Tesla Creates Earth Day Photo Contest for 3,500 Supercharger Credits

By Kevin Armstrong
You can enter Tesla's Earth Day contest through the Tesla app
You can enter Tesla's Earth Day contest through the Tesla app
Tesla

Tesla has announced an exciting new contest for its loyal fan base. This might be the easiest contest ever to enter. You'd have a hard time finding a Tesla owner who doesn't have a picture of their beloved car. Now that picture can be cashed in!

In a recent tweet, the company invited Tesla owners to submit their best photos of their electric vehicles for a chance to win 3,500 credits, which can be redeemed in Tesla's Loot Box for Supercharging, software upgrades, and other goodies.

Tesla's tweet reads: Submit your best Tesla pics for a chance to win 3500 credits (can be redeemed in Loot Box for Supercharging, software upgrades & more)

History of Earth Day

This contest comes as a celebration of Earth Day, a global event held annually on April 22nd to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 in the United States, and it has since grown into a worldwide movement with more than 193 countries participating. The day allows individuals and organizations to take action and promote environmental awareness in their communities.

Earth Day is Every Day for Tesla

Tesla's mission has always been closely aligned with the values of Earth Day. The company's primary goal is accelerating the world's transition to sustainable energy. Tesla has played a significant role in saving the planet by popularizing electric vehicles, which produce zero tailpipe emissions and significantly reduce the carbon footprint of transportation.

Over the years, Tesla has revolutionized the automotive industry with cutting-edge technology, such as the Autopilot feature and over-the-air software updates. The company's dedication to sustainable energy has expanded beyond EVs, as Tesla now offers solar panels, solar roofs, and energy storage solutions like the Powerwall and Powerpack.

The Earth Day photo contest is a creative way for Tesla to engage with its customers and reinforce the shared values between the company and its environmentally-conscious fan base. To participate, Tesla owners can submit their best photos of their Tesla products via the app until April 23. When you open up the Tesla app, you'll notice that the loot box has a spot light. Tapping it will take you to the Loot Box with a new section at the top letting you know about the Earth Day contest. The company asks that you upload only your highest resolution photos, do not crop or modify those pictures, and you can only enter four times. At this time, the contest appears to be limited to certain countries, as some users are reporting that it's unavailable in their region.

Winners will receive 3,500 credits that can be redeemed for a variety of perks, including free Supercharging, software upgrades, and other exclusive Tesla offerings available in the Loot Box. This contest is not only a fun way for Tesla owners to showcase their prized vehicles but also serves as a reminder of the company's ongoing commitment to making the world a cleaner, greener place.

Tesla Is Now Offering Cybertruck Test Drives [List of Locations]

By Karan Singh
@brandonhd

Tesla has begun to reach out to customers in the United States and is offering demo drives of the Cybertruck on an invite-only basis. @brandonhd on X shared the first invite image, and it looks like it's going out quite quickly to multiple locations that have Cybertrucks on display.

Up until now, display vehicles have been for just that – looking, but no touching. Some Tesla delivery centers and showrooms have also allowed viewers to take a seat inside and open it up, but most are still locked away behind the velvet rope.

It’s exciting to see that Tesla has begun to demo them – and it can only be so long until demo drives open up to everyone.

Advisor-led Demo

This Demo Drive is led by a Tesla Advisor – while you’re driving, the advisor will be in the passenger seat, walking you through the experience. They’ll explain steer-by-wire, off-road controls, and will introduce new-to-Tesla buyers to all the features that are currently available.

Once FSD V12.5 comes to the Cybertruck, we’re sure they’ll be demoing its capabilities FSD capabilities as well.

Locations

The list of locations so far for demo drives appears to be fairly limited, but we will hopefully see demo drives roll out throughout the United States, and eventually Canada too. Here is the current list of city/state locations that have seen demo drive invites.

  • Manhasset, New York

  • West Covina, California

  • Los Angeles, California

  • Houston, Texas

  • Orlando, Florida

  • Westmont, Illinois

  • Tucson, Arizona

  • Phoenix, Arizona

  • Delaware

Musk Confirms 'Actually Smart Summon' is Coming in a Revision of FSD V12.5

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Actually Smart Summon, the successor to Tesla’s Smart Summon feature, has been confirmed to be coming as soon as next month as per Elon Musk. Colloquially known as “ASS”, Actually Smart Summon is supposed to improve on the regular Smart Summon capabilities, which have historically used ultrasonic sensors (USS) to navigate parking lots.

We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon, and we’re quite excited about what other features will be unlocked once it finally shows up at our doorstep.

Vision-based Improvements

ASS is supposed to bring Smart Summon to vehicles that don’t have USS – using Tesla Vision. Most recently, Tesla has brought Autopark to vehicles without USS, and Vision-based Autopark has been a huge success. It is faster, more reliable, and smoother than the older USS-based solution. It can also park and maneuver in tighter locations.

Just recently, Tesla returned the Model X’s self-presenting doors, using Tesla Vision. Vision has seen some fantastic improvements, and many people are waiting for ASS to bring forth these improvements to Smart Summon.

Smart Summon Today

Today, Smart Summon is sometimes useful at best, usually a party trick, or downright dangerous at worst. It’s excellent and best used in straight lines, where you have a clear line of sight of the vehicle, and can stop it if doesn’t see an obstacle.

I used Smart Summon today, just before writing this article – my 2022 Model Y (with USS) – did manage to show up just fine – in a straight-line location from where I was parked, after exiting the parking spot fairly cleanly. However, I’ve previously used Smart Summon and have had the vehicle turn towards obstacles, such as cart returns or curbs. Overall, it’s a sometimes-useful feature that has a lot of drawbacks right now.

Smart Summon is also restricted to a certain distance – and it's pretty small. The max distance is shorter than most parking lots, being only about 215 ft (65m). If you’re lucky enough to park close, it's very useful to bring your car right to you.

Actually Smart Summon

ASS will bring FSD V12-like capabilities to Smart Summon – the vehicle will primarily use Vision to drive toward you (or the location you’ve indicated). ASS has been supposed to be coming since about September 2022 and has seen many delays – we’re almost at the 2-year point today.

We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon being able to bring the vehicle – safely – right to you. ASS is also one of the key steps towards bringing some other cool features that Elon Musk has previously mentioned – Park Seek and Banish Autopark.

We’re also hopeful that Actually Smart Summon will increase the maximum range a vehicle can be summoned, because the current range is fairly small. Alongside Park Seek and Banish Autopark, we’re closing in on a Robotaxi-based future.

Park Seek and Banish Autopark

When the FSD v12.4 showed up, Elon also mentioned that going forward, vehicles would automatically park themselves when arriving in a parking lot – Park Seek – and that if you got out of the car at the entrance to a business, you could get it to automatically park itself in the parking lot – Banish Autopark. These are two features that are needed for Robotaxi to work – which itself is delayed to October 10th of this year. We’re looking quite forward to them – as in combination with Actually Smart Summon, Tesla has reached the cusp of vehicle autonomy.

A vehicle that arrives, driverless, at the location you’re at, then drives somewhere, parks itself there, and waits for you – is the definition of a Robotaxi.

While we’re likely to have to wait for Banish Autopark and Park Seek just a bit longer, Actually Smart Summon being around the corner is exciting! Gone will be the days of having to run out to your car when you forgot your umbrella – your car will just come right to you instead.

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