EV Owners Hit 100K Miles With Batteries Still Going Strong

When a Tesla Model 3 owner asked Reddit if anyone's electric vehicle had survived past 100,000 miles without major problems, hundreds of drivers responded with a refreshing answer: their batteries are doing just fine.

The thread on r/electricvehicles became an unexpected reality check for anyone worried that EVs become expensive nightmares after hitting six figures on the odometer. Comment after comment told the same story: batteries weren't the problem.

One BMW i3 owner reported 170,000 miles with their battery still at 92% health. The biggest repair? A broken seat heater sensor that cost $10 to fix.

Another driver with 105,000 miles listed their total expenses: tires, a 12-volt battery, and wiper blades. "I'll never financially recover from this," they joked.

The maintenance issues that did pop up sounded remarkably ordinary. Drivers mentioned replacing tires, suspension components, cabin filters, and wiper fluid. These are the same expenses anyone with a gas-powered car would recognize.

The Bright Side

The Reddit thread reveals something many potential EV buyers don't realize: these vehicles often require less maintenance than traditional cars. No oil changes, fewer engine parts to wear out, and less heat stress mean lower costs over time.

Several owners pointed out that battery age matters more than mileage alone. One driver noted that time degrades batteries more than distance, though both high-mileage and older EVs in the thread were still performing well.

Some commenters shared charging tips that may help extend battery life: avoid leaving it at full charge or completely empty most of the time, and save 100% charges for longer trips. Still, others reported excellent battery health despite less careful charging habits.

The broader lesson goes beyond batteries. A high-mileage EV with a history of simple tire and filter changes might be a smarter purchase than a lower-mileage gas car facing potential engine or transmission repairs.

One owner captured the sentiment perfectly: "Complete uneventful ownership." For drivers worried about taking the electric plunge, these real-world experiences suggest the future might be less expensive and more reliable than they feared.