Tesla Cybertruck needs separate battery pack in the bed to get the range it promised
Tesla Cybertruck has officially launched and the range is a bit disappointing as the automaker introduces a new “range extender”, which is a separate battery pack that sits in the bed of the pickup truck.
For a second, I was upset at the end of the Cybertruck delivery event because CEO Elon Musk didn’t mention anything about the vehicle’s range or pricing.
It was certainly a strange decision.
Tesla ended up releasing all the pricing and range details on its website right after the event.
But we were still confused even after that because the range was listed with and without something called “range extender”.
| Rear-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive | CyberBeast | |
| Price | $60,990 | $79,990 | $99,990 |
| Range | 250 miles | 340 miles | 320 miles |
| Range with extender | Not mentioned | 470+ miles | 440+ miles |
Range extender is a strange term for Tesla to use. In the past, it was used by other automakers when talking about a small gas generator to increase the range in electric vehicles, like in the original BMW i3.
We had to get clarification and the only place to do that these days is with Elon on X. Fortunately, he responded to my inquiry pretty quickly:
He explained that the Tesla Cybertruck range extender is an optional battery pack that fits on the back of the truck’s bed and takes about one-third of the cargo space.
Tesla SVP of Engineering, Drew Baglino, confirmed that it is a “toolbox-size” battery pack that sits next to the cabin like this (featured image above has since been updated to the real Tesla range extender):
Tesla claims that the pack results in an additional 130 miles of range on the Cybertruck dual motor.
Based on that, it should be a fairly significant pack with 30 to 40 kWh of capacity.
There’s no word on how heavy it is going to be and how easy it is to get in and out of the truck because based on Musk and Baglino’s comments, the idea is to only have it in the truck when needed.
There’s also no word on pricing and availability.
Electrek’s Take
That’s a weird move from Tesla. Obviously, the biggest bummer is the fact that Tesla doesn’t deliver on range without this.
The Dual Motor is getting an “estimated range” of 340 miles, but we have seen prototypes having displayed range between 267 and 290 miles, which is likely more representative of real-world range then the estimated EPA range.
It’s nowhere near the range that it announced back when it first unveiled the Cybertruck in 2019.
Now, there are some advantages and disadvantages to the design.
Disadvantages:
- Getting in and out of the bed is a hassle
- It takes up cargo space in the back
- How does it connect to the powertrain and charge when on the truck?
Advantages:
- Your truck is more efficient when you don’t need the extra range
- You can use the pack at home like a Powerwall?
Some of these remain to be confirmed, but things like being used at home like a Powerwall would make a ton of sense.
What do you think about Tesla’s Range Extender move? Let us know in the comment section below.
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When the $7,500 Federal EV tax credit expired September 30th, a number of carmakers leaped into action, offering rebates, price cuts, and promos of their own in a bid to keep the good times rolling. Now, it seems like even Rolls-Royce is getting in on the act with a fresh $5,000 rebate of its own for November.
CarScoops is reporting a rare lease incentive offering on the ultra-luxe Rolls-Royce Spectre electric coupe that it says, “replaces the expired $7,500 Federal EV tax credit.”
Granted, with the price of the base Spectre starting at $397,750 and climbing quickly to $467,750 for the Spectre Black Badge model, the big coupe is well above the old $80K cap and its buyers likely make far too much to qualify anyway — but if there’s one thing I’ve learned from my few brushes with Real Wealth™, it’s this: those hate paying taxes.
As such, it’s not that hard to imagine a Rolls-Royce salesperson explaining this in those terms. “This isn’t a discount or a sale or anything so gaudy,” he’d explain, dismissing any concern as petty as price. “We’re simply honoring the tax credit that you deserve.”
Rolling deep
The Rolls-Royce Spectre first rolled (Ha!) into showrooms in 2023 with a perfect sufficient 430 kW (577 hp) electric motor drawing energy from a stout, 120 kWh battery pack good for up to 265 miles (~425 km) of range. The Black Badge version bumps the horsepower to 650 (485 kW), but the purists will tell you that either number is enough.
You can find out more about Rolls-Royce’ EV leas deals, below, then let us know what you think about this sordid business of “discount dash” in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
SOURCE: CarScoops; images via Rolls-Royce.
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Germany is about to become home to Europe’s largest battery storage system – a massive 1 gigawatt (GW) / 4 gigawatt-hour (GWh) project in Jänschwalde, Brandenburg.
LEAG Clean Power GmbH and Fluence Energy GmbH, a subsidiary of US-based Fluence Energy (NASDAQ: FLNC), are teaming up to build the “GigaBattery Jänschwalde 1000.” The four-hour system will use Fluence’s Smartstack technology, its latest large-scale energy storage solution.
Once complete, Europe’s largest battery storage project will play a key role in stabilizing Germany’s grid and storing renewable power for when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing. It’s designed to deliver essential grid services, support energy trading, and boost energy security as the country phases out fossil fuels.
LEAG’s broader “GigawattFactory” plan combines solar and wind farms with flexible power plants and large-scale batteries across Germany’s Lusatian energy region. “By constructing gigascale storage facilities, we’re addressing one of the biggest challenges of the energy transition: ensuring constant power regardless of the availability of renewable energies,” said Adi Roesch, CEO of the LEAG Group.
Fluence CEO Julian Nebreda described the project as a “milestone for the energy future of Germany and Europe,” adding that it demonstrates how collaboration and cutting-edge technology can “transform the foundation of our economy and our everyday lives.”
The German government recently reaffirmed the importance of storage in building a secure and affordable clean power system. With this 4 GWh giant, LEAG and Fluence are implementing that priority in one of Europe’s most coal-heavy regions.
Read more: Battery boom: 5.6 GW of US energy storage added in Q2
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