Tesla may be circling back to longer‑range EVs with a redesigned, towable battery system.
A battery backup could be right behind you. A new patent from Tesla suggests the company is revisiting the idea of integrating an auxiliary “range extender” with the vehicle’s primary high voltage pack.
In practical terms, Tesla could give you a second battery to tow behind you, adding length, time, and drive, to a Tesla car.
Patent Builds on Company’s Previous Announcements
The electric vehicle company had previously announced plans for the idea back in late 2023 sparking strong interest and early reservations from customers. The company even accepted deposits, signaling that the extender could reach the market relatively quickly.
After multiple delays, Tesla confirmed a cancellation of the project in May 2025, with refunds for the optional $16,000 battery pack add-on.
Designed specifically for the Cybertruck, the original range boosting pack was meant to be sit inside the truck bed and only occupy one-third of its available space. Now, a recent patent filed by Tesla shows an updated look of the range extender. It will no longer be implanted within the vehicle’s bed, but instead, attached behind it in a dedicated trailer.
How It Works
Tesla’s updated system will take a hands-off approach to energy management between a vehicle and its trailer. When the software senses that the trailer’s battery holds more charge than the vehicle’s onboard pack, it automatically draws from the trailer to power the car, equalizing the load.
During charging, the process reverses, extra energy is routed to whichever battery is running lower to keep both packs balanced. Behind the scenes, the system continuously tracks current critical health metrics, like flow and temperature, and adjusting power distribution in real time for a seamless operation.
Range extenders aren’t new in the EV industry; they’ve long been used to eliminate frequent charging stops for drivers. General Motors popularized the concept with the Chevrolet Volt, and BMW followed with the i3 REx. Now Tesla appears to be refining the idea for the Cybertruck era.
This post originally appeared at inc.com.
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