Tesla Cybertruck: Its Range Extender is Making Headlines Again
- Published on 28/07/2024 9:30
- Modified on 24/09/2025 21:34
Highly criticized for its impertinence in terms of price, size, and autonomy, the Range Extender of the Cybertruck is approaching.
It was no great mystery from the beginning of the Cybertruck project that its autonomy would be a topic of discussion. Three tons, a drag coefficient close to that of a shoebox, huge tires with a very energy-intensive footprint on the ground… Everything was set for a miracle not to happen. And it did not.
The peak of the controversy occurred during the presentation of the final version of the Tesla Cybertruck at the end of 2023. To everyone’s astonishment, in order to address this poor performance in terms of autonomy, Tesla unveiled an external battery that fits into the bed, taking up 1/3 of its volume.
Another stick to beat itself with: its price of $16,000 (14,700 euros)! The theoretical gain in autonomy is 200 km (120 miles), but one should expect around 140 km of real range. Thus equipped, a Tesla Cybertruck could claim up to 700 km of autonomy according to American homologation cycles. However, the feedback from the first customers delivered since the beginning of the year reveals rather an autonomy of 300 km for the Cybertruck without the Range Extender. With it, the customer could therefore expect 500 km at best.
A complicated installation
Officially, this auxiliary battery is still not available in the catalog. Tesla had kindled a counter-fire earlier this year by assuring that the battery pack in the chassis of the Cybertruck could be doubled… but then why this battery in the bed? Another inconsistency…
Today, Tesla communicates about the upcoming arrival of the Range Extender. Understand that it is still relevant. The American manufacturer explains that due to its weight (unknown but estimated at 200 kg) and its electrical hazards, its installation and uninstallation must be done at the dealership by qualified technicians.
Knowing that Tesla charges very quickly, the interest of this very expensive solution remains an enigma. Cost, size, additional weight that further degrades energy efficiency, the Range Extender seems pointless. Especially since the Cybertruck is primarily chosen to show off around one’s home.
READ ALSO: Tesla can easily increase its sales with this technique
This page is translated from the original post "Tesla Cybertruck : son Range Extender refait parler de lui" in French.
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