Tesla didn’t provide any information about the Cybertruck electric ute’s so-called “Range Extender” at its delivery event last week, but a company executive has subsequently shed some light.
Tesla senior vice president of powertrain and energy Drew Baglino has confirmed the Cybertruck‘s Range Extender isn’t a combustion engine that can be used as a generator, something this term is typically used for, but rather a toolbox-sized battery pack that’s installed behind the cabin in the tub.
At this stage there have been no details provided about pricing for the Range Extender, battery capacity, nor how easy it is to install and remove from the ute’s tub.
What we do know however is in order to reach the claimed range targets Tesla quoted on certain Cybertruck variants you’ll need to have the Range Extender.
The flagship Tesla Cybertruck Cyberbeast variant is claimed to have an estimated range of 515km according to an undisclosed testing standard, but when paired with the Range Extender it can do more than 705km.
The mid-spec Cybertruck All-Wheel Drive also is claimed to have an estimated range of 547km according to an undisclosed testing standard, though when paired with the Range Extender it can do more than 755km.
With the Range Extender equipped it therefore provides range increases of at least 190km and 208km, respectively.
For now Tesla hasn’t indicated if the entry-level Cybertruck Rear-Wheel Drive will be available with the Range Extender.
As recently reported, Tesla officially delivered the first few examples of its Cybertruck as part of a live event at its plant in Texas.
The company also detailed technical specifications and estimated pricing of the North American model.
The dual-motor All-Wheel Drive variant is estimated to start at US$79,990 (~A$120,000), and the tri-motor Cyberbeast variant is estimated to cost US$99,990 (~A$150,000).
Full-scale North American deliveries of these variants will commence during 2024.
The entry-level single-motor Rear-Wheel Drive variant will follow the launch range in 2025, and is estimated to be priced from US$60,990 (~A$92,000).
The flagship Tesla Cybertruck Cyberbeast tri-motor variant has a system output of 630kW of power and 13,959Nm of torque. The latter is likely a wheel torque figure, and not motor torque.
It can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 2.7 seconds (with rollout subtracted) and flat out you’ll be doing 209km/h. This is wild given it has a kerb weight of 3107kg.
The mid-range Cybertruck All-Wheel Drive is powered by a dual-motor setup producing system outputs of 447kW and 10,080Nm. The latter is yet again expected to be a wheel torque figure and not motor torque.
It can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.1 second and flat out it’ll be doing 180km/h.
Tesla hasn’t detailed the entry-level Cybertruck Rear-Wheel Drive at this stage, though it will be able to do the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.7 seconds and have a top speed of 180km/h.
The Cybertruck is the first Tesla to adopt a 48V/800V electrical architecture. It has a maximum DC fast-charging rate of 250kW, which Tesla claims can add up to 206km of range in 15 minutes of charging.
All Tesla Cybertruck variants, apart from the Rear-Wheel Drive, have a maximum towing capacity of 4990kg. The Cybertruck Rear-Wheel Drive on the other hand has a maximum towing capacity of 3402kg.
To read all the details about the North American-specification Tesla Cybertruck, click here.
