Man with 470,000-mile Tesla Model S 70D shares how much it cost to swap the battery and increase range by 50%

Owning a Tesla Model S 70D appears to come with a massive hidden benefit – it can handle a battery swap..

This lower-spec model of the first-generation Tesla Model S is now over a decade old, meaning the batteries are likely now on their knees. But changing them out could make a huge difference.

In fact, it could increase the range by over 50 percent.

And one EV mechanic has revealed the entire process in doing so, including the costs involved.

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Tesla Model S 70D owner uncovers battery fix

If you happen to own a first-generation Tesla Model S 70D, then come to the front.

Because this article will be of quite a lot of interest to you.

Now that it’s more than a decade old, the battery in a Tesla Model S 70D will likely struggle to cover 200 miles of range in a real-world scenario.

And that is where this viral video within the EV community could well hold the answer.

Alex runs and owns the WATTWORKS EV repair shop in Portland, Oregon.

He also happens to run his own YouTube channel, Out of Spec Renew.

Alex’s latest video discusses how you can swap the battery out of your Model S 70D.

The shop owner and YouTuber currently owns a 470,000-mile Tesla Model S 70D.

Instead of scrapping it or swapping for a new one, Alex has shown off a DIY fix.

For $9,500 – that’s $8,500 for the pack itself, $1,000 for shipping – Alex completely swapped the battery in his Tesla.

Because he’s a qualified mechanic, he’s capable of performing all of the labor by himself.

He noted that the average Model S owner should budget around $12,000 for this sort of work.

Additionally, if the battery being removed still has some life, it could lower the bill towards the new one.

Does the result justify the expense?

So, what was the end result for Alex and his 470,000-mile Tesla Model S 70D?

Well, there is a substantial range boost of a minimum of 100 miles.

That is a nearly 50 percent increase from the fading battery that was there before.

So, the $9,500 question is this – is the expensive and time-consuming process worth it?

For Alex, it is a resounding yes – because it makes his familiar Tesla a modern, revived car.

To sweeten the deal, Alex notes that he got his EV with unlimited Supercharging.

This, coupled with the new battery system, makes it the perfect road-tripping car.

But what do you think? Would you spend north of $10,000 to replace a Tesla battery?The post Man with 470,000-mile Tesla Model S 70D shares how much it cost to swap the battery and increase range by 50% appeared first on Supercar Blondie.