Ron Burch Chose a New Battery Over a New Model S
About this episode
Ron Birch explains why he kept his 10-year-old 2016 Tesla Model S 85D and replaced its main battery instead of buying a newer car. He breaks down real-world degradation (about 245–250 miles down to ~230 at 90%), slower supercharging due to aging limits, and the cost comparison between Tesla and third parties. Tesla’s swap bumped him to a 90 kWh pack, added a structural upgrade, and came with a fresh warranty. Charging performance jumped from ~72 kW max to ~150 kW, and he reports no noticeable loss in acceleration.
Description:
In this episode of Kilowatt, I feature Allison Sheridan from NosillaCast interviewing Ron Burch, who shares his experience with maintaining a decade-old Tesla Model S. Ron's decision to replace his aging battery instead of buying a new car sheds light on electric vehicle ownership and maintenance longevity. We explore the specifics of his Model S, its impressive condition after ten years, and the battery replacement process, including cost comparisons between reconditioned and new cells. Ron offers insights on battery degradation, his driving habits, and the enhancements in charging efficiency with the new battery. This conversation not only uncovers the technicalities of battery replacement but also emphasizes sustainability in vehicle ownership amidst the evolving electric vehicle landscape.
Support the Show: https://www.supportkilowatt.com/
Other Podcasts:
Links:
*Show Art Created By Gemini
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Tesla Model
"...nd of hers and Steve's. And Ron has a 10-year-old Tesla Model S. And Ron decided to replace the battery in that..."
Tesla Model S
"...hers and Steve's. And Ron has a 10-year-old Tesla Model S. And Ron decided to replace the battery in that M..."
Tesla Model 3
"...t hour batteries in the new, like the Model Y and Model 3 is like 304. So, it's kind of interesting that th..."
Toyota A90
"having those really quick acceleration times was because they had this bigger battery and they could source more current quickly. So going from an 85 to a 90 obviously is not a big deal. But then if the battery is a little bit heavier, then you have two things that are offsetting each"
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.