Tesla Cybercab to offer great efficiency, but surprisingly small battery

More details about Tesla's Cybercab emerged. And as usual, Tesla is making some bold claims about its efficiency, but it turns out that this two-door, two-seater electric vehicle will come with a surprisingly small battery.

According to Tesla executives, the Cybercab will use a battery pack of less than 50 kWh. Despite this, Tesla claims the vehicle will achieve a range of "close to" 300 miles. This is a remarkable feat, especially when compared to other EVs on the market. For example, the basic Tesla Model 3 uses a 57.3 kWh battery for a 272 miles range (EPA).

If Tesla's claims hold true, the Cybercab will achieve a real-world efficiency of around 6 miles per kWh. This is way higher than the facelifted Model 3, which is rated at 4 miles per kWh, and even the Lucid Air, which achieves 4.3 miles per kWh. In essence, the Cybercab will reportedly be 50% more efficient than the Model 3.

Several factors contribute to the Cybercab's impressive efficiency. Tesla's Senior Design Executive, Franz Von Holzhausen, highlighted the vehicle's teardrop shape, which reduces air resistance and keeps energy use low. Keeping the vehicle light is another key factor. The exact weight of the Cybercab is unknown at this stage, but Tesla revealed that its body is made from unpainted polyurethane panels. The new process integrates the color into the panels, lowering manufacturing costs and potentially simplifying repairs.

But the real explanation for Cybercab's impressive range is actually its intended environment. The Cybercab will be used only in the cities, with most of the driving done at much lower speeds, so we assume the exec was actually referring to the WLTP City range rather than the usual metric. On that cycle the Fiat 500, with its 37.3 kWh battery pack, has a WLTP-rated range of 221 miles in city driving and achieves the efficiency of 5.9 miles per kWh - making the Cybercab's "huge" efficiency look a bit less impressive.

The Cybercab is designed to be a self-driving vehicle, eliminating the need for a steering wheel. This feature is intended to allow the vehicle to function as both a personal transport and a revenue-generating robotaxi. Tesla is currently installing manufacturing equipment at its Texas Gigafactory, and pre-production units are expected to begin rolling off the assembly line this summer. The commercial launch of the Tesla Cybercab is still targeted for 2026.

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