Tesla Owners Cautioned: LG Battery Cells Show Faster Aging

Owners of Tesla vehicles equipped with LG battery cells produced in China may face a significantly shorter battery lifespan compared to their Panasonic counterparts. According to a recent analysis, the nickel-manganese-cobalt (NCM) battery packs manufactured by LG Energy Solution exhibit accelerated aging, raising concerns among electric vehicle (EV) experts.

The Croatian specialist workshop, EV Clinic, known for its expertise in electric vehicle diagnostics and repairs, has flagged the durability issues associated with the NCM811 cells installed in the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y. Technicians at the workshop report that these batteries have a higher failure rate than those produced by Panasonic, particularly affecting long-range and performance variants widely available in the European market.

The differences in cell chemistry highlight the performance disparities. Tesla typically utilizes robust lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries from CATL for its standard range models, while the more energy-dense NCM and nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) cells are reserved for long-range options. Data from EV Clinic indicates that Panasonic’s NCA batteries can achieve mileages of up to 400,000 kilometers before significant cell defects arise. In contrast, LG’s NCM cells often reach the end of their useful life at approximately 240,000 kilometers.

The NCM811 designation refers to the cathode’s composition: eight parts nickel, one part cobalt, and one part manganese. While the high nickel content enhances energy density, it also renders the cells more thermally and chemically vulnerable. Analysis reveals that the internal resistance of LG cells poses serious problems. A typical Panasonic battery operates with an internal resistance of around ten milliohms, whereas values exceeding 28 milliohms are classified as defective. Alarmingly, some new LG cells arrive already at or beyond this critical threshold.

In testing conducted on modules containing 46 cells, technicians discovered instances of resistance surpassing 100 milliohms. This uniform degradation complicates repairs at the cellular level, as increased internal resistance leads to higher temperatures under load and earlier voltage drops compared to neighboring cells. The battery management system identifies this discrepancy, triggering error reports. Economically, replacing individual modules is impractical since the remaining weakened cells are likely to fail shortly after.

The long-term implications for consumers are significant. EV Clinic reports financial losses exceeding €20,000 per month due to the high number of LG batteries deemed irreparable following diagnostic assessments. The extensive time required to disassemble the glued battery packs and examine thousands of individual cells further complicates the repair process. As a result, the workshop has implemented a special fee to evaluate the feasibility of repairs, aiming to cover diagnostic costs.

For affected Tesla owners, the primary solution often involves an expensive complete battery replacement directly through Tesla, which can reach five figures outside of warranty coverage. Alternatively, consumers might consider acquiring a used Panasonic battery from the secondary market, as confirmed by reports from Electrek.

As the automotive landscape continues to evolve, these findings underscore the importance of battery quality and longevity for electric vehicle owners. Tesla owners, particularly those with LG battery cells, are advised to remain vigilant about potential performance issues as they monitor their vehicle’s battery health.