Tesla, the American car manufacturer, recently confirmed that it can unlock additional range for the basic Tesla Model Y equipped with rear-wheel drive. As reported by Technopedia, customers who are willing to pay for the extra range will be offered this option by Tesla.
Elon Musk disclosed that all rear-drive versions of the Model Y manufactured in the US over the past few months can gain an additional range of 40 to 60 miles for a fee of $1,500 to $2,000 through a software update, depending on the battery cells installed.
Tesla is currently undergoing regulatory approvals to enable this hidden feature in the Model Y. Meanwhile, Tesla has ceased production of this Model Y version in the USA and replaced it with a longer-range version that offers an estimated range of 320 miles.
Tesla has not provided information on why this additional capacity was not available from the start of production, but as is known, electric vehicle manufacturers need to balance battery capacity with battery life. With the introduction of the new 4680 cell format, the automaker was likely cautious to minimize the risk of premature battery replacement under warranty.
While this move increases the base price of the Model Y, it may appeal to drivers who value the range of their electric vehicle above all else. Historically, this is not the first time Tesla has used software to unlock the full battery capacity.
Larger sibling models, the S and X with 60 kWh batteries, were actually 75 kWh versions with software-reduced capacity. If you later decided you wanted the longer range, you simply paid to unlock the additional 15 kWh of battery capacity.
Currently, however, Tesla’s strategy is slightly different. It seems that the option to increase the Model Y’s range is more about meeting the needs of customers who were initially satisfied with their purchases but now want the range offered by the new version.
