Tesla may soon offer a cheaper or more powerful Wall Connector
Tesla
Tesla insider Chris Zheng hints at a possible new charging option for the electric vehicle giant. Tesla may be considering releasing a new home charging option, based on a tweet from the very well-informed Tesla insider Zheng.
A new charging option could potentially make Tesla ownership even more appealing to a wider range of consumers, further solidifying the company's place at the forefront of the EV revolution.
Tesla Insider Chris Zheng's Tweet
Zheng, the same insider who reported the removal of wood trim and the new camera set up in Hardware 4, recently tweeted about the Tesla Wall Connector, hinting at a potential new offering from the company.
Cheaper Wall Connector
In his tweet, Zheng mentioned two possibilities: A more affordable Wall Connector: Zheng suggested that Tesla might introduce a low-price, low-power Wall Connector, which would sacrifice some of its over-the-air (OTA) capabilities. This new charging option could respond to the growing competition in the Chinese EV market, where many Tesla competitors already offer similar products. However, Zheng disapproved of this potential move, stating it was "not fun."
Many owners today choose to charge with Tesla's mobile connector, a cheaper alternative. A cheaper Wall Connector could bridge the gap between the mobile connector and Tesla's more expensive home charging solution.
More Powerful Wall Connector
A next-gen Wall Connector with Cybertruck-style design: Another possibility Zheng mentioned is a new, next-generation Wall Connector featuring a design inspired by the much-anticipated Tesla Cybertruck. This upgraded Connector would have a total power of 21 kW, making it a more powerful option for Tesla owners looking to charge their vehicles.
A more powerful charging solution would likely be aimed at businesses that have access to more power and would like to provide a faster charging solution than the current Wall-Connector-based destination chargers offer. Last year Tesla introduced the ability for businesses to charge for charging through their destination chargers.
Implications of a New Charging Option
A new charging option could have several implications for Tesla and its customers.
Increased affordability: If Tesla were to introduce a more affordable Wall Connector, it could make the prospect of owning a Tesla more attractive to a broader range of potential buyers. This move could help Tesla gain a competitive edge in markets where price-sensitive consumers are more likely to opt for a more affordable EV charging solution.
Enhanced charging experience: A next-generation Connector with Cybertruck-inspired styling could create a more cohesive brand experience for Tesla owners. This new charging option could increase power and highlight the company's commitment to innovation and design.
Expanded market share: Offering new home charging options could help Tesla expand its market share in the global EV industry. By catering to various consumer needs and preferences, the company could attract a more diverse customer base and solidify its position as the leading EV manufacturer.
While Tesla has not yet confirmed these rumors, it's clear that any potential new charging options would play a significant role in the company's growth strategy. As the EV market continues to evolve, Tesla must stay ahead of the curve by offering innovative and affordable solutions that cater to the needs of a diverse range of consumers.
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In Tesla software update 2024.32 and onwards, Tesla has made a big—and unexpected—change to how its vehicles handle power sockets. This change impacts every vehicle except the Cybertruck, where you can already adjust how power sockets are handled on a case-by-case basis.
Power Socket Change
This change to the power sockets means that in 2024.32, Tesla vehicles will have their 12v sockets and USB ports turned off while in Sentry Mode. Previously, while the car was awake or Sentry Mode was active, the 12v sockets in the rear of the vehicle and any of the USB ports would all remain powered.
Now, owners will no longer be able to operate devices that rely on these ports once the vehicle falls asleep. This change renders some accessories almost useless, such as vehicle fridges. Owners previously relied on Sentry Mode coming on when their vehicle was parked, which kept the fridge in the vehicle’s sub-trunk powered. This change will also prevent owners from using Sentry Mode to keep USB ports powered to charge laptops and other devices.
Until further changes are made, owners will have to use Camp Mode to keep 12v sockets and USB ports powered. However, Camp Mode leaves the vehicle unlocked, making it insecure and unsuitable for things like sub-trunk fridges.
Cybertruck Power Interface
Tesla may be planning to integrate the Outlets & Accessories menu from the Cybertruck into the rest of its vehicles. The outlets menu in the Cybertruck allows you to keep the cabin (and bed) outlets in the vehicle active, even when the vehicle isn’t in use. These outlets remain powered for up to 12 hours after the Cybertruck is exited.
The Power Menu in the Cybertruck
Not a Tesla App
Sentry Mode Improvements
Drew Baglino, Tesla’s now former SVP of powertrains and energy, said back in February of this year that Tesla was looking at reducing the amount of power that Sentry Mode used. He stated that Sentry Mode power consumption needs to be improved and that the team was working on an update to reduce power by about 40%. According to Baglino, the improvements were expected to come in the second quarter of this year, but it’s not clear if this change in update 2024.32 is part of those changes that will lower Sentry Mode’s power consumption.
Even if these are planned changes, we hope Tesla makes them optional, and lets owners choose when to keep outlets powered and when to conserve energy.
Tesla has issued an OTA recall for the Cybertruck – unsurprisingly, one that has already been fixed for customer vehicles. We’ll expand on the recall a little later, but more importantly, the recall filing revealed that Tesla has now built and sold 27,185 Foundation-Series Cybertrucks for customers.
OTA Recall
The OTA recall – which was issued in update 2024.32.5.2 and above, covered an issue that could delay the rearview camera being displayed on the dashboard.
This would occur if the Cybertruck was powered on, and then quickly shifted to reverse. The rearview camera would not come up on screen within the prescribed 2-second timeframe.
According to the NHTSA filing, Tesla has already fixed this via the OTA update, and the rearview camera will now display within that 2-second timeframe as required going forward. This was another easy OTA fix for Tesla.
Not a Tesla App
27k Cybertrucks
The filing also revealed that Tesla has produced and delivered approximately 27 thousand Foundation-Series Cybertrucks through September 14th. Tesla has been producing the Cybertruck for approximately 11 months now, with the 12-month anniversary coming up on November 13th.
Elon Musk previously mentioned that Tesla intends to produce approximately 375,000 trucks per year to compete with the ICE pickup market. Today, Tesla produces 1.7 million Model 3 and Model Y vehicles per year, and about 80,000 Model S and Model X vehicles a year.
Overall, that 27 thousand over a year is only the start of production, and as Tesla expands and improves its production lines, we can expect that number to continue growing at a rapid pace. With the Foundation Series ending and Tesla opening up invites for reservation holders to configure their non-FS Cybertruck, that number is only expected to increase. The non-FS Cybertruck is priced at $79,990, $20k less than the Foundation Series. The Cybertruck will also become eligible for the Canadian iZEV Heavy EV Rebate.
This puts the Cybertruck in an excellent spot in the future—and it has already outsold its EV competitors in the same market. We’re looking forward to seeing how fast Tesla meets the upcoming demand for non-Foundation Series Cybertrucks.
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