Battery Extender - did you order?

[savagecabbage]

I have not seen this poll (I did a search) so I think it would be very interesting to find out how many of us have ordered the extender.

I have a feeling that if the take rate is low, Tesla is more likely to offer customers the Gen3 battery pack vs the installable extender. Rumer is the Gen3 cell will have 20% more power…. If you combine weight savings vs an extender, I see a world where you get 100 miles more with the gen3 cell. The other rumor is this cell will cut in the production in Q2 CY25. The battery pack is easily removable, the front seats and the center console would be transferred to the new pack. I don’t see a reason for the extender if the gen3 cell delivers on the 20% promise, combine that with a low take rate, I can’t see a world where Telsa would even bother. The costs to manufacture and install would not make sense.

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[savagecabbage]

Bump

 

[savagecabbage]

So far I’m surprised how many people ordered. The sample is too small to be really meaningful, however if this trend continues I will be likely wrong in my assumption.

 

[CG Cowboy]

I did pre-order. For me, it was mainly about the frequent trips between Nashville and Chicago. Trying to minimize stops. Day-to-day, I don't even drive that much so I could easily be accused of over-preparing with the extender. Is the cost worth reducing the number of charger stops on the long trips? Arguable. I'm probably paying more for piece of mind than anything else. Expensive piece of mind.

 

[Djinndjinn]

I ordered because I really would like the range, but to be honest, I also really like my bed now in the size and shape that it is, especially for things like hauling E bikes. So I would be very, very happy to spend my money replacing the battery with a More efficient and longer range one, rather than having a range extender stuck in the bed and cutting into the bed size.

 

[Hunky Dory]

Hmmm. The poll is half n half at this point. I ordered the range extender. For me It is all about trailer range and camping. I also plan to have a dual fuel generator and some fuel, probably propane, for those kinds of trips.

 

[savagecabbage]

Hmmm. The poll is half n half at this point. I ordered the range extender. For me It is all about trailer range and camping. I also plan to have a dual fuel generator and some fuel, probably propane, for those kinds of trips.

Yes this is very surprising for
Me. I’m leaning towards people interested in the extender actually responding. I am finding it hard to reconcile that 50% of foundation trucks ordered the range extender.

 

[Balthezor]

The loss of bed space and high price is a no for me. But I don't tow or go on long trips.

 

[savagecabbage]

The loss of bed space and high price is a no for me. But I don't tow or go on long trips.

That is certainly a big factor. It is also why I think they might just swap the battery.

 

[Pulaski]

A battery swap would obviously be an ideal situation. And for that case, I feel the price would be justified and I will feel better about my reservation/purchase.

As someone who normally had auxiliary tank already in the bed of my truck, the advertised battery extender from Tesla would be no different in size and space than an aux tank. Same purpose, just a lot cleaner.

 

[mongo]

20% more isn't enough. Our plan is towing a travel trailer so +50% at the cost of 600ish pounds of payload is a good trade off.
If Tesla made 46120 cells and a 180- 200 kWh pack, that would be an an awesome alternative.

 

[savagecabbage]

20% more isn't enough. Our plan is towing a travel trailer so +50% at the cost of 600ish pounds of payload is a good trade off.
If Tesla made 46120 cells and a 180- 200 kWh pack, that would be an an awesome alternative.

20% more power with same weight, might be close to what a 800lbs 50kw pack would deliver. 20% on 123kw would be ~150kw. It would interesting to realistically see the range difference between 50kw + 800lbs vs 25kw and no weight change. Just taking 340 miles plus 20% gets to 410… would you really sacrifice 1/3 of your bed space and drag around 800lbs extra for 50 additional miles? Maybe? I’m not convinced Tesla will think it’s worth the trouble. I could be wrong, even likely wrong, but I would choose the battery swap. Who knows perhaps they scrap the battery extender… take the ~ 10000 pre orders and refund the money. I don’t doubt anything at this point.

 

[mongo]

20% more power with same weight, might be close to what a 800lbs 50kw pack would deliver. 20% on 123kw would be ~150kw. It would interesting to realistically see the range difference between 50kw + 800lbs vs 25kw and no weight change. Just taking 340 miles plus 20% gets to 410… would you really sacrifice 1/3 of your bed space and drag around 800lbs extra for 50 additional miles? Maybe? I’m not convinced Tesla will think it’s worth the trouble. I could be wrong, even likely wrong, but I would choose the battery swap. Who knows perhaps they scrap the battery extender… take the ~ 10000 pre orders and refund the money. I don’t doubt anything at this point.

800 pounds is likely overestimated.
Cells are 250Wh/kg 50 kWh = 200kg = 440 pounds + structure cooling and electronics.
Tire rolling drag coefficient is likely under 0.01, 600 pounds * 0.01 = 6 pound force = 12Wh/mile * 400 miles = 4.8 kWh loss. So a 50kWh extender nets 45 kWh.

Bed volume doesn't matter so much when we are towing a travel trailer, the critical questions to us are: can we make it to the next supercharger, at what speed, and how long to charge?

300 -> 150 with trailer
360 -> 180 with trailer
420 -> 210 with trailer

 

[savagecabbage]

800 pounds is likely overestimated.
Cells are 250Wh/kg 50 kWh = 200kg = 440 pounds + structure cooling and electronics.
Tire rolling drag coefficient is likely under 0.01, 600 pounds * 0.01 = 6 pound force = 12Wh/mile * 400 miles = 4.8 kWh loss. So a 50kWh extender nets 45 kWh.

Bed volume doesn't matter so much when we are towing a travel trailer, the critical questions to us are: can we make it to the next supercharger, at what speed, and how long to charge?

300 -> 150 with trailer
360 -> 180 with trailer
420 -> 210 with trailer

I have seen as high as 1000lbs and as low as 600lbs… I split the difference. As for charging, obviously it would be faster to charge 150kw vs 180kw. Moreover it is likely newer cells will have a better charging curve, further reducing charging time.

 

[mongo]

I have seen as high as 1000lbs and as low as 600lbs… I split the difference. As for charging, obviously it would be faster to charge 150kw vs 180kw. Moreover it is likely newer cells will have a better charging curve, further reducing charging time.

150kW is only faster to charge if you are maxing out the Supercharger or thermal management. Otherwise, the cells all charge at the same C rate so it takes the same time. Due to this, a larger pack can cut trip time even if it hurts efficency if it doesn't need as high an SOC to reach the next stop.

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