Tesla Cancels Official Range Extender Battery Service for Cybertruck Without Announcement

【PCauto】In early April 2025, Tesla removed the range extender battery service option for the Cybertruck from its official website without any prior announcement.

The Cybertruck is equipped with 4680 cylindrical batteries utilizing nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) lithium-ion chemistry, offering an energy density of approximately 0.17 kWh/kg. Each individual battery has a capacity of about 91.5 Wh, with a total of 1,344 batteries in the vehicle, resulting in a total capacity of 123 kWh and a maximum range of up to 547 kilometers.

The range extender battery service was initially priced at $16,000 and was designed to enhance the all-wheel-drive version's range from 547 kilometers to 756 kilometers by adding a 47 kWh battery pack. Meanwhile, the range of the top-trim Cyberbeast version would increase from 515 kilometers to 708 kilometers. However, this configuration would occupy about one-third of the cargo space, potentially diminishing the Cybertruck's practicality as a pickup.

Currently, customers who have paid a deposit ranging from $500 to $2,000 (about 25% of pre-order users) find themselves in a dilemma: they have no confirmation on the availability of this service and lack official clarity on refunds or alternative options.

Technically, the practicality of the range extender battery is clearly contradictory. As a pickup truck, cargo space is one of the Cybertruck's key selling points while the installation of a range extender battery could undermine its loading capacity.

Additionally, the steep price tag of $16,000 for the range extender together with the actual range of the production version of the Cybertruck, which has not reached the initially advertised 800 kilometers, leads to a lack of market acceptance. Tesla may leverage this opportunity to adjust its product strategy, focusing on optimizing its original battery technology rather than relying on additional services.

The removal of the Cybertruck range extender battery service exemplifies Tesla’s balancing act between technological iteration and market strategy. It presents both challenges and opportunities: if Tesla can accelerate the implementation of its core battery technology and tailor products to regional demands, it still has the potential to solidify its leading position in the rapidly growing emerging markets.