Tesla added a HEPA filter and Bioweapon Defense Mode to the Model Y in June 2021, making existing owners jealous. More than two years later, Tesla offered those owners relief with a HEPA filter retrofit. This is available to all 2020-2021 Model Ys, and the good news is that the costs are very reasonable.
When Tesla announced the Model S and the Model X with HEPA filter in 2016, the Bioweapon Defense Mode amazed everyone. Not only did the high-efficiency filtration system keep the harmful gases out of the car's cabin, but it could also clean the atmosphere by removing the particles from the air. Tesla offered a captivating demo of these features when it placed a Model X inside a plastic bubble filled with harmful gases.
The massive HEPA filter was deemed impossible to install in the Tesla Model 3 when it arrived in 2018. The Model Y, launched in 2020, had more space beneath the hood, but that didn't count: Tesla still launched it without the fancy filtration system. However, it reconsidered this in June 2021, when it introduced the HEPA filter and the Bioweapon Defense Mode to the Model Y.
Owners of older Model Ys thought a retrofit would be possible, especially as Tesla was already offering this for the older Model S and Model X. Alas, it was not, or at least Tesla did not provide it. Not until now. Based on feedback on social media, owners of 2020-2021 Tesla Model Ys in the US and Canada can now request a HEPA filter retrofit in the Tesla app. The good news is that Tesla priced this reasonably, making it a must-have for all Model Y owners.
The retrofit is available in the Service menu of the mobile app, where you can also schedule an appointment to install it. According to screenshots shared on Reddit and X, the price is about $400 (Canadian) in Canada and $300 in the US, including parts and labor. The upgrade is well worth it, especially when considering the wildfires that raged throughout North America in the past years.
If you're wondering, the HEPA filter and the Bioweapon Defense Mode are two different things. The former includes a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter, capable of capturing 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 micrometers in diameter. A secondary filtration system with activated carbon filters removes odors, gases, bacteria, viruses, pollen, and mold spores.
The Bioweapon Defense Mode is a positive-pressure air system, making it impossible for the outside air to enter the cabin. It's unclear whether the HEPA-filter retrofit will also unlock the Bioweapon Defense Mode for these vehicles. Although all Tesla Model Ys roll off the production lines with these systems, that might not be the case with the older 2020-2021 vehicles that shipped without the HEPA filter.
After his childhood dream of becoming a "tractor operator" didn't pan out, Cristian turned to journalism, first in print and later moving to online media. His top interests are electric vehicles and new energy solutions. Full profile
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