Does Tesla Make a Van?

Over the past decade, we’ve seen state-of-the-art electric cars, trucks, SUVs, and even a semi truck hit Tesla’s design department and queue up for production. A number of the consumer models, just like the Model Y or Model X, already boast a ton of cargo space and many room for families.

But what in the event you need a bigger vehicle, either to move a family with 8 or more members or to accommodate special mobility needs? How about an electrical project van to permit your construction business to “go green?”

In Tesla’s Secret Plan, Part Deux, Elon Musk said that “high density urban transport” was needed to assist round out the long run of electrical cars. Whether he was enthusiastic about the robotaxi that day or possibly a better capability vehicle based off of the chassis of the Cybertruck, we do know Elon has been throwing around ideas for a Tesla Van for years.

In today’s article, we’ll walk you thru the rumors, facts, possible specs, and potential production times of the long-awaited Tesla Van.

So Does Tesla Make a Van?

We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but Tesla doesn’t currently manufacture an electrical van, nor have they released solid info on whether a design is currently within the works. While taking on for ICE high-capacity transportation is actually an end goal for the corporate, the brand new Tesla Van project (if it exists) is currently taking a backseat to the production of the Cybertruck and Semi.

Nevertheless, Elon has discussed Tesla sprinter vans, robovans, and high-capacity vehicles publicly on Twitter:

Perhaps Tesla should make a highly configurable Robovan for people & cargo?

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 7, 2022

Moreover, in response to a matter during Tesla’s Q1 earnings call of 2021, Elon stated that “I believe Tesla is unquestionably going to make an electrical van in some unspecified time in the future.” The Tesla Van is actually somewhere in Elon’s mental wheelhouse; it could simply be a matter of time.

What would the Tesla Van be Called?

A number of the more commonly suggested model names for Tesla’s van project include Tesla Van (obviously), Tesla Minibus, Tesla Model V, Tesla Model B, Tesla Cybervan, and Tesla Minivan.

That last name, Tesla Mini van, is extremely unlikely for 2 reasons. First, a minivan is technically defined as a vehicle with a maximum of 8 seats; the van design is prone to have greater than 8. Second, even when it does only have 8 seats, we highly doubt that Tesla’s marketing department will accept the name “Tesla Minivan” because…well, have minivans ever been trendy?

We’re going to keep on with the name Tesla Van for the remainder of the article to maintain things easy. Nevertheless, we do just like the term Tesla Minibus; it has some old-school, feel-good VW Bus vibes.

With that out of the way in which, let’s discuss some possible design specs for the Tesla Van:

Tesla Van’s Range, Cargo Capability, and Battery

First, what type of a variety can we expect out of an electrical, high-capacity people mover just like the Tesla Van? With competitors putting out vehicles with estimated ranges across the 125-200 mile mark, Tesla may shoot for the upper range of about 200-250 miles or more.

Nevertheless, an extended range means an even bigger battery, and that’s where current shortages may put a limiting factor on Tesla innovation and competition with the Tesla Van.

If a number of the original estimates for the Cybertruck’s battery size are correct (and if the Tesla Van is built on the Cybertruck chassis and never the Model X chassis), the Tesla Van could have as much as a 200 kWh battery pack (possibly all the way down to 100 kWh for a base model). That’s plenty of extra battery production in an industry already scrambling to secure battery materials.

Speaking of battery materials, Tesla currently targets using lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries as essentially the most cost-effective, energy-efficient design for its vehicles. Nevertheless, a Tesla Van might have to depend on battery technology that uses some amount of cobalt.

Why might Tesla return to a battery design that features cobalt? Well, if the Van is being designed as a load carrier (a Tesla cargo van) as an alternative of a people mover (a Tesla minibus), then a lighter battery with a better energy density is preferable.

In truth, competitor GM makes its Ultium battery packs from a Nickel Cobalt Manganese Aluminum (NCMA) design with a view to create vehicles with similar capability needs because the potential Tesla Van.

Whatever the component materials, the limited battery supply stays the most important roadblock to the Tesla Van ever moving from design to reality. Incidentally, the battery problem can also be why there’s been such an enormous stall within the production and delivery of Cybertruck and Semi.

What A few Tesla Camper or Lifestyle Van?

We’ve seen plenty of questions on whether Tesla will construct a van for many who wish to live out the dream of a totally electric lifestyle on the move. While a Tesla Van with solar panels and living space accessories and additions sounds fabulous, the truth is that some type of nomad lifestyle EV line is lower on the priority list than every other project Tesla has in motion or might announce that we are able to consider.

Even a Tesla Motorcycle can be more vital to the agenda of electrifying the transportation sector than a camper-style Tesla can be (and Elon says he won’t make a bike).

Nevertheless, the potential for a Tesla work van or high-capacity passenger van is powerful, and there will surely be a spot for people to switch the van themselves. The query is whether or not or not the worth of a Tesla Van would deter people from remodeling one as a tiny home.

Speaking of costs, let’s discuss how much a possible Tesla Van cost is perhaps:

How Much Is a Tesla Van?

The value of a Tesla Van would likely be within the $55,000 to $80,000 range (a conservative estimate). If the Van is more of a piece van design, because it is prone to be if Tesla decides to start out using an in-house design for his or her Mobile Service fleet, it will have to face current competition.

For instance, Ford’s 2023 E-Transit Cargo Van currently has a starting MSRP of $53,790, while the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter goes for about $45,000-$50,000. For a Tesla repair van or Tesla work van to make financial sense, Tesla will need to supply the van at a production cost lower than the MSRP of competitors. This may allow them to each save through the use of their very own vans and to make a make the most of selling those vans at a good margin.

What’s Contained in the Tesla Van?

Barring innovations from Tesla (which, let’s be real, could occur), we expect the inside of the Tesla Van to be just like other electric vans currently in production. The Tesla Van could have a seating capability of as much as 15 people, or a cargo capability of around 400 ft³. Max payload might be about 5,000 lbs or higher, but that greatly depends upon which battery Tesla ultimately chooses for this model.

When Will Tesla Van be Produced?

Currently, with Tesla Cybertruck and Semi still taking on Tesla’s time and a focus, assembly and production of a Tesla Van likely wouldn’t begin until after 2025. Nevertheless, as 2025 is the goal yr for each Chevrolet and GMC to release their versions of an electrical van, we wouldn’t be particularly surprised to see Tesla announce one sooner.

That’s, in fact, assuming any of those manufacturers manage to get enough battery material to start producing an electrical van at scale.

Does Tesla have an SUV or Minivan? Is there a 7-seater Tesla?

If what you might be hoping for from a Tesla is just barely higher passenger capability than traditional Sedans, you’re already in luck. Tesla makes two SUVs that may seat greater than 5 people. The Model Y is available in a 7-seater configuration, and the Model X might be configured for either 6 or 7 seats.

Even the Model S has had its 7-seater moments (and may have them again, if reports are true), though the 2 extra jump seats within the old Model S were more like child-sized backward facing jump seats than regular passenger seating.

The additional seating does come at a value, though: the 7-seater Model X costs an extra $3,500 on top of the MSRP, while the 6-seater costs a whopping $6,500 more. The 7-seater configuration for the Model Y costs an extra $4,000, though it’s possible you’ll be eligible for the Federal Tax EV Credit to assist offset costs.

But essentially the most inexpensive method to get your hands on a better capability Tesla today is to purchase them used. Unfortunately, most sites make finding the 6- or 7-seater Teslas hard to seek out. Having to click through each possible listing to examine the variety of seats is a pain.

We prefer to make it easy for you. Take a look at our current used Tesla listings and filter by “Variety of Seats” to see what’s available at once. It’s that easy.

For those of us still waiting on announcements for the Tesla Van (or the $25,000 Tesla, or any latest projects, really), we’ll be keeping our eyes and ears open for the disclosing of the Tesla Master Plan, Part 3 that Elon has promised for Investor’s Day on March 1, 2023.