Tesla's Cybertruck introduces PowerShare bidirectional charging to consumer electric vehicles (EVs). The truck's large 123-kilowatt-hour battery pack can power tools, and appliances, charge other EVs, and can power houses during grid disruptions with this innovation.
Tesla requires the installation of a Powershare Gateway, a hardware panel that transfers power from the Cybertruck's battery to the residential electrical system. According to InsideEVs, this gateway can also charge the vehicle's battery from the grid. Top-tier Cyberbeast Foundation Series buyers receive a $4,000 installation credit, but new disclosures suggest it may be insufficient.
How Much Does It Cost?
Joe Tegtmeyer, known for his Tesla Gigafactory Texas drone films, bought an all-wheel-drive Foundation Series Cybertruck, missing the $4,000 installation credit. After obtaining a Powershare home charger, mobile connection, and $1,800 Powershare Gateway, he experienced unanticipated issues.
Tegtmeyer contacted Tesla about utilizing the truck's power-exporting capabilities. After assessing his electrical system-including a 36.6 kW solar array and a 250-amp main panel-Tesla-approved installation Treehouse gave him a shocking $33,837.5 estimate. A utility increase to 320A, necessary for smooth component integration, accounted for $24,150 of this cost.
Tesla defended the utility improvement, but some questioned its necessity. Others reported installation charges ranging from $2,150 to $5,000, indicating price variation. The base Cybertruck costs $79,990, and installation costs roughly half that much, raising questions about affordability and transparency. Given the unexpected costs, customers question the viability and accessibility of Tesla's bidirectional charging technology.
This development on the Cybertruck follows Tesla's recall of approximately 3,000 Cybertrucks due to safety concerns about accelerator pedals that could cause unexpected acceleration.
People take pictures of the newly unveiled all-electric battery-powered Tesla's Cybertruck with shattered windows after a failed resistance test, at Tesla Design Center in Hawthorne, California on November 21, 2019.
As previously reported by TechTimes, Tesla recalled the 2024 Cybertrucks because the accelerator pedal might stick, causing inadvertent acceleration and crashes. The company cautioned that the inside trim could trap the accelerator pedal pad.
The EV maker recalled 3,878 model-year 2024 Cybertrucks between November 13, 2023, and April 4, 2024. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has promised the affected vehicle owners free fixes to reduce hazards. Affected vehicle owners will get recall notice letters in June to replace or repair the accelerator pedal component.
In a famous TikTok video, South California driver Jose Martinez complained about the Cybertruck's accelerator pedal sticking. Martinez's video aroused safety worries regarding Tesla's electric pickup, sparking Cybertruck performance debates on different sites.
Tesla Cutting Down Workforce
As the firm recalls thousands of Cybertrucks, Tesla is laying off thousands of workers to simplify operations and decrease expenses. CEO Elon Musk said in an internal memo that Tesla will cut its worldwide employment by "more than 10%," which may affect roughly 14,000 workers, based on the company's 2023 workforce of 140,000.
The decision followed Tesla's first year-over-year sales decline in three years and a wider electric car market slowdown. Musk warned investors that revenue growth might dip below 50% in 2024.
Elon Musk acknowledged the issues and stressed the need for cost-cutting and operational efficiency. He said the layoffs were unpleasant but essential as Tesla reviews its organizational structure to minimize redundancy and optimize operations in changing market conditions.
Tesla has adjusted prices on its popular models because of high financing rates and greater competition. According to reports, the business has prioritized the construction of a robotaxi platform over the development of a cheaper electric vehicle, with a launch scheduled for August 8.
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