A real technological scarecrow has appeared on the Canadian prairies for skeptics of durability - a 2019 Tesla Model 3, which has clocked a mind-boggling 609,800 kilometers in just seven years. This white sedan, discovered by the team of the YouTube channel Drive Protected, is living proof that electric cars are not "disposable toys", although the price of such survival has its bitter side.
The car was purchased for a modest 12,000 Canadian dollars (about 8,000 US dollars), which at first glance seems like the deal of the century. However, the reality is a little harsher. After years of relentless operation and hundreds of sessions at fast Supercharger stations, the battery has reached its limit. Currently, with 33% charge remaining, the car promises only 83 kilometers of range – a clear sign of serious cell degradation.
Despite the record-breaking range – the highest ever recorded for this particular model -ndash; the car refuses to give up completely. It still accepts fast charging, although its capacity is a shadow of its former glory. Visually and mechanically, however, time has left its mark: rust on the sills, broken suspension parts, a damaged cooling system and a bumper that has seen better days.
To bring this Tesla back to normal life, the new owners will have to invest around $15,000 in repairs and a new battery. The amount exceeds the purchase price of the car, but the project remains invaluable as an experiment. While the famous Model S of German Hansjörg Gemingen chases the 2 million kilometer mark, this “three” shows what happens to a mass-produced electric car when subjected to a daily marathon in harsh conditions. See also the video.