Quick answer: The Model Y is one of Australia's best-selling EVs, so there are now many used ones to choose from. Its battery is covered for 8 years in Australia, with a kilometre limit that depends on the version, and Tesla guarantees at least 70% capacity in that time. Because range on the screen is only an estimate, a battery health test is the reliable way to know how a particular car's battery has aged.
Many Model Ys in Melbourne are family cars that do school runs, long weekend trips and plenty of fast charging on holidays. That mix of use is why two cars of the same year can have batteries in different condition.
Which battery is in your Model Y?
- Rear-wheel drive (RWD): Australian RWD cars have mostly come from Shanghai with an LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery. LFP handles charging to 100% well. Tesla's guidance for LFP cars is to keep the charge limit at 100% and charge to 100% at least once a week.
- Long Range and Performance: these use a nickel-based battery with more range. Day to day they're happiest between about 20% and 80%, with 100% saved for trips.
- 2025 update ("Juniper"): the refreshed Model Y follows the same pattern in Australia, with an LFP battery in the RWD and a nickel-based (NMC) battery in the Long Range.
The charging screen is a quick clue: on LFP cars the charge limit slider is marked 50% and 100%, while on the other versions it's marked "Daily" and "Trip".
What the Australian battery warranty covers
Tesla's battery and drive unit warranty in Australia runs for 8 years, with 160,000 km for rear-wheel-drive versions and 192,000 km for Long Range and Performance versions, whichever comes first. Tesla guarantees at least 70% capacity during that time.
The warranty runs from the car's original delivery date. When buying second-hand, check the first registration date and confirm the exact terms for that car with Tesla.
Family use and fast charging
Road trips mean fast charging, and that's fine: the car manages battery temperature while charging. What adds the most wear is a combination of heat, sitting at a high charge for long periods and very frequent fast charging. A car that was mostly charged at home overnight and only fast-charged on trips is the typical pattern.
Buying a used Model Y: what to check
- First registration date and how much battery warranty is left
- The version: RWD (LFP) or Long Range / Performance
- How it was charged day to day
- Any battery, charging or high-voltage warnings
- Service history and any battery-related work
- An independent battery health report, ideally before you pay a deposit
How our battery health check works
We come to the car anywhere within about 60 km of Melbourne's south-east, including the seller's driveway. We read the battery's state of health, every cell group's voltage, module temperatures and stored battery fault codes through the diagnostic port. Nothing is opened up or changed. It takes about 45 minutes and the plain-English PDF report arrives the same day.
The price is $149 including GST, and you pay after the test. Tell us the exact car when you book and we'll confirm what can be read for it before we come out.
EV Pitstop is an independent business and isn't affiliated with Tesla.