E.V. Battery costs. Too High?

well it all rather depends - you do get a lot of battery for your money. The original configuration of that model has more than 7000 cells each of the 18650 size (18mm dia, 65.0 mm long - as seen singly  in toothbrushes, vaping kits etc. ), arranged into 16 modules each module of 6 series connected banks, each bank of 74 cells in parallel.

Now you can get really cheap 18650 cells for a couple of quid each and a bit less in bulk but well made ones are going to cost more.

Do not read anything into the fact that the single ones at argos for your toothbrush or whatever are about £8 each - most of that is the expense of shipping and handling it in a secure way.

The Tesla replacement cost of 17k may be steep, but it replaces all cells, and includes fitting and presumably a load of setting up as well, it is not incredible.

To contrast, with my work hat on I can say that if you buy a military 2590 battery (they end up in radios ,and robots and things )you only get 8 cells and a very well made box but not much change from £500.

And by the way, these cells do catch fire impressively too if damaged..   see this test video. (They do another battery type first,  and another later,  that do very little, but the lithium '2590 type is by far the most impressive and starts about  25 seconds in - it burns quite well all things considered)  A petrol can would be similar - the amp hours have to be released somehow, and it is certainly not expressed via the medium of an interpretive dance...

ll )