That meant using up some passenger or cargo space. Tesla says it has passed its crash tests without its cells deforming or coolant leaking. By most estimates, the battery for the Model S that I drove should cost between $42,500 and $55,250, or half the cost of the car.But Straubel indicated that it is already much lower.“They’re way less than half, actually,” he says.esla says it has passed its crash tests without its cells deforming or coolant leaking. By most estimates, the battery for the Model S that I drove should cost between $42,500 and $55,250, or half the cost of the car. But Straubel indicated that it is already much lower. “They’re way less than half, actually,” he says.