2015 Tesla Model S 70D drivers who've traveled over 75,000 miles in 10 years do battery degradation test to see how it's fared

After putting 75,000 miles on their 2015 Tesla Model S 70D over a ten-year period, these EV experts ran a battery health test to see how the older generation of electric cars holds up.

Much has changed in the electric vehicle space in the last ten years. Back in 2015, it was Tesla or nothing, with the US company leading the charge into high-performance, morally satisfying, low-emission driving.

The battery tech has been greatly improved since then, and modern Tesla cars have state-of-the-art power banks that are made to stand the test of time.

But what about those first EVs? How have their batteries coped after ten years of action?

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2015 Tesla Model S drivers put their battery to the test

When it comes to Tesla cars, some versions have performed significantly better over time than others, and if you’re buying a second-hand model, you should check which batteries are the best.

While they still hold up as having the longest ranges over years of usage, battery health degradation is a real issue.

In a bid to highlight this, Ludicrous Feed host Tom ran a diagnostic on his Tesla Model S 70D with 75,000 miles on the clock, and found that he’d lost quite a chunk of optimal health.

In an upload to the channel (which he shares with partner Joy), Tom found that its original NMC pack from 2015 currently measured as having 88 percent battery health.

He claimed that this was ‘very good’ for a ten-year-old EV that had been well looked after with good charging habits, with only a 12 percent drop over the decade.

“[It is] still a very good city car and not bad as a long-range as well, if you charge more often, obviously,” he said.

“The battery – still its first battery – is not going anywhere.”

This result is similar to what other drivers faced, such as this test of a Model 3 after 150,000 miles.

Tesla still hasn’t perfected the long-lasting battery game

Despite the brand being much more advanced in 2025, there are still some minor issues with battery degradation for Tesla.

Specifically, Cybertruck drivers have noted that the maximum capacity has already dropped, despite only being out for just over a year.

Recent studies found that EVs from Cadillac and Ford are among the best in terms of long-term health, while Tesla was in the middle of the pack.

Jaguar, with its I-Pace, is among the worst.

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