Photo: Tesla
Tesla makes good on Elon Musk's previous promise and offers a range boost for the Model Y RWD. However, the move irked some owners, who consider that Tesla should've offered the upgrade for free. The disagreement shows that people are still split about software-defined vehicles.
People have long suspected that Tesla was producing the entry-level Model Y RWD with a software-locked Long Range battery. This helped qualify all variants of the electric crossover for the federal tax credit. However, it also prompted Model Y RWD owners to search for a way to unlock the rest of the battery capacity.
Elon Musk addressed this in May, promising that Tesla is working through the regulatory approvals for the range unlock. Musk announced that the Model Y RWD, which offered a 260-mile (418-km) range from the factory, could gain 40 to 60 miles (64 to 97 km), depending on the battery cells. He also offered a price estimate between $1,500 and $2,000.
In the past months, Tesla made some moves that confirmed that the Model Y RWD battery was software-locked. For instance, it discontinued the Model Y RWD trim and introduced a Long Range (LR) RWD variant with 320 miles of range. This was, in fact, the same vehicle but with a 60-mile range boost, similar to what Musk promised for the Y RWD. Now, Tesla is taking a step further and is offering a similar range boost to Model Y RWD owners.
It's not exactly what Musk promised, with the range boost upgrade between 30 to 50 miles (instead of 40-60) and prices adjusted accordingly to $1,000-$1,600. The offer started appearing in the Tesla app, but it was not what people expected. You can't choose the boost level, as this depends on the battery configuration. Some owners were offered the $1,600 upgrade to add "up to 50 miles," while others were asked $1,000 for "up to 30 miles."
Considering that Tesla tends to be rather optimistic about range, adding "up to" to the offer could mean anything. Tesla states that the estimates "are based on internal modeling" instead of EPA estimates, so take this with a grain of salt. The range can also vary depending on the battery age and driving style, so it's more wishful thinking than a promise. The upgrade is only available in the US, as Canadian customers get slightly different vehicles produced at Giga Shanghai. The Model Y RWD, in particular, is made with LFP cells.
While some cheered at the idea of having additional range, even as a paid upgrade, others were not that happy. Many were reminded of BMW's blunders when it offered paid upgrades for hardware features already installed in the vehicles, such as seat heating. From their perspective, Tesla's move is a money grab and a missed opportunity to wow owners with a free upgrade.
Others pointed out that Tesla didn't promise more range, and owners paid for what they got. Offering the range boost upgrade for free would've annoyed Model Y LR AWD owners, who paid more for the car that already included the range boost. It's reasonable to expect that upgrading your vehicle from the standard range to the Long Range model should not be free.
However, a fresh new perspective takes into account the headroom of a software-capped battery. The software lock offers a lot of headroom, allowing owners to regularly charge the battery to 100% without worrying about degradation. Charging the 260-mile pack to 100% regularly means that you have the same range as a Model Y LR RWD (or the base model with the range boost upgrade). This is like upgrading for free, with the exception that you won't be able to count on 320 miles when you need it on a road trip.
Elon Musk addressed this in May, promising that Tesla is working through the regulatory approvals for the range unlock. Musk announced that the Model Y RWD, which offered a 260-mile (418-km) range from the factory, could gain 40 to 60 miles (64 to 97 km), depending on the battery cells. He also offered a price estimate between $1,500 and $2,000.
In the past months, Tesla made some moves that confirmed that the Model Y RWD battery was software-locked. For instance, it discontinued the Model Y RWD trim and introduced a Long Range (LR) RWD variant with 320 miles of range. This was, in fact, the same vehicle but with a 60-mile range boost, similar to what Musk promised for the Y RWD. Now, Tesla is taking a step further and is offering a similar range boost to Model Y RWD owners.
It's not exactly what Musk promised, with the range boost upgrade between 30 to 50 miles (instead of 40-60) and prices adjusted accordingly to $1,000-$1,600. The offer started appearing in the Tesla app, but it was not what people expected. You can't choose the boost level, as this depends on the battery configuration. Some owners were offered the $1,600 upgrade to add "up to 50 miles," while others were asked $1,000 for "up to 30 miles."
Considering that Tesla tends to be rather optimistic about range, adding "up to" to the offer could mean anything. Tesla states that the estimates "are based on internal modeling" instead of EPA estimates, so take this with a grain of salt. The range can also vary depending on the battery age and driving style, so it's more wishful thinking than a promise. The upgrade is only available in the US, as Canadian customers get slightly different vehicles produced at Giga Shanghai. The Model Y RWD, in particular, is made with LFP cells.
While some cheered at the idea of having additional range, even as a paid upgrade, others were not that happy. Many were reminded of BMW's blunders when it offered paid upgrades for hardware features already installed in the vehicles, such as seat heating. From their perspective, Tesla's move is a money grab and a missed opportunity to wow owners with a free upgrade.
Others pointed out that Tesla didn't promise more range, and owners paid for what they got. Offering the range boost upgrade for free would've annoyed Model Y LR AWD owners, who paid more for the car that already included the range boost. It's reasonable to expect that upgrading your vehicle from the standard range to the Long Range model should not be free.
However, a fresh new perspective takes into account the headroom of a software-capped battery. The software lock offers a lot of headroom, allowing owners to regularly charge the battery to 100% without worrying about degradation. Charging the 260-mile pack to 100% regularly means that you have the same range as a Model Y LR RWD (or the base model with the range boost upgrade). This is like upgrading for free, with the exception that you won't be able to count on 320 miles when you need it on a road trip.
Tesla: Would you like the Standard Range Model Y for $40,000 or the Long Range for $45,000?
— Whole Mars Catalog (@WholeMarsBlog) July 13, 2024
Customer A: I’ll take the standard range. I’m happy with the range it provides and don’t want to pay extra
Tesla: Cool, just let me know if you ever want to add more range. We can… https://t.co/yLugUZAEcv
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