You’ll be able to’t but configure your personal Mannequin Y with 4680 cells on Tesla’s web site, however the US electrical automaker has added numerous copies with all-wheel drive to its on-line stock.

Tesla introduced its proprietary 4680 battery cells a couple of years in the past at Battery Day. CEO Elon Musk famous shortly earlier than the festivities that the cells would not seem in autos for a while. That stated, Tesla has been producing the cells on a pilot line and dealing to excellent the brand new manufacturing methods in order that it will possibly begin utilizing them in its vehicles.

When the primary Tesla Mannequin Y crossovers had been delivered out of Tesla’s latest manufacturing unit, Giga Texas, many assumed that each one Mannequin Y’s coming from the manufacturing unit could be fitted with the brand new structural battery pack and 4680 cells. It did not take lengthy to be taught that wasn’t going to be the case. 

Tesla did supply a model of the Mannequin Y with 4680 cells, although it was solely domestically obtainable for a really restricted time. Now, a brand new all-wheel-drive model has proven up in Tesla’s on-line stock. In line with Teslarati, it seems the brand new Mannequin Y was first found and reported on social media by The Kilowatts. 

Tesla promised that the 4680 cells would imply extra energy and enhance vary and longevity. The corporate additionally shared that utilizing the cells and structural battery packs would streamline the manufacturing course of and result in decrease costs.

Whereas the brand new Mannequin Y AWD with 4680 cells is $2,000 cheaper than the present “base” mannequin – the Mannequin Y Lengthy Vary AWD with 2170 cells – the previous additionally has considerably much less vary. Whereas the Lengthy Vary model with 2170 cells has an EPA-estimated driving vary of 330 miles, the brand new 4680-cell Mannequin Y has simply 269 miles of vary.

In line with earlier experiences that surfaced based mostly on particulars from the EPA’s Certificates of Conformity, Tesla will possible launch each Lengthy Vary and Efficiency variations of the Mannequin Y outfitted with 4680 cells. 

Whereas there are only a few 4680-cell Mannequin Y crossovers within the wild, Tesla’s Senior VP of Powertrain Drew Baglino has already put about 10,000 miles on his private copy.

We’ll have to attend and see if and when Tesla makes Mannequin Y SUVs with 4680 cells obtainable in its on-line configurator. It should even be attention-grabbing to see the vary and pricing of the Lengthy Vary and Efficiency variations. They need to have extra vary and price much less, however based mostly on the worth and vary of this latest instance, it is troublesome to know what to anticipate.