A 2021 Tesla Model 3 with a battery-health concern
Battery diagnostics recorded a test-time SoH result for the buyer to consider
2021 Tesla Model 3 Long Range — 78,400km
What the buyer told us at booking
First-time EV buyer, family of four, planning a Sydney–Canberra commute twice a month. The listing promised 'as new battery, genuine 480km range'. The price was sharp for a Long Range — $4,000 below comparable cars in the same week.
What our EV inspector found
- AVILOO flash SoH test: 82.4% — well below the ~90% expected for a 4-year-old Long Range at 78,400km. Average Model 3 degradation at this age sits around 6%.
- Tesla in-car estimated range read 462km. Real-world capacity supported approximately 360km at 23°C — a 25% gap between displayed and usable range.
- BMS log showed two thermal events in the first 18 months of ownership (likely repeated Supercharging in hot weather without conditioning).
- Recorded cell-voltage spread: 18mV. Interpretation depends on test conditions and vehicle data; it does not establish a future module-failure date.
- Body and chassis: clean. Panel paint depth all factory. No accident repair.
What the buyer did
The case records a $34,500 offer, which the seller declined. The buyer walked away; three weeks later the listing reappeared at $36,500. Those decisions reflect this buyer's assessment, not a validated prediction of the pack's future condition.
"I would have signed for $42,990 the next day. Your report was the most useful $349 I've ever spent."
What it cost vs what it would have cost
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| EV pre-purchase inspection | $349 |
| Worst-case out-of-warranty pack replacement (current Tesla AU quote) | $19,400 |
| Resale hit from a verified abnormal SoH | ~$6,000 |
| Net protection (worst-case) | $25,051 |
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