Tesla delays Cybertruck’s range extender, reduces its range
Tesla has further delayed production of Cybertruck’s range extender and reduced the range that it will add to the electric pickup truck.
When Tesla unveiled the production version of the Cybertruck last year, there were two main disappointments: the price and the range.
Tesla has missed on pricing with new vehicle programs before, and inflation has been exceptionally high in the few years between the original unveiling and pricing of the Cybertruck in 2019 and its start of production last year.
But when it comes to specs, Tesla has generally delivered on its promises. Not with the Cybertruck.
These were the original specs for the Cybertruck:
Most people reserved the “500+” mile range tri-motor version for $70,000. Now, Tesla’s tri-motor Cybertruck starts at $100,000 and gets 320 miles of range.
Instead of the Cybertruck achieving its promised range, Tesla said that it would launch a “range extender”, which consists of an additional battery pack that sits in the truck’s bed, taking about a third of the bed’s space.
Originally, Tesla said it would increase the range of the dual-motor Cybertruck from 340 miles to over 470 miles and the Cyberbeast from 320 miles to over 440 miles.
However, Tesla has updated its range extender specs:
Tesla now says that the range extender should result in “445+ miles” rather than “470+ miles” for the dual motor – a ~25-mile reduction in range.
Interestingly, the range extender’s impact on the tri-motor Cybertruck’s range hasn’t changed on the standard wheels and tires, but it is down to “415+ miles” with the all-terrain wheels.
Furthermore, Tesla has also pushed the beginning of production from “early 2025” to “mid 2025”.
Tesla started Cybertruck production in late 2023, which means that it will deliver the Cybertruck’s range extender more than a year and a half after delivering its first Cybertrucks to customers.
Oh, and also, it is expected to cost $16,000, according to Tesla.
Electrek’s Take
I previously described the Cybertruck program as a “mistake turned marketing tool” for Tesla.
At the time, I didn’t say that it was a failed program on its own because it was too early to say, but I said it was an error nonetheless because it’s not going to meaningfully contribute to Tesla’s EV deliveries and therefore, it created what Tesla calls “a gap between its waves of growth”.
I think a cheaper and slightly more traditional pickup truck or a cheaper hatchback program would have had a much greater impact on Tesla’s mission globally, and it would have shortened that “gap.”
Now, Tesla has used the Cybertruck as a marketing tool to raise its profile, but it’s not clear how significant of an impact that has been.
Today, with the price and the fact that Tesla already went through its backlog in the US while delivering likely fewer than 40,000 Cybertrucks, I think there’s room to get quite worried about the Cybertruck program.
I wouldn’t be shocked to start seeing Tesla add it to its referral program and even start doing discounts next year.
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Thanks to a clever, fully electric swing system and “boom up” power assist features, the big PC365-11 hybrid excavator from Komatsu promises better performance and serious fuel savings compared to conventional diesel machines.
Komatsu says its PC365-11 hybrid excavator uses a “boom-up” power assist feature that captures and stores kinetic energy during different operation cycles, then taps into that power to provide an extra energy boost when needed. The result is 15% more productivity and a 20% improvement in fuel efficiency when compared to non-hybrid excavators in ~40 ton class.
“The PC365LC-11 was engineered for excellence in multifunction applications by leveraging its innovative electric powertrain system to boost job site productivity while reducing fuel consumption,” says Matthew Moen, Komatsu’s product manager. “To highlight these performance enhancements, we’re emphasizing the concept of ‘multifunction plus’ as the defining feature of this machine.”
How it works
Komatsu’s hybrid system replaces the conventional hydraulic swing function with a fully electric swing motor that draws power from an ultracapacitor (as opposed to a battery) energy storage unit. As excavator slows or stops swinging, something like a regenerative braking system captures the kinetic energy that would normally be lost as heat and stores it in the capacitor. Once there, the stored energy can be quickly released to power the swing motor or assist the engine, delivering up to an extra 70 hp when needed to support heavy lifting or digging cycles.
And, thanks to Komatsu’s proprietary software, all of this energy capture and reuse happens automagically during normal work, without the need for external charging. The fuel savings happen because removing the hydraulic load from the ICE engine allows it to run at an ultra-low idle, while the productivity comes from the greater power and overall speed of the electric operations vs. conventional hydraulics.
Electrek’s Take
Trust me when I tell you that Komatsu didn’t wake up one day and decide to build a capacitor-based hybrid crane. One of their customers had the idea and came to them, promising orders. That’s what Komatsu does – from undersea remote control dozers to lunar mining rigs (above), if you bring Komatsu an order, they will absolutely find a way to fill it.
As for PC365-11 hybrid excavator, it’s packed with clever tech, overall – offering significant fuel, emissions, and TCO reductions without dramatically changing the operational logistics of an existing fleet’s operations. That’s all the sales pitch it needs.
SOURCE: Komatsu, via Equipment World.
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For serious fleet buyers, safety isn’t a “nice-to-have,” it’s an absolute must – and Kia’s new PV5 electric van meets that need with a positively stellar, five-star safety rating on the tough European NCAP safety test.
The new “do-it-all” Kia PV5 showed strong performance across a number of key safety categories, including Occupant Protection, Safety Assist/Crash Avoidance, and Post-Crash Safety. The PV5’s robust suite of standard ADAS technologies that includes AEB, Lane Support System, and Speed Assistance System also helped the new electric work van to deliver top marks in the NCAP’s “real world” test scenarios.
“The PV5 opens a new chapter in practical, electrified mobility, offering generous space and modular versatility for everyday use,” explains Sangdae Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of the (relatively) new PBV Business Division at Kia. “Achieving the top Euro NCAP five-star rating is clear validation of its safety performance and will serve as strong momentum as Kia expands its PBV lineup across Europe.”
The Euro NCAP tests highlighted the strong performance of a number of the PV5’s ADAS features, specifically calling out the following:
- Demonstrated strong responsiveness in vehicle-to-vehicle scenarios
- Provides additional protection for pedestrians behind the vehicle
- Avoided collisions in most pedestrian and cyclist test cases
The Kia PV5 slots into familiar territory for US buyers, landing roughly in the same size class as the Ford Transit Connect or Ram ProMaster City, with ~180 cubic feet of interior cargo space available, which is plenty to make it attractive for last-mile delivery and trade work in tight urban markets.
Globally, the PV5 is offered with a number of battery options, including a smaller 43.3 kWh Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LFP) pack, as well as larger Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese (NCM) packs at 51.5 kWh and 71.2 kWh. The longest-range versions are good for about 250 miles of estimated range – more than enough for Kia to make a case for it as a practical, city-focused alternative to much larger (and pricier) electric vans.
Larger vans, by the way, that may not have that 5 star Euro NCAP rating.
Kia PV5
SOURCE | IMAGES: Kia; photo by Scooter Doll.
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