Tesla has formally discontinued the $16,000 Vary Extender for the Cybertruck, eradicating it from the car’s configurator final month. This transfer signifies a doable finish for the accent, leaving homeowners who anticipated an answer to vary points and not using a plan.
Simply weeks after it was dropped from the net configurator, Tesla has introduced that it’ll not produce the accent, having not delivered a single unit to prospects. An e mail despatched to Cybertruck homeowners confirmed that the function is being scrapped, and all deposits will likely be refunded in full.
The Vary Extender, designed to function a secondary battery pack for rising vary, had confronted quite a few delays since its preliminary announcement, main some to invest that it’d by no means be launched. These theories have now confirmed appropriate, as Tesla knowledgeable reservation holders that the Vary Extender won’t be accessible.
Initially, the Cybertruck promised a powerful 500 miles of vary because of Tesla’s revolutionary 4680 battery cells. Nevertheless, ongoing improvement points resulted in a launch vary of simply 340 miles (later adjusted to 325 miles), with a Lengthy Vary variant finally providing 350 miles.
To assist compensate for these vary deficiencies, Tesla launched the Vary Extender, which was anticipated to boost the vary to 470 miles. This accent would occupy one-third of the usable mattress area. Subsequent delays pushed the anticipated vary to 445 miles, with no modifications in worth, and a brand new goal launch of mid-2025.
In its cancellation e mail, Tesla acknowledged:
“Thanks for being a Cybertruck proprietor. We’re not planning to promote the Vary Extender for Cybertruck. Because of this, we will likely be refunding your deposit in full. The quantity will likely be returned to the unique cost technique used for the transaction. Thanks on your understanding. The Tesla Workforce.”
This cancellation raises questions on Tesla’s confidence in each the Cybertruck and its battery expertise. With the Cybertruck falling quick in lots of areas, together with gross sales, and a reported three-month provide on account of poor Q1 gross sales, it’s clear that the Vary Extender was important for reaching the promised vary.
The choice to desert this costly accent, particularly amidst lower-than-expected gross sales, might point out deeper points with the 4680 battery cells. Because the state of affairs stands, it’s a disappointment for many who relied on the Vary Extender for long-distance towing— a crucial operate for any truck.
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