Tesla

Tesla 18650 (Panasonic NCA, Legacy S/X)

NCA (nickel-cobalt-aluminum) cells from Panasonic (Japan) · 100 kWh total (95 kWh usable) · used in 2 model variants.

Tesla 18650 (Panasonic NCA, Legacy S/X)

NCA (nickel-cobalt-aluminum) · Panasonic (Japan) · Module-based (16 modules typical), liquid-cooled, 400V
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About the pack
Capacity
95 kWh
useable · 100 total
Fast charge
145 kW
peak · 40 min 10→80%
Warranty floor
70%
capacity floor at 8 yr / 150k mi

Pack overview

ChemistryNCA (nickel-cobalt-aluminum)
Cell supplierPanasonic (Japan)
Cell format18650 cylindrical
Voltage (nominal)400 V
CoolingLiquid (glycol)
ArchitectureModule-based (16 modules typical), liquid-cooled, 400V
Warranty8 yr / 150k mi
Capacity floor70%

Known issues

Low
Pre-2016 packs had isolated coolant-leak failures (hex-coolant routing); Tesla covered most under 8-year unlimited-mile warranty. Refurbished replacement packs are available from third parties.
Low
BMS calibration drift on high-mileage cars makes range estimates read low. Full charge to 100% (rare maintenance behavior) recalibrates the gauge.
Low
85 kWh packs (2012-2016) are the longest-running EV packs in the fleet; many are past 200,000 miles with 80%+ original capacity. The pack survives; software, MCU1 displays, and door handles age faster.
Low
Free supercharging on early Model S vehicles correlates with higher DC fast-charging frequency, which accelerates degradation slightly — visible in fleet data.

How this pack ages (industry context)

Industry fleet aggregates: 2.3% average annual capacity loss across 22,700 EVs / 21 models (Geotab, 2026), and 95% range retention at 5 years on average across 30,000+ vehicles (Recurrent, 2026).

OEM warranty floor on this pack: 8 yr / 150k mi to 70% capacity.

Public per-pack degradation curves are not available for most models. Individual results vary materially with climate, charging behavior, and DC fast-charge frequency.

Vehicles using this pack

Battery-Related NHTSA Recalls

Recalls affecting battery, charging, electric propulsion, or thermal-event systems on vehicles using this pack. Recalls are deduplicated across model variants; affected vehicles are listed for each campaign.

14V006000 13/01/2014 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain model year 2013 Model S vehicles equipped for, and delivered with, certain NEMA 14-50 (240 volt) Universal Mobile Connector (UMC) adapters. During charging, the adapter, cord, or wall outlet could overheat.

Consequence: An overheated adapter, cord, or wall outlet increases the risk of burn injury and/or fire.

Affects: Tesla Model S 2012-2020

For TWD editorial coverage of major recall campaigns, see /recalls/.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chemistry is the Tesla 18650 (Panasonic NCA, Legacy S/X)?

The Tesla 18650 (Panasonic NCA, Legacy S/X) uses NCA (nickel-cobalt-aluminum) cells supplied by Panasonic (Japan). Cell format: 18650 cylindrical. Pack architecture: Module-based (16 modules typical), liquid-cooled, 400V.

What is the warranty on this pack?

8 years or 150,000 miles, with capacity coverage to 70% of original. Specific terms vary by year and trim; check the manufacturer's warranty booklet for the exact vehicle.

How much does this pack degrade over time?

Industry-wide fleet aggregates show roughly 2.3% average annual capacity loss across 22,700 EVs (Geotab, 2026), with about 95% range retention at five years on average across Recurrent's 30,000+ vehicle fleet (2026). Public per-pack degradation curves are not available for most models. The Tesla 18650 (Panasonic NCA, Legacy S/X) battery warranty runs 8 years / 150,000 miles to a 70% capacity floor, which is the OEM-guaranteed minimum within that period. Individual results vary with climate, charging habits, and DC fast-charging frequency.

Which vehicles use the Tesla 18650 (Panasonic NCA, Legacy S/X)?

Tesla Model S 2012-2020 (60 / 70 / 75 / 85 / 90 / 100 kWh tiers); Tesla Model X 2016-2020 (75D / 90D / 100D).

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