Man says his 140,000-mile Tesla just did the impossible with something that ‘makes absolutely no sense’ and he has proof
Published on Mar 28, 2026 at 4:10 AM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Mar 28, 2026 at 4:10 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews

This Tesla Model S owner discovered something pretty shocking about his 10-year-old, 140,000-mile Tesla.
This is a very old car, by EV standards, and it’s a model that will soon be consigned to the archives of the brand.
Even so, the battery condition was stellar.
And it performed in a way that’s almost impossible to explain.
Enter our competition to win a stunning 2006 Ford GT or $400,000 cash!
This is an older version of a soon-to-be retired car
This YouTuber – TESLA Model S Adventures – owns a Model S 85D, which is basically an older version of a vehicle that’s not even in production anymore.
In 2019, Tesla released a major technical update for the Model S, and it also changed the naming scheme.
The previous 75D, 85D, 90D, 100D and P100D, were all gone.
Replaced by three simple variants: Standard Range, Long Range, and Performance.

So not only is this a discontinued vehicle, it’s a relatively obsolete version, too.
And that’s what made this guy’s discovery even crazier.
The battery performance of his Tesla is unreal
Despite having 12 percent battery degradation, the Model S surprised its owner by nearly matching the original EPA range.
The car covered 707km through Europe’s demanding Carpathian Mountains, averaging 152Wh/km.
This translated to a 452km (280 miles) range, which exceeded the original factory rating of 435km.
And he didn’t really cheat either.

While the descent allowed for significant energy recovery via regenerative braking, the climb usually offsets those gains, making the result even more impressive.
So, all in all, it all averaged out.
That’s an incredible result for an electric car that’s over 10 years old, and further proof that, in some cases, BEVs can be more reliable than we think.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.