Don’t get me wrong. It’s going to be bigger. But not anything astronomical as at certain point, you get hit with diminishing return as the extra weight of the battery starts to make a bigger toll to the mileage than the extra power added.
You have summed up my thoughts nicely.
But my other thoughts are:-
- How big a battery could it have?
- How big a battery does it need?
it looks like most of the battery will be a structural pack, and the CT seems large enough to accommodate a fairly large structural pack.
For the 500 mile version only, perhaps some additional "double layer battery extensions" could be carried as freight.
There is a trade off where a large battery means more weight, but the CT is designed to haul / tow a fair amount of weight.
When it is towing or hauling a large weight, the percentage of the range lost due to the additional battery weight is smaller than for a conventional vehicle.
The other consideration is energy density, get the 4680 cell energy density high enough and even the 500 mile CT can have a single layer structural pack. (Assuming the double layer speculation is accurate,)
Apart from 4680 production volumes, a 500 mile CT might need a Gen3 or Gen4 4680 cell, and that might not be available until 2025 or 2026.
We don't really know, my main point is that there are lots of variables.,
Cost is the other consideration, but those that want 500 mile range and good range while towing might be prepared to pay for it, especially when the CT is the vehicle that can deliver it in the most efficient package, with the fastest charging.