- Tesla opened reservations for the Cybertruck’s range extender option, which brings the on-paper range of the truck to more than 450 miles.
- Pricing is listed at an estimated $16,000, with reservations requiring a nonrefundable $500 deposit.
- Production for the range extender is expected to start next year. Installation must be handled at a service center.
Nothing about the Tesla Cybertruck is conventional. From the electric pickup’s looks to its steering technology to its performance, the Cybertruck defies tradition. After dropping the single-motor rear-drive configuration from the lineup (which never actually reached customers’ hands), Tesla has now opened reservations for the Cybertruck’s range extender option.
While we know the Beast trim comes equipped with a 123.0-kWh battery, we still don’t know the capacity of the range extender. What we do know is that, according to Tesla’s website, the range extender is capable of adding 120 miles of range to the Beast model and 130 miles for the standard dual motor. Those additions bring the Beast’s estimated range up to 440 miles and the dual-motor truck’s range up to 470 miles. Not quite the 500 miles Tesla originally promised, but certainly not far off.
In real-world terms, those figures are likely optimistic. We put a Beast model without the range extender through our standard 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, and it managed a 250-mile result. On the flip side of added range, the extender will hamper the Cybertruck’s practicality by taking up roughly a third of the pickup’s bed space. Despite that, Tesla says the extender can be installed without impacting compatibility with other accessories.
Reservations are open now and production is “planned for early 2025,” according to the Tesla website. Tesla lists pricing as an “estimated” $16,000, with reservations requiring a nonrefundable $500 deposit. Installing the extender will require a trip to a Tesla service center, which is likely a safety requirement.
Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.
Source: Motor - aranddriver.com
