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2015 Model S 85D - Significant Range Loss Lately, What's Normal Degradation?

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Mike T. · rep 0 · May 25, 4:04 AM · 1 replies · solved · Question

Vehicle: 2015 Tesla Model S 85D

Hey everyone,

I've had my 2015 Tesla Model S 85D for a while now, and recently I've noticed a pretty significant drop in my usable range. When I bought it, I was consistently getting around 230-240 miles on a full charge, but now it feels like I'm lucky to hit 200, even with conservative driving.

It also seems to charge a bit faster than it used to, which makes me think the battery capacity is indeed lower. Is this just normal degradation for a car of this age, or could something else be going on? I'm curious what other long-term 85D owners have experienced. Any tips on checking battery health more accurately or things I should look out for?

✓ Accepted solution

ClearTheCode Admin

ClearTheCode Team · rep 0 · May 25, 4:04 AM

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ClearTheCode admin answer:

  1. Understand Normal Degradation: Battery degradation is a natural process for all lithium-ion batteries, including those in your Tesla. Over time and cycles, the battery's ability to hold a full charge diminishes. For a 2015 Model S 85D, a noticeable drop in range after several years and many charge cycles is expected. Factors like frequent Supercharging, consistently charging to 100%, and extreme temperatures can accelerate this.
  2. Check Battery Health: While Tesla doesn't provide a direct 'State of Health' percentage to the user, you can monitor your full charge range over time. If you notice a sudden, drastic drop (e.g., more than 10-15% in a short period) or unusual charging behavior (like extremely fast charging to full, then rapid discharge), it might warrant further investigation. Some third-party apps can estimate battery health, but their accuracy varies.
  3. Causes of Accelerated Degradation:
    • High Mileage: More miles generally mean more charge cycles.
    • Aggressive Driving: Frequent hard acceleration and braking.
    • Charging Habits: Regularly charging to 100% and letting it sit, or frequently discharging to very low levels.
    • Temperature Extremes: Operating or charging in very hot or very cold climates without proper battery conditioning.
  4. When to See a Shop (Tesla Service):
    • If the range loss is sudden and severe, beyond typical gradual degradation.
    • If you receive any battery-related error messages on your display (e.g., 'Battery System Warning').
    • If charging behavior becomes erratic (e.g., very slow charging, or charging stopping prematurely).
    • If you suspect a specific battery module failure rather than general degradation. Tesla service can perform in-depth diagnostics to assess the health of individual battery modules and the overall pack, potentially recalibrating the Battery Management System (BMS) or recommending service if a fault is detected.
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