Range extender upgrade

[Deleted member 17810]

What if you never had to charge it at a Supercharger?

Suspend your disbelief for a moment.

What if there were a rack of these, sitting charged and/or charging, at most high-traffic superchargers. You unlock a charged one in the app, swap in your depleted one (or not), and continue on your way. Sitting in the rack, think of a server rack or laptop cart, Tesla could likely recharge these at AC-like rates of 7-11kw and for us consumers we'd basically just rent them. We could recharge them at home on AC, along with the rest of the truck, but if Supercharging these cells would not charge - just swappable on road trips. At 40-50lbs each, strap in the capacity you want or even pick them up as needed.

 

[Chris9702L]

Why the heck can’t they stick a thin pack on the bottom of the vehicle? I hear all about the height adjustment of the truck. I could care less! I’d sacrifice off road capability for more range and towing range.

 

[C3y3ber]

What’s the weight limit in the frunk?

I thought I read somewhere it was 420lbs but not 100% sure

 

[Woodrick]

Tesla has engineered other devices that are more complicated than what a modular battery pack would be, if it doesn't break physics laws than it would be possible. NIO has figured out a way to quick change an entire battery pack this would definitely be doable.

Tesla did that a long time ago. Model S had a droppable battery.
It really was problematic in the American market. Easy way to get rid of a problematic battery.

 

[YDR37]

What if that additional 700 lbs in weight for the extended battery (if made permanent when the truck was delivered) made the truck cross the boundary into a class 3 vehicle? Maybe Tesla is trying to avoid that...

The AWD and CyberBeast both have a GVWR of 9,169 lbs, which puts them in the Class 2b category (8,501 to 10,000 lbs). The GVWR is the maximum weight that would be OK if the truck was driven onto a scale; it includes the weight of the vehicle itself plus the weight of any passengers and cargo.

If you added a 700 lb range extender to a Cybertruck, the GVWR would still be 9,169 lbs. But the vehicle weight would increase by 700 lbs, and the available capacity for other cargo and passengers would decrease by 700 lbs.

In theory, Tesla could offer a Cybertruck package with stronger components and 700 lbs of additional GVWR (similar to the "Heavy-Duty Payload Package" that Ford formerly offered to boost the GVWR of the ICE F-150). If you combined a range extender with that package, then you could still have the same passenger/cargo capacity as a regular Cybertruck. And the 700 lbs of extra GVWR would only bring the GVWR up to 9,869 lbs, which would still be below the Class 3 threshold (of 10,001 lbs).

Of course, this is totally hypothetical. The point is simply that the range extender is not going to turn the Cybertruck into a Class 3 vehicle.

 

[charliemagpie]

Improving battery density by 50% will do me.

 

[Great Bay Shark]

And a "bigger battery pack" wasn't announced 4 years ago. The just announced a target mileage. And they aren't there, yet. They never discussed battery pack size.

What other method is there for getting 500 miles instead of 300 miles if not a larger battery pack? Some crazy battery technology breakthrough that would only be used in the Tri-motor Beast but not the Dual-motor or Rear-motor trims? Doesn't make sense.

 

[CyberGus]

... Tesla should create it as a removable set of lightweight modules that you could install/assemble and remove in 15/20 minutes by yourself

As predicted on TMC, before the launch:

 

[PilotPete]

What other method is there for getting 500 miles instead of 300 miles if not a larger battery pack? Some crazy battery technology breakthrough that would only be used in the Tri-motor Beast but not the Dual-motor or Rear-motor trims? Doesn't make sense.

Lower Cd, more efficient motors, greater energy storage per battery, less cooling/more batteries per square foot, lower weight, climate change causing constant tailwinds, I don't know, I didn't set the targets! All I'm saying is that what was announced was a target mileage. It's inaccurate to state anything else.

 

[Great Bay Shark]

Lower Cd, more efficient motors, greater energy storage per battery, less cooling/more batteries per square foot, lower weight, climate change causing constant tailwinds, I don't know, I didn't set the targets! All I'm saying is that what was announced was a target mileage. It's inaccurate to state anything else.

For me the 500 mile target range was the selling point. Also the big price difference between the dual and tri-motor versions impied that there would be a bigger battery, not just an additional motor on the rear axle. Other than that, I already have an EV that's capable of around 250 miles per charge (a Model 3 Performance). Why would I buy another EV with the same range 6 years later and at twice the cost?

 

[PilotPete]

For me the 500 mile target range was the selling point. Also the big price difference between the dual and tri-motor versions impied that there would be a bigger battery, not just an additional motor on the rear axle. Other than that, I already have an EV that's capable of around 250 miles per charge (a Model 3 Performance). Why would I buy another EV with the same range 6 years later and at twice the cost?

Ok, I'm going to be very literal and specific, not everyone's style, and that's ok. The big price difference between the two versions was a price difference between two versions. You assumed it meant a bigger battery, but the implication is just an assumption. You originally stated that they had offered a larger battery, and I said they didn't. In the initial announcement, they never actually talk about battery pack size. And, technically, they aren't offering a "Tri-motor" version. Sure, they have the CB, which has 3 motors, but technically, there is no version named the "Tri-Motor". Picky? Maybe, but so is the marketing and legal department. Conversely, there was no announcement of the CyberBeast in 2019. Again, very literal, but true.

How would I know why you would buy another EV? People on here have given their reasons, but only you can answer for you. Maybe you want a truck, or something faster, or you think it's cooler looking, or you want something shiny, or you like all the tech in it, or you're thinking of starting a moving company for only college dorms? Or maybe it doesn't make sense to you and you don't. I get that too. I'm 51% sure I'm going to get the CB. In the "other" category is the new M3+ Performance/Ludacris/whatever they call it and a MSP. I need to see and touch the new M3+P and touch the CT. I'm not a Tesla salesman, I don't care what everyone else buys, I don't currently own a Tesla. I honestly believe everyone should buy whatever makes them happy and serves their needs. And what I like and what I need has nothing to do with what anyone else needs or wants. I'm way past the age where I need someone else to validate my choices by following in my footsteps. Heck, there's a 49% chance I won't buy the CT!

 

[Celiboy]

For me the 500 mile target range was the selling point. Also the big price difference between the dual and tri-motor versions impied that there would be a bigger battery, not just an additional motor on the rear axle. Other than that, I already have an EV that's capable of around 250 miles per charge (a Model 3 Performance). Why would I buy another EV with the same range 6 years later and at twice the cost?

That’s the state of the industry right now. No other manufacturers are gonna give you a 500 mile truck any time soon if ever. What’s available now is what’s available no matter what was promised 4 years ago. The Silverado EV truck is supposed to have a pack that will give you 400 plus miles of range so that is always an option. One of the reasons they didn’t want to hit the 500 mile range is most people don’t need that much so it would be a waste of batteries. If you do need that much range the range extender is available. Even if the EPA rated it at 500 miles, we all know it wouldn’t mean you could go 500 miles on a charge. Too many other factors come into play that would prevent it and give people one more thing to complain about.

 

[SentinelOne]

Why would I buy another EV with the same range 6 years later and at twice the cost?

because Truck > Sedan for many use cases, many people! And while I love my M3P too, it's not a CT in many many ways! But I understand your point and get the logic if you dont need a truck.

 

[ChristianNO]

I would like to see some aftermarket products that use the compartment within the bed to place some extending batteries.

 

[Hooligan]

The cyber truck range extender is an amazing idea and invention, but Tesla should create it as a removable set of lightweight modules that you could install/assemble and remove in 15/20 minutes by yourself 50 pound-ish each able to mount on the bed of the truck would provide very long towing range, and easy to take out when not needed. We could buy more over time to increase range.

Maybe lift it out with ceiling winch: SMARTERHOME.COMGarage Smart Tools