SAN JOSE, CA – When the specifications for Tesla’s Cybertruck Range Extender were originally revealed at the same time that the futuristic electric vehicle (EV) was released last year, they offered a solid boost to the number of miles that the pickup truck would be capable of traveling on a single charge. However, Elon Musk’s company this week put out revised specs for the Cybertruck’s Range Extender, and they unfortunately appear to continue EV manufacturer’s reputations for over-promising and under-delivering.
Originally, the Range Extender was slated to be released to those who had pre-ordered it in early 2025, and the new specs released this week for the device – which takes the form of an additional $16,000 battery pack installed in the Cybertruck’s bed – now sees it only boosting the EV’s range from 340 miles to 445 miles on the Dual Motor variant and from 320 miles to 440 miles on the three-engine Cyberbeast.
This downgrade represents a 20 percent decrease from the device’s original specs, and will result in a drop of the Cybertruck’s previously-revealed total range upgrade by 6 percent. Tesla has given no explanation for the change, although experts surmise that the company revised their original range estimates when running the Range Extender under EPA test conditions.
In addition, the previous early-2025 release window has been pushed back to mid-2025, although with Tesla’s penchant for delays when it comes to introducing new tech – especially following reports that the company is currently working on perfecting its dry-cathode battery, which utilizes a solid cathode and a solid electrolyte instead of the conventional liquid electrolytes – some are anticipating that release window to possibly slip into 2026.
While the Cybertruck Range Extender is an interesting answer to the vehicle’s lower-than-promised range when it as first announced, it nonetheless comes with a number of drawbacks as well. First, it must be installed in its bed – taking up a large amount of space – it can only be installed and removed by Tesla Service techs, and it will add significant overall weight that will cause a shift in the EV’s center of gravity.
Therefore, it remains to be seen if the Range Extender serves as a boon or a detriment to the Cybertruck once it is finally released.
Christopher Boyle is an investigative journalist, videographer, reporter and writer for SEARCHEN NETWORKS® as well as other independent news and media organizations in the United States. Christopher works on a wide variety of topics and fields, has been featured in print and online in a variety of publications, from local to national, and helps keep a keen-eye on what’s happening in the automotive world for Auto Buyers Market.