Tesla has quietly taken out a big part of the Cybertruck: the extra battery meant to help it go far. For a long time, this part was shown on their website, made to ease fears about how far it could go and to help the truck on long trips. Now, it’s gone without any note or reason, leaving buyers and market folks wondering why.
What was the Extra Battery? Tech Facts and Promise
The extra battery was not like a normal generator or hybrid add-on. Tesla made it as a separate battery pack that would sit in the back of the Cybertruck, taking up about one-third of the space for cargo. For the dual-motor Cybertruck, it costs $16,000 and was set to up the driving range to 445 miles from the basic 325 miles. That is a lot, especially for those who care about long trips and towing.
The Journey of the Range Extender: Promised and Pulled
The range extender story points to the priorities and timelines of Tesla’s shift. Tesla initially introduced the accessory for release in early 2025, but it was delayed later to mid-2025. In the process, the dual-motor variant’s anticipated range slipped from more than 470 miles to 445—a 25-mile dip that went unnoticed.
Even though the Cybertruck went into production more than a year and a half ago, the range extender never materialized. And then, without warning, in April 2025, Tesla quietly took it out of the configurator. No press release, no blog entry—just a behind-the-scenes tweak that left customers unable to spec it onto new orders.
Why the Range Extender Mattered to Buyers
For most, the range extender was more than a come-what-may add-on—it was an answer to a major limitation. The Cybertruck’s real range missed Tesla’s initial hype. The tri-motor model, initially promised to reach 500 miles for $70,000, came in at 320 miles for $100,000. The dual-motor variant, promised to come in over 300 miles for $50,000, now begins at $80,000 with 325 miles of range.
The range extender was Tesla’s response to these lacunae, providing a means of making reality converge with expectations. Without it, customers wanting maximum range have fewer options, even as others compete to set boundaries in the electric truck space.
The Unanswered Questions and What’s Next for Cybertruck
By August 2025, the Cybertruck will be out in All-Wheel Drive and Cyberbeast forms. Yet, the long-awaited Rear-Wheel Drive type is still missing. About 46,000 of these trucks have been sent to buyers. But they lack a range extender, showing a clear issue for users who need more miles per charge.
Tesla’s under-the-radar move is a reminder that in the rapidly changing world of electric cars, even the most highly touted features can vanish overnight—sometimes without so much as a word.
