I have a long daily commute, 180 miles a day mostly highway speeds 75mph.
I’m seriously considering a Model S but am concerned about how my high mileage commute would affect long term battery life.
Does anyone have any data on this help my decision?
I currently drive a diesel Mercedes E250 that gets 40mpg and about 1000 miles on a tank of fuel and has been a very reliable and comfortable car.
Thanks!
High mileage users will benefit the most from driving an EV over an ICE due to the reduced fuel and maintenance costs. Furthermore, adding the miles quickly reduces calendar battery degradation. Example, my 2011 Leaf has only 60,000 mi (~800 cycles) but more degradation than a user who managed to get 150,000 mi (2000 cycles) in only three years. Remember, the original Leaf has the worst battery chemistry for degradation and no thermal management.
A 360 mi battery should easily go 1000-2000 cycles: 360,000 to 720,000 mi. Your commute works out to 45,000 mi/year and I would expect at least ten years of easy commute. If you can charge to 80% SOC both at home and at work, there will be less stress on the battery (and your worry as well).
Work out the numbers on costs. These numbers are just estimats, and probably conservatively skewed towards the diesel. I can easily get 5mi/KWh in summer, so perhaps 4mi/KWh should be used. Also, I’m taking your 40 mpg value at face value, but most people don’t actually get what they think they’re supposed to get. I’m therefore assuming that you actually track your yearly consumption and total costs and the 40 mpg number is actually accurate. In contrast, I had a friend tell me that she “got” 40mpg, but when I looked at the actual EPA numbers, that was only for the “eco-version “ (that she didn’t actually purchase), and only highway (not city which was only 20mpg). Since her car was mostly used in town, there was no way she was even close to 40mpg, probably closer to 25mpg. Anyway, I digress.
Here diesel is $4/gal and electricity is $0.07/KWh. (My location)
45,000mi/40mpg*$4=$4500/yr diesel fuel.
45,000mi/3mi/KWh*$0.07/KWh =$1050/yr electric.
Maintenance costs? Nothing except wipers & tires for my Leaf.
How many oil changes on a diesel? For gas, a couple times per year? I don’t really know the frequency or cost since I haven’t had one done in 10+ years. Do your own realistic calculations and don’t forget to include the benefits of pre-warming the EV inside your garage every morning.
