- This ex-rental Tesla had already lost 20% of its battery capacity by 122,000 miles.
- Its battery health then dropped from 80% to 76% in a year, then only slipped to 75% over the next 14 months.
- The test suggests that early EV battery degradation can slow dramatically rather than continue in a straight line.
Buying a rental car can be a gamble, regardless of what powers it, because people aren’t gentle with their rentals and cars can see a lot of abuse. This 2022 Tesla Model 3 Long Range Dual Motor owner picked up the car when it was two years old, but its rough life as a Hertz rental left it with just 80% of its original battery capacity when they bought it in 2024, with the odometer reading 122,000 miles.
