Tesla’s Extra Range For Old Model Y RWDs Has A Big Catch

After rolling out a new base trim Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD in May, Elon Musk promised that the Texas-based EV maker would offer a range boost to older Model Y RWDs. The automaker is now following through on its promise, but there’s a huge catch – the additional battery juice isn’t cheap and might raise some eyebrows.

In a social media post, Tesla North America announced that an upgrade called Energy Boost is now available through an over-the-air software update, giving eligible older rear-driven Tesla Model Y units an additional 50 miles to their range. Owners can purchase the upgrade via the Tesla App under Upgrades for $1,600. Not all older Model Y RWDs are eligible for the 50-mile range upgrade. Depending on the battery equipped, some may only qualify for a 30-mile range upgrade, costing them $1,000.

That’s A Bit Steep

To recall, Musk noted before that the upgrade would be 40 and 60 miles, so this Energy Boost is a bit short on that promise. Tesla didn’t specify what exactly comes with the Energy Boost upgrade, but X users were quick to point out that since the update was via OTA, the additional boost could mean efficiency changes to extract more from the batteries.

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Other X users were also disappointed about the pricing. Some pointed out that Tesla could have easily provided the OTA without cost, especially considering that the new base Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD (with 320 miles of range) is priced nearly the same as the older 260-mile Model Y RWD. This puts the new Long Range RWD at an excellent value proposition with a price tag of $39,130 with Federal Tax credit factored in.

A New Model Y Is Coming

Whether the Energy Boost is good news will depend on the owners of older models, but we’d be remiss not to point out that a new Model Y is coming. The best-selling vehicle in the world is getting a major revamp under the Juniper codename, and prototypes have already been spotted testing on American roads.

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There’s a catch, though. Musk has confirmed that the refreshed Model Y will not be available this year, so those who want to move on to the newer version might have to wait at least six months. We’ll know more in the coming months, so watch this space.