The controversy surrounding so-called "bricking" began last week with a blog post claiming a handful of Roadster owners damaged their cars' batteries by allowing them to drain to zero while parked and unplugged for several weeks or months. As with most lithium battery cells, doing so can result in permanent damage.
"Of the many pleasures that Tesla owners have, one of the most appreciated is nearly worry-free maintenance of their vehicles ["¦] In return, we ask that you remember to charge it," the company said in the statement.
"If ever the battery in your Tesla runs low, the car is designed to let you know with repeated visual and audible warnings. If you continue to ignore the warnings, they will persist and increase."
Early model Roadsters more susceptible
Tesla also indicated the earliest Roadsters are more at risk of 'bricking' than cars manufactured more recently.
The first Roadsters will take more than two months to discharge if parked at a 50 percent charge without being plugged in. "From that starting point, Tesla has consistently innovated and improved our battery technology," the company said, adding that newer Roadsters will "take longer to discharge."
Model S and Model X not affected
While a parked first-generation Roadster can lose half of its charge in 60 days, the forthcoming Model S and Model X cars will be dramatically less at risk of damage resulting from extended periods of time unplugged.
Tesla says a Model S battery parked with 50 percent charge "would approach full discharge only after about 12 months." Moreover, the cars will "have the ability to protect themselves as they approach very low charge levels by going into a deep sleep mode that lowers the loss even further."
Even with just 5 percent charge, a Model S will be able to "sit for many months" without fully discharging, Tesla estimates. Even if the battery is depleted to zero, if you plug it in within 30 days it will "recover normally."
