Tesla Wants To Charge Some Model Y Owners Up To $2,000 To Unlock Hidden Range

If you own an entry-level Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive, you’re in luck as Tesla CEO Elon Musk has revealed the ‘Standard Range’ variant can actually travel farther than its EPA-estimated rating of 260 miles (418 km). However, unlocking that additional range will cost you.

In a social media post, the outspoken executive said the recently discontinued entry-level variant can gain 40 to 60 miles (64 to 97 km) of additional range depending on the battery. Musk went on to say the company wants to charge $1,500 to $2,000 to unlock a capability the car already has and they’re “working through regulatory approvals to enable this.”

More: Tesla Axes Entire 500-Person Supercharger Team

While charging people to unlock a battery they already own didn’t exactly go over well, Musk said “We have to pay the bills somehow.” That’s been ringing especially true at Tesla as there have been an assortment of cuts recently including the gutting of the Supercharger team.

The “260 mile” range Model Y’s built over the past several months actually have more range that can be unlocked for $1500 to $2000 (gains 40 to 60 miles of range), depending on which battery cells you have.

Working through regulatory approvals to enable this. pic.twitter.com/6d5Ntekk01

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 4, 2024

On April 19^th, the Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive cost $44,990 before the federal tax credit. That’s the same price as the ‘new’ Model Y Long-Range Rear-Wheel Drive despite having an estimated range of 320 miles (515 km). For those of you who can’t be bothered with the math, the old entry-level variant can be given the same range as the new variant, but owners will have to pay an extra $2,000 or so for the privilege.

This isn’t exactly a new strategy for Tesla as the company has previously lowered the range of some variants and then offered to unlock it later. The company has even unlocked the range for free for California residents fleeing wildfires.

H/T to The Verge