$29,000 Battery Upgrade Boosts Tesla Roadster’s Range

Tesla Motors Inc. has begun taking orders for its previously announced "Roadster 3.0" battery package that adds 85 miles of range to the company's first model, the Roadster electric sports car.

For $29,000 Roadster owners can have their 53-kWh lithium-ion pack swapped out for a 70-kWh unit with an upgraded cell technology that provides 40% more energy storage capacity.

The new battery will increase the all-electric Roadster sports car's driving range by 35% to about 330 miles, according to Tesla. When it announced plans for the 3.0 battery late last year , the company projected a range as high as 400 miles under optimal driving conditions.

The 70-kWh battery also will add an unspecified amount of weight to the vehicle. The original Roadster, which is based on the Lotus Elise two-seater, weighs 700 lbs more than the conventional model.

Owners can reserve a new battery with a $5,000 deposit. Installations are expected to begin in October, but Tesla plans to make only two to three of the hand-built packs per week. The $29,000 price covers all parts, materials, labor and logistics there is no markup to the cost, according to the company.

Tesla stopped making the Roadster in 2012 to focus on new models. It launched the Model S sedan in 2013 and will begin delivering the Model X crossover late this month. The next-generation Roadster is due in 2019.