Tesla Model Y range boost: Unlocking potential at a price
Tesla will soon offer the option to increase the range in the Model Y, but this service will come at a cost. Elon Musk has announced that for a fee ranging from £1,200 to £2,000, it will be possible to unlock the full battery capacity in new electric vehicles.
6 May 2024 18:01
The Tesla Model Y is a model that enjoys significant interest in the electric vehicle market. It stands out for its solid technical specifications and attractive price, especially when considering subsidies from the "My Electric" program. However, it appears that this car's potential could be even greater if Tesla had not implemented intentional limitations.
The Tesla Model Y standardly has a limited range
Elon Musk shared information on his social media profile, revealing that the standard version of the Tesla Model Y with rear-wheel drive (RWD) has a greater range than the declared "260 miles." Depending on the type of batteries used, an additional 65 to 95 kilometres of range will be possible.
This applies to vehicles produced "in recent months." However, Musk did not specify whether this refers to all models or just a specific production series, for instance, one where higher capacity cells were installed. It is also unclear which regions will offer these enhanced Tesla Y models.
Increasing the range will have a cost
Elon Musk indicated that he is waiting for the appropriate regulatory bodies to approve the changes in full. Unfortunately, if you thought Tesla would offer this update as a free bonus for its customers, you were mistaken. You must pay between £1,200 and £2,000 to unlock the increased range.
It's worth noting that this is not the first time Tesla has artificially limited the range of its cars. In 2016, in the Tesla S70 model, customers could pay to increase the capacity from 70 kWh to 75 kWh, which cost them "only" £2,400.
