 203 miles at 70 miles per hour. According to Out of Spec’s data, the car consumed 57.8 kWh of energy during the test, averaging 3.6 miles per kWh. This figure is remarkably close to the performance of a newer Model 3 Performance under similar test conditions, which averaged 3.8 miles per kWh.
These findings align with a recent study published in Nature magazine, highlighting Tesla’s leadership in terms of range and durability. The study suggests that Tesla electric vehicles have an average lifespan of 20.3 years and a total mileage of approximately 204,000 miles, significantly exceeding the industry average of 124,000 miles.
