Summary
- Tesla confirmed the range extender for Cybertruck will be mounted and removed by Tesla’s service
- Disappointment was expressed over the range and pricing of the Cybertruck upon its unveiling
- The range extender will increase the range of the Cybertruck significantly
- The range extender cannot be installed or removed by the owner due to safety reasons
- The price of the range extender has not been confirmed yet, but it was briefly shown as $16,000
Article
Tesla has confirmed that the upcoming range extender for the Cybertruck, a battery that sits in the pickup truck’s bed, will have to be mounted and removed by Tesla’s service. This news comes after many were disappointed by the range and pricing of the production version of the Cybertruck that was unveiled last year. While Tesla has underdelivered on pricing in the past, it tends to deliver on spec – making the significant range miss compared to the previously announced Cybertruck disappointing to many. However, the automaker argued that it did deliver on range, albeit with a big caveat – the availability of a “range extender” for the Cybertruck that would increase the vehicle’s overall range.
The Cybertruck’s range extender is an extra battery pack that sits in the truck’s bed and takes up about 33% of the available space. Tesla disclosed that this additional battery pack would increase the range of the dual motor Cybertruck from 340 miles to over 470 miles and the Cyberbeast from 320 miles to over 440 miles. Despite not yet launching the range extender or confirming its price, the code for the configurator on Tesla’s website briefly showed a $16,000 price tag for the accessory. This left many disappointed, as they would have to pay more money and sacrifice bed space to achieve the range that was originally announced for the Cybertruck.
While there was speculation that the owner would be able to install and remove the range extender as needed, Tesla’s Cybertruck lead engineer confirmed that the range extender must be installed by Tesla for safety reasons. He stated that any range extender offered by Tesla will be structurally mounted to ensure safety in the event of a crash. This news may disappoint some who were hoping for the flexibility of installing and removing the range extender themselves, but it is understandable given the potential risks involved in handling a battery of that size and weight. Making a removable battery pack for an electric pickup of this scale would be a complex task, requiring secure mounting and precautions to prevent movement during transportation.
While some may see the news about the range extender installation as a bummer, it is not entirely surprising given the challenges involved in handling such a large and heavy battery. It would likely require specialized equipment and a secure mounting system to ensure the safety and integrity of the range extender during use. While it may limit flexibility for owners who were hoping to have control over when the range extender is installed, having Tesla perform the installation is a sensible precaution to ensure the overall safety of the vehicle. Despite the disappointment for some, it is important to prioritize safety and proper handling when dealing with advanced technology like electric vehicle battery systems.
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