Over-the-air updates have opened the door for automakers to add and refine all sorts of features in new vehicles, including extended ranges for EVs. Tesla recently did just that for the now-discontinued Model Y RWD, offering owners the chance to add range – for a price.
The Energy Boost feature adds up to 50 miles of range to the Model Y RWD’s EPA-estimated 260-mile range. Tesla discontinued the base model earlier this year when it introduced the Long Range RWD model with 320 miles of range, but CEO Elon Musk announced the range extension package for the base RWD model at the same time.
Originally promising 40-60 miles of extra range, the expected price tag was between $1,500 and $2,000. Tesla hit that target and is charging $1,600 for the privilege of additional range, though some battery configurations can only add 30 miles for a lower cost of $1,000. Either way, those gains are significant and could bring the EV up to 290 miles or 310 miles of range, depending on the configuration.
Tesla doesn’t detail its battery supply chain or talk about its suppliers, but we know the company deals with LG and Panasonic for some battery packs. It might seem like bad business to withhold battery capacity and charge more for it later on, but the move likely saved Tesla considerably on its supply chain, since it could define different ranges for the same battery pack depending on the model.
Model Y RWD owners can upgrade their range estimates by opening the Tesla App. The Energy Boost feature is located under the “Upgrades,” then “Software Updates,” and “Buy” menus.
[Images: Tesla]
Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.
