The weight of an EV’s battery greatly influences the total weight of the vehicle. There are several different types of batteries and variations in how much these weigh.
You may ask “How much does a tesla battery weigh?” Usually, a Tesla battery weighs around 1000 lbs to 1700 lbs with some exceptions reaching 2000 lbs.
What is a Tesla Battery?
The batteries used in the EVs of Tesla are made of Lithium-ion cells. They build other types of batteries for different use cases as well.
Lithium-ion batteries are very capable and are used in a lot of different techs. The most common use cases of these batteries are current-generation Android mobile and electric vehicles.
These batteries have high energy density. The bigger the battery the more energy it can store. These are very efficient in terms of storage and output.
One of the most intriguing parts about batteries is the inverse relationship between energy density and battery lifespan. These are still not perfect but Li-ion has the best combinations of the two.
That’s exactly why Tesla chose to stick with Li-ion for their EVs instead of shopping around.
Read more article about Tesla battery manufacturer.
How Much Does a Tesla Battery Weigh by Types?
When more and more Li-ion options became available, Tesla quickly started shifting to packs that had larger but fewer cells.
Panasonic is the main supplier for their batteries along with LG and they build some batteries in-house as well.
Let’s check out how much these batteries weigh.
Li-ion Batteries
Over the years Tesla has used several types of Li-ion batteries. From the first Roadster to the recently released Tesla Semis, Tesla has used a variety of Li-ion Battery packs.
The typical Li-ion battery for a Tesla EV weighs between 1000-1700 Lbs. However, some rare types weigh a bit more than that.
Let’s look at the different types of batteries and how much they weigh:
Tesla EV Li-Ion Battery Weights
| Battery type | Number of Modules | Number of Cells | Weight (Lbs) |
| 18650-Type | _ | 6831 | 992 |
| 16 | 7104 | 1200 | |
| 2170-Type | 4 | 184 | 1060 |
| _ | 296 | 1200 | |
| LFP Prismatic | 4 | 106 | 1410 |
| (Tesla Semi) | 9 | _ | Approx. 10000+ |
| 4680-Type | _ | _ | _ |
4680-Type Cylindrical: The official number of total cells in the 4680-type battery pack is yet to be revealed. But, the weight of each cell is supposed to be 355g or 0.782 Lbs.
Model S, X, and 3 Batteries
Tesla has different car and year models that have different weighing batteries.
The weight of the battery pack from the first Tesla Roadster is 992 Lbs. This car uses the first variant of the 18650-type lithium-ion battery.
The Model S, X, and 3 have some unique cases. Earlier models used to have a lighter battery. When Tesla started using larger capacity cells for their battery packs the weight went up.
Model S: The batteries comprise most of the weight of the model S itself. The Tesla Model S uses the second generation 18650 – 22.8V, 5.3 KWh batteries.
These batteries weigh around 1200 Lbs in general.
Model X: Tesla offers multiple battery packs for the Model X. The weight of the batteries in these are around 1200-1400 Lbs.
The weight differences are mainly due to the capacity of the battery. Tesla’s offerings include 75 KWh to 110 KWh. Depending on the make and model and the battery pack installed, the weights vary.
Model X is one of the heaviest cars they produce. The 2015-2016 Model X had a 90 KWh battery pack and the weight of the battery on this one is 1200 Lbs.
Model 3: The Tesla Model 3 has the lightest battery pack. Entry-level Model 3 uses the Prismatic LFP battery packs that weigh roughly 1400 Lbs.
Tesla also uses the 2170-type batteries in some Model 3s and Models Ys. Those weigh around 1200 Lbs.
Other Battery Options
Apart from the three basic Li-ion battery pack options, Tesla is also developing the 4680-type battery for their newer vehicles. These in theory should be heavier but their range will be outstanding.
Tesla Semi: A good example of this is the new Tesla Semi trucks. These are massive beauties that boast a large 850 KWh battery.
Not a lot of information is available on the specific details of these batteries. Theoretically, the battery pack of the Tesla Semi should weigh over 10000 Lbs making it the heaviest among Tesla EVs.
Factors Impacting the Weight of the Battery Pack
Multiple factors affect the weight of the battery. You’d think the number of modules or the capacity is the only deciding factor in their weight. But there’s a lot more.
These factors determine the weight of a Tesla battery pack:
Vehicle Weight
Tesla’s unique low center of gravity approach is mostly dependent on the weight of the battery. It ensures proper weight distribution for the quality of handling these cars.
They have to make sure not to compromise this aspect and keep the battery weight just right.
Size of the Battery Pack
The size and capacity of the battery pack itself is a big determinant of the total weight of the pack. It is measured in kWh and most standard Tesla vehicles fall under the range of 50-110 KWh.
The higher the number, the heavier the battery pack is going to be.
Number of Cells in the Pack
These battery packs are comprised of individual cells. Different Tesla models use different numbers of cells.
The more cells used to make the battery, the heavier the battery will be, and vice versa.
Use of Lightweight Materials
Tesla has used Nickel-Cobal-Aluminum cathodes for a very long time. To reduce the weight they started researching with Lithium Iron Phosphate or LFP cathodes.
These cathodes are much lighter than their trademark NCA cathodes.
Extra Weight from Larger Batteries
Last but not least, the battery pack enclosure and how big the battery itself is plays an important role here.
Installing larger batteries will always increase the weight of the battery pack and the vehicle itself.
Related Post: Tesla Battery Types: Tesla’s Ultimate Power Guide
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does the Tesla battery get heavier when charged?
The weight doesn’t increase because there’s no change in the number of electrons. They only change places.
Why are Tesla batteries so heavy?
Larger batteries offer more range and improved horsepower. To keep the vehicles running longer they implement heavier batteries.
How long do Tesla batteries last?
If preconditioned properly a Tesla EV battery can last more than 300000 miles.
