Do Teslas Lose Torque & Speed Over Time? (We Checked)

This is a question that any motorist will be asking about their chosen vehicle but for Tesla owners, it is especially important.

Since the production of these vehicles are a relatively new development, there is not a lot of long term information to draw from.

That’s why this guide is here to help.

Be sure to read on and learn more about the longevity of your Tesla’s speed.

It’s also important to know at what speed Teslas are most efficient.

Do Teslas get slower acceleration over time?

While there is little to no evidence that the Tesla loses a significant amount of acceleration over the course of time, these vehicles do tend to slow down as their batteries start to get depleted. There are measures that can be taken to prolong the life of the battery but a bit of degradation is inevitable.

This is a hard truth when it comes to the Tesla battery and it is unavoidable.

You will also experience your Tesla losing top speed over time.

The only way to truly avoid these types of concerns is by never driving the car at a rate of speed that exceeds 50 miles per hour. You’ll also have to avoid using your heat or your air conditioning. There will be no charging of your phone, either.

Obviously, none of these measures are foolproof or even feasible. As time passes, there is also going to be a decrease in the full range of the vehicle, even at full charge.

Check the range per Tesla model here when fully charged.

While the aforementioned actions are hard to avoid, there are some precautions that can be taken.

If you are supercharging the vehicle on a regular basis, this can lead to battery degradation and cause Tesla motorists to experience a decreased overall driving range.

We have more here on how quickly Teslas lose range.

Those who are using their vehicle for lengthy trips may also have similar experiences. The same goes for Tesla vehicles that have older batteries.

How much torque do the first Tesla models have today?

Initially, Tesla models allowed drivers to accelerate from a standstill with relative ease.

Since torque plays a key role in how any vehicle accelerates, the changes that the company ended up making in this regard are definitely worth noting. Launch control functions are present in all vehicles and can end up having negative effects if it is utilized too often.

We have a full overview of top speed and acceleration for all Tesla models here.

When launch control is used too frequently, the vehicle will not perform in the manner that the motorist is accustomed to. 

Tesla eventually decided that they would provide their own version of launch control, known as Launch Mode.

This was a first at the time. Unfortunately, many owners were not aware and this seemingly simple change has led to a decrease in torque.

However, Tesla Motors Club forum posters did not need long to figure out the difference. Regular posters on the forum have noticed the decrease and it is believed that the vehicles’ power is limited after they have used Launch Mode an unspecified number of times.

Tesla spokespeople have essentially confirmed the shift.

“Like other automakers, our performance vehicles continually monitor the condition of various components and may employ limiting strategies to reduce fatigue on the powertrain,”

This makes the idea of these vehicles losing torque over the course of time harder to deny.

While the company claims that they are going to communicate these shifts to Tesla owners in a more precise manner going forward, P90D vehicles are the ones that are most affected.

Those who are looking to avoid the issue entirely can simply upgrade to a 100 kWh battery pack.

This is worth looking into before deciding if buying a used Tesla is a good idea.

Do Teslas lose top speed over time?

The answer to this one is a bit more complicated than most would expect.

We’ve previously looked at how quickly electric car batteries lose range.

Battery degradation can obviously lead to a loss of max power but there are other factors to consider. A sizable amount of batter capacity has to be lost first. Acceleration rates do decrease when battery power is low, which is also important to remember.

As for whether the Tesla itself will lose top speed over the course of time, studies are being performed on a regular basis.

For example, this Tesla Model 3 100K battery degradation range test is an interesting watch for anyone who is curious about the matter. This test is highly informative, as the car from the video was not babied and the tester tried their best to maintain consistency.

The findings are a boon for anyone who is hoping to get the most out of their Tesla.

He found that the car’s battery output was still delivering at 67 kilowatt hours.

When the vehicle was new, it was delivering at a rate of 75 kilowatt hours. While this is certainly a decrease, it is not nearly as marked of a drop as would be expected.

You may also lose battery when your electric car is parked.

Do Teslas get slower when not fully charged?

The answer to this question is a very simple yes. If you feel as if the car is moving more slowly when it is not fully charged, this is not a figment of your imagination.

As the battery pack’s voltage declines, the vehicle will not reach top speeds in the same manner that it would when it is fully charged.

It is important to remember that any and all stats that are provided when it comes to the Tesla models’ ability to go from 0 to 60 is based on a full battery pack.

These numbers become obsolete once the battery pack is depleted. However, it is not recommended for the motorist to consistently charge their battery to 100 percent.

For best results, the battery should remain between 20 percent and 90 percent. This allows the motorist to sidestep the concerns that are associated with overcharged batteries, as well as the loss of acceleration that comes with a battery that is not fully charged.

How quickly does a Tesla start to lose range?

When potential Tesla buyers are in the market for a new or used vehicle, battery range anxiety is an all too common concern. These batteries are supposed to last the test of time but the manner in which we drive plays a key role that often goes under discussed.

This is something that they have in common with internal combustion cars.

If you are someone who is putting a sizable amount of pressure on the engine and driving fast all of the time, the Tesla is going to lose range more quickly than it would have otherwise.

The battery also starts to lose power (and range) more quickly if the conditions are not pristine. Motorists who are regularly traveling through wet and stormy conditions are risking losing range. The same goes for Tesla owners who reside in snowier climates.

The range may also be reduced if you are driving into heavier winds or the temperatures have started to dip. Subzero temperatures will also have adverse effects that are compounded over the course of time.

On the other hand, Tesla drivers who take the necessary precautions are typically far less likely to have serious issues with range.

These precautions are not too difficult for drivers to incorporate into their daily driving habits.

As long as the Tesla is driven at a reasonable rate of speed, the tires remain well inflated and the driver is not punishing their brakes on a consistent basis, the range should not become an issue.

A final note: unnecessary weight may also take a roll on the range of the electric vehicle and Tesla owners are not immune to these concerns. If every other precaution has been taken and the vehicle is still losing range more rapidly than expected, unnecessary weight may be the culprit.

Please explore our article about how well Tesla compares to sports cars.

Do Teslas lose range quicker than other electric cars?

The Tesla battery range question is another common one for those who are in the market for an electric car of their own. Of course, every motorist wants to choose the vehicle that is going to provide them with the longest possible range.

The Tesla actually stacks up well against their competitors but there are certain caveats that must be discussed.

The long range Model S is able to handle a range of 370 miles, while the models that are provided by Nissan and Chevrolet top out in the 240 to 260 mile range.

Tesla’s strategy has paid immediate dividends but they are taking risks to make it happen.

Multi gear transmissions and traditional luxury features have been abandoned in favor of aerodynamics.

Batteries are also more dense and are made of different materials than the competitors.

Federal regulators have been investigating battery fires that are taking place to determine the cause and their level of avoid-ability. Until enough time has passed for experts to know about the effects of these decisions over the long run, the results of these risks will not be fully apparent.

Some experts believe that Tesla may simply decide that the risks that are presented on the back end are worth the increased battery range in the present day.

Only time will tell if these risks are worthwhile for Tesla and the motorists who have placed their trust in them.

Sources

How to get the most range out of your Tesla

Tesla limiting power performance in launch mode

Tesla Model 3 100K Battery Degradation Range Test

Tesla battery range

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