by Tesla unexpectedly removed the Range Extender option from the Cybertruck configurator without providing an official explanation.
Customers who placed a $2000 non-refundable deposit for this $16,000 battery will now get their money back.
The company had promised that this module would significantly increase the range for the dual-motor and tri-motor versions.
Update: Tesla has officially confirmed the cancellation of the battery module’s sale, starting to send out emails to customers who ordered it. The company will refund the deposits but did not provide additional explanations. This is another unfortunate moment for Cybertruck buyers, who also did not receive the promised Autosteer feature – instead, Tesla is offering a one-year subscription to Full Self-Driving as compensation.
Cybertruck Range Extender is no more
— Drake (@TheRealDriiZZy)
The launch of the Cybertruck has been accompanied by numerous surprises, and most of them have caused disappointment. One of the strangest was the $16,000 battery that was supposed to compensate for the pickup’s limited range. To reserve it, customers had to place a $2000 non-refundable deposit. A significant amount for an option that has now disappeared from the manufacturer’s website.
Although there is no official announcement about a final cancellation, Tesla is known for sudden changes in specifications and prices without warning. For those who were counting on the additional range, this is bad news.
The idea of a Range Extender always seemed strange. For $16,000, owners would get an additional battery that took up almost half of the cargo bed. It was intended for those for whom the standard range was insufficient, despite the loss of useful space.
Tesla did not disclose the capacity of this module, only promising an increase in range from 340 miles (547 km) to over 445 miles (716 km) for the dual-motor version and from 320 miles (515 km) to 440 miles (708 km) for the tri-motor modification. The company even began taking pre-orders with a $2000 deposit.
Bulky and Heavy
According to preliminary estimates, for such a range increase, the module would have had a capacity of about 47 kWh – similar to that of small electric cars. Its weight could reach 600 lbs (272 kg), which would require professional installation at Tesla service centers, making self-installation for trips impossible.
Initially, the company planned to launch the module in early 2025, but last fall it moved the date to mid-year. That time is approaching, but the Range Extender never appeared.
