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Tesla Cybercab is the most efficient production EV ever certified: Lars Moravy

...and it's not even close.

Simon Alvarez
Simon Alvarez

May 21, 2026

Tesla Cybercab is the most efficient production EV ever certified: Lars Moravy

EVwire brief: Tesla Vice President of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy revealed at the Model S/X Signature delivery event that the Cybercab has achieved 165 Wh per mile, making it, by his account, the most efficient production EV ever certified.

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"That is the most efficient EV that has ever been certified and built. It's 165 Wh/mile, which is like half of what we started Model S with. It's kinda crazy to think we've gotten that far over time.”

—Lars Moravy, VP of Vehicle Engineering at Tesla

For reference, today's most efficient Model 3 variants come in around 230–250 Wh/mi. Early Model S were often north of 300. At 165 Wh/mi, the Cybercab delivers roughly 6 miles per kWh.

Tesla hasn't released full certification documents for the Cybercab yet, but Moravy's phrasing strongly suggests this is a formal certification figure, not an internal estimate.

Here’s the video of Lars Moravy’s comments:

— # (#)

Context:

The Cybercab's efficiency likely stems from a combination of its compact two-seat design, highly aerodynamic body, lower overall weight, next-generation powertrain components, and optimized low-drag wheels and tires.

For Tesla's Robotaxi ambitions, that number matters well beyond bragging rights. Lower energy consumption means smaller battery packs, lower charging costs, and, at fleet scale, operating cost advantages that compound fast. 

With a sub-50 kWh pack, which Tesla has previously hinted at, the Cybercab could still deliver around 270 miles of real-world range. That should be ample for day-to-day operations within cities.

Tesla has been testing the Cybercab across a variety of conditions

Efficiency could be the Cybercab’s superpower

Industry analysts have long argued that robotaxi economics ultimately come down to cost per mile. 

At average U.S. electricity rates, the Cybercab would cost roughly 3 cents per mile to run considering its efficiency. For comparison, a conventional taxicab could cost $0.15–0.22 in fuel alone per mile. Even a Model 3 costs around 4–5 cents/mile. 

At fleet scale, that gap compounds fast.

The Cybercab is currently ramping production at Giga Texas. Broader commercial deployment still depends on regulatory approvals and Tesla's progress on Unsupervised FSD, but on efficiency alone, it's already in a league of its own.

Source: Tesla on X

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