It’s not looking good for Tesla’s Cybertruck range extender

The Verge - Apr 7th, 2025

Tesla has removed the Cybertruck's battery range extender accessory from its online configurator, which was initially announced to extend the electric vehicle's driving range to 445 miles. This accessory, priced at $16,000, occupied nearly half of the truck's rear bed space and was expected to become available between early to mid-2025. The removal comes amidst shifting promises about the Cybertruck's range capabilities and Tesla's current offerings, which now include a dual-motor model with a 325-mile range for $79,990 and a tri-motor 'Cyberbeast' with a 301-mile range for $99,990. Despite the accessory's absence, Tesla has collected a $2,000 non-refundable reservation fee from customers, leaving uncertainty about the future of these funds if the extender does not launch.

Tesla's decision to pull the range extender reflects broader challenges the company faces, including a 13 percent decline in sales year over year. This decline is partially attributed to CEO Elon Musk's political engagement with the Trump Administration, affecting Tesla's market perception. The Cybertruck itself has struggled to achieve commercial success, with only 50,000 units sold in 2024 out of an anticipated one million reservations. The accessory's removal and the company's dwindling sales highlight the obstacles Tesla must overcome to regain its footing in the electric vehicle market.

Elon Musk Tesla Electric Vehicles Sales Decline Cybertruck Battery Range Extender

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RATING

5.4

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article provides timely coverage of Tesla's Cybertruck and its range extender, a topic of significant public interest due to Tesla's prominence in the electric vehicle market. However, the accuracy of some claims, particularly regarding Elon Musk's political involvement and specific product details, requires further verification. The article could benefit from a more balanced perspective, including comments from Tesla or other industry experts. While the language and structure are clear, enhancing source quality and transparency would improve the overall reliability of the information presented. Despite these shortcomings, the article effectively engages readers interested in Tesla and the evolving electric vehicle landscape.

Accuracy

The article presents several factual claims that require verification. The removal of the Cybertruck Range Extender from Tesla's online configurator is reported, but confirmation from official Tesla sources is lacking. The story claims the range extender was initially set to increase the Cybertruck's range to 470 miles, later revised to 445 miles, which is only partially supported by other sources. Additionally, the article inaccurately suggests Elon Musk's involvement in the Trump Administration, a claim not supported by available information. The reported sales figures for the Cybertruck and overall Tesla sales decline also require verification from credible sources.

Balance

The article focuses primarily on the negative aspects of Tesla's Cybertruck and its range extender accessory, such as delays and removal from the configurator. It does not provide a comprehensive view that includes potential reasons for these changes or any positive developments related to Tesla's electric vehicles. The absence of Tesla's perspective or comments from company representatives contributes to a somewhat unbalanced presentation. Including a wider range of viewpoints could enhance the article's balance.

Clarity

The article is generally clear in its presentation of information, with a straightforward structure that makes it easy to follow. The language used is accessible, and the key points are highlighted effectively. However, some claims, such as Elon Musk's involvement in the Trump Administration, are misleading and could confuse readers. Ensuring all claims are accurate would improve clarity further.

Source quality

The article references Electrek as a source, which is known for covering news related to electric vehicles and Tesla. However, it lacks direct quotes or statements from Tesla representatives, which would strengthen the credibility of the claims made. The reliance on a single primary source without corroboration from other authoritative sources limits the overall reliability of the information presented.

Transparency

The article does not clearly disclose the sources of its information beyond a mention of Electrek. There is a lack of transparency regarding how the information was obtained and whether any attempts were made to verify claims directly with Tesla. Additionally, there is no discussion of potential conflicts of interest or biases that might affect the reporting, which diminishes the transparency of the article.