Tesla’s Plans for Cybertruck Range Extender Option Come to an End
Last October, Tesla made headlines when it announced that it would be offering a range extender option for its Cybertruck. The move was seen as an attempt to fulfill the promises made by Elon Musk regarding the truck’s range at launch. However, it seems that those promises will remain unfulfilled, as Tesla has reportedly decided to scrap the range extender option without ever delivering a single unit.
According to a recent email sent to a Cybertruck customer and reported by Electrek, Tesla has confirmed that the range extender option is no longer in the plans. The customer, who had put a deposit down for the range extender as an add-on for their truck, will be receiving a full refund of $2,000.
The email sent to the customer read, “Thank you for being a Cybertruck owner. We are no longer planning to sell the Range Extender for Cybertruck. As a result, we will be refunding your deposit in full. The amount will be returned to the original payment method used for the transaction.”
This decision marks the end of a seven-month saga that began with the initial announcement of the range extender option. When the Cybertruck was first unveiled, it was touted to have a range of 500 miles for the top-end model. However, the truck ultimately rolled out with a range of 320 miles. To address this discrepancy, Tesla introduced the range extender option in 2023, pricing it at $16,000 last fall.
Unlike traditional EV range extenders, Tesla’s option was not a gas-powered engine but an additional battery pack that took up space in the truck’s bed. Despite this, it only increased the range to 440 miles initially (470 miles for the dual-motor version), falling short of the truck’s original 500-mile claim. The range figures were later updated to 445 miles for the dual-motor truck and 415 miles for the Cyberbeast.
The delivery of the range extender was continuously delayed, with Tesla pushing the goal post back to “mid-2025” in late 2024. However, last month, the option mysteriously disappeared from Tesla’s website, leading customers to believe that it was no longer in the works. The recent email confirmation from Tesla has now confirmed those suspicions.
In conclusion, Tesla’s decision to cancel the Cybertruck range extender option has left customers disappointed and questioning the company’s ability to deliver on its promises. Despite the setback, Tesla continues to innovate and push the boundaries of electric vehicle technology.