Man sets out to drive 220 miles with a Tesla Model S in Ukraine to test whether a 10-year-old battery can make it on a single charge

If you’ve ever wondered how long EV batteries last, this Tesla Model S range test has the answer.

On paper, a 10-year-old EV with over 200,000 km (124,000 miles) on the clock shouldn’t be setting any records.

But one YouTuber set out to prove that assumption wrong with a single-charge road trip across Ukraine.

The goal was simple: make it from Kolomyia to Uzhhorod without plugging in.

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This Tesla Model S is far from being new

On paper, it didn’t look like an easy task for the man behind the TESLA Model S Adventures YouTube channel.

The navigation predicted a 342km (212-mile) drive would end with just 5 percent battery remaining, assuming steady speeds below 80 km/h (50mph).

But early into the journey, things started looking up.

After just 24km (around 15 miles), the estimate climbed to 10 percent, suggesting the car was outperforming expectations.

What made this test particularly interesting is the choice of car.

There are many range tests being conducted daily, but most creators are interested in brand-new EVs packed with the latest tech.

This well-used Tesla Model S, with over 226,000 km (140,600 miles) on the clock, was a bit of an odd choice.

Yet as the driver demonstrated, features like adaptive cruise control and Autopilot still worked seamlessly, handling winding roads and village speed limits with ease.

The route through the Carpathian Mountains added another layer of complexity.

Climbing hills naturally drained more energy, pushing consumption figures up past 200Wh/km at times.

But as the YouTuber points out, the descent told a different story.

Thanks to regenerative braking, the car actually recovered energy on downhill stretches, improving the final range estimate mid-journey.

Driving in rural Ukraine shows off the EV’s real world performance

There were other real-world variables at play, too.

The driver switched from winter wheels to more aerodynamic 19-inch slipstream alloys, which may have contributed to improved efficiency.

He also enabled ‘range mode’ to limit climate control usage and optimize power distribution, small tweaks that could make a noticeable difference over long distances.

Beyond the numbers, the video also captured the charm and challenge of driving in rural Ukraine.

From pothole-ridden roads to stunning mountain views, it’s far from a controlled test environment.

Yet the Tesla handles it all, gliding through villages, twisting mountain passes, and long open stretches alike.

By the time the car rolled into Uzhhorod, the results of the range test spoke for themselves.

The Tesla Model S completed the entire 354km (220-mile) journey with 17 percent battery still remaining, averaging an impressive 149Wh/km.

For a 10-year-old EV, that’s a remarkable showing.

While many worry about the long-term performance of EV batteries, this Tesla Model S proved that it still had plenty of life left in it.

Check out his full journey below:

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