The updated Tesla app which we saw has now started becoming available to users. It looks to be rolling out first to iOS, but we expect an Android release to follow very soon (Update: Android version has started rolling out as well!).
What’s New
The app has been redesigned, but the core functionality and layout remain largely the same. There are a couple bigger functionality changes which we’ll start off with.
First, you’ll now be able to send commands to your car immediately, instead of having to wait until the car wakes up. The days of waiting for your vehicle to wake up before you can turn on the HVAC are gone.
The other big functionality change is just as nice if you have multiple Teslas. If you’re lucky enough to own more than one Tesla, you can now unlock any Tesla using your phone key. Previously, you could only unlock the vehicle that was selected in the app.
Other changes in the app are more subtle, but we’ll discuss them below.
You still have a rendering of the car at the very top, followed by some quick action buttons and some categories underneath that. However, the car renderings are now completely 3D and you’ll get fluid 3D transitions as you navigate the app and go into various menus. The battery icon at the top is now much smaller, gray and justified left.
Charging
The Charging section has been removed. Charging information will now be displayed only when your car is plugged in. Upon plugging in your Tesla, you’ll be presented with options to unlock the charge port and start charging. There’ll now be a nice animation of electricity running through the cable when your vehicle is charging. The time remaining, amperage and mi/hr are now displayed near the top of the app, below the battery icon.
A nice addition is that when picking your charge limit in percentage, you can now easily jump to round percentages, such as 70, 80, 90, etc. If your vehicle is charging, it’ll show you an estimate of how many miles it will charge up to.
You can now also view Supercharging history right within the app, instead of having to view it in the car or on Tesla’s website.
Controls
The Controls panel now features a large view of the car with buttons to open the frunk, trunk, charge port and unlock the vehicle. The speed limit, valet mode and sentry mode settings have been moved to a new category labeled Security. The Vent button has been moved to the Climate section.
Climate
In the Climate section things look very similar. You can now view the interior of the vehicle a little better and there’s a new fluid animation when the air vents are blowing. The exterior temperature is also displayed in addition to the interior temperature.
Upgrades
The upgrades section also received a facelift and now includes more information. There are now two sections, Software Upgrades, which feature the Buy and Subscribe sections we’re familiar with and a new Accessories section which offers Tesla accessories specific to your model.
Security
The new security section, in addition to having features that were previously available in other sections will also provide tips for how to improve your phone key experience. For example, if you have Bluetooth turned off, or location services for the app disabled, it’ll point out that unlocking your vehicle can be more reliable if you have those options enabled.
Widgets
With the introduction of the 4.0 release, Tesla has also released Widgets. For iOS there’s a 2x2 widget and a 4x2 widget. Both widget sizes feature the same information, which is the name of the car, battery percentage, location (or charging information), unlock status, an image of the vehicle and the time the information was last updated.
Overall, the app is much smoother and sleeker than the previous version. Some fonts are a little small such as the car information at the very bottom of the app, but this is a great update that we’re sure Tesla will continue to tweak and build upon.
Update:Elon has now confirmed that Bioweapon Defense Mode is coming to the Tesla app as well.
Powershare is a feature that is currently exclusive to the Cybertruck and one of the truck’s best selling points. With its massive 123kWh battery, the Cybertruck can supply power to your home when paired with a Tesla PowerShare setup. This system also includes automatic backup failover, ensuring seamless power during home outages.
Powershare Limitations
One major limitation has been that Tesla Powerwall owners couldn’t use the PowerShare feature due to software conflicts, which took a while to resolve.
However, the challenge wasn’t just software-related—Tesla also had to navigate several regulatory hurdles. A key issue was that homes with solar integrated into their backup solution couldn’t use PowerShare. This meant homeowners had to choose between powering their home with solar or their Cybertruck, rather than combining both sources.
Solar Update
Thanks to a recent update, PowerShare is now available for customers with solar in their backup circuit, allowing them to power their home with solar energy and even charge their Cybertruck during an outage—seamlessly and automatically.
Additionally, PowerShare is now enabled for customers with a backup switch, provided they are in an approved utility region.
Powerwall Update
PowerShare will be available to Powerwall owners using a Wall Connector Gen 3 or Universal Wall Connector starting in Q3 2025. While still a few months away, this is great news for Powerwall users looking to leverage the Cybertruck’s large battery as an extended backup power source for their homes.
Wall Connector Gen 3
Interestingly, Tesla has now enabled PowerShare for the Wall Connector Gen 3, a change that appears to be driven more by regulatory approvals than hardware or software limitations.
Currently, Tesla requires customers in the U.S. and Canada to use the Universal Wall Connector for PowerShare, even if they already own a Gen 3 Wall Connector. However, this policy will likely change in the coming months as the Gen 3 Wall Connector gains official support.
Author’s Note - Powershare Pricing
We’d love to see Tesla reduce the cost of PowerShare installation. The author received a quote for a home setup with two Wall Connectors in a standalone garage with its own breaker panel. Since the home already had an automatic Generac backup failover switch, much of the required electrical work was already in place.
Despite this, the final quote for installation came in just under $12,000 CAD (about $8,500 USD at the time). This covered only the installation of a Tesla Gateway, replacing a single Gen 3 Wall Connector with a Universal Connector, and some additional wiring. Even with the Foundation-Series discount of $3,500 CAD, it won’t be cheap to install.
While this update is a great step forward, Tesla needs to make PowerShare more accessible—both by expanding it to more vehicles and by lowering installation costs. It’s an incredibly useful feature that will help sell vehicles, but affordability remains an issue.
At the Cybertruck event, Tesla showed off the Cybertruck’s extended battery, an optional accessory permanently mounted to the truck’s bed. This was Tesla’s solution to keeping the truck price as low as possible while also giving owners a chance to get close to the truck’s original range of 500 miles.
The Range Extender is engineered to boost the Cybertruck's mileage substantially, increasing the truck’s total range by about 35%.
Tesla's Range Extender is a departure from traditional range-extending methods, often involving gasoline generators. Its design, occupying roughly a third of the truck bed, strikes a balance between added functionality and maintaining the truck’s cargo space. It addresses range limitations and makes the Cybertruck more suitable for towing and long-range trips.
Range / Battery Size
The Ranger Extender extends the Cybertruck total range by 120 miles (193 km). For the Cyberbeast, it’ll take the truck’s range from 320 miles up to 440, whereas for the AWD version, the range will be increased from 325 miles to 445 miles.
These are Tesla’s latest numbers, which have been reduced slightly from Tesla’s original estimates that the Ranger Extender pegged at adding 130 miles.
The Ranger Extender uses a huge 47 kWh battery pack, which explains why it takes up a significant portion of the truck’s bed. For comparison, Tesla’s Standard Range+ Model 3 has a 54 kWh pack, capable of driving about 260 miles.
Price
Though official pricing for the Range Extender has yet to be officially announced, it looks like it’ll be priced at a hefty $16,000 USD. The night the Range Extender was revealed, code was found on Tesla’s website that showed off the $16,000 price tag. However, it’s not clear whether this price was a placeholder or if the price will change before it becomes officially available.
Size & Weight
The Ranger Extender fits perfectly alongside the back of the Cybertruck’s bed. Instead of being laid evenly across the bottom of the bed, it’s nestled up against the cabin, making it easier to load items into the truck.
Elon Musk elaborated on the Range Extender's functionality: "It's an optional pack that fits in about 1/3 of the truck bed. There is still room for plenty of cargo. It's meant for very long trips or towing heavy things up mountains."
With a battery pack of 47 kWh, the Range Extender isn’t going to be something light. The Cybertruck’s “battery pack” is estimated to weigh about 600 to 650 lbs (272 kg to 294 kg), which also means that it’ll reduce the truck’s towing capacity by that much.
Installation
A few Cybertruck owners have discussed a marketing idea for the range extender would be to rent it out. Cybertruck owners could rent it for a weekend trip or an extended holiday camping. It's unlikely that Tesla will take on that business, but it is an idea for when more Cybertrucks are around and need that extra range.
Unfortunately, the Cybertruck Range extender is not something that could be easily removed or added, mostly due to its weight. Tesla has said that the Range Extender will need to be installed by Tesla Service and it’s a “permanent” install. We imagine it could also be removed at a later date, but it’s not something you could just do on your own when you don’t need it.
Unfortunately that means that owners will have to choose between additional range or cargo room. If you use the truck mostly for towing, the reduced cargo space may not be a big deal, but for other owners that use their truck for a variety of tasks, it could be a deal breaker.
—
Some Cybertruck owners have suggested renting the Range Extender for weekend trips or extended camping holidays.
However, the Cybertruck’s range extender isn’t designed for easy removal or installation, primarily due to its weight and high-voltage connections. Tesla has stated that installation must be performed by Tesla Service and is considered a “permanent” modification. While removal may be possible later, it won’t be something owners can easily swap in and out as needed.
This means Cybertruck owners will have to choose between additional range or cargo space. For those who use the truck primarily for towing, the reduced cargo capacity may not be a major issue, but for owners who use their truck for a variety of tasks, it may not be an easy decision.
Availability / Release Date
The Range Extender was initially expected to be available for pre-order customers in early 2025, but that timeline has now slipped to mid-2025. Given Tesla’s ambitious production goals this year, it wouldn’t be surprising if it gets pushed even further, possibly into 2026.
One potential reason for the delay is Tesla’s ongoing work on perfecting its dry-cathode battery process. Since the Range Extender is a low-volume product, Tesla may be prioritizing it as a testbed for dry-cathode cells before scaling them to full vehicle production. Unlike an entire truck, a battery pack like the Range Extender is easier to replace or refine if necessary.
In the meantime, Tesla is likely focused on the Cybercab and its next-generation vehicle. The Ranger Extender is expected to use the same 4680 battery cells as the Cybertruck, so Tesla will also want to ensure it has sufficient supply for vehicle production before producing the Range Extender.
_300w.png)
![Elon talks about Twitter and job cuts at Bloomberg forum [video]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/images/news/2022/elon-musk-qatar-forum_300w.jpg)
