Tesla Adds Supercharger Prices and Wait Times to Tesla App

April 7, 2023

By Kevin Armstrong

You can now view Supercharger pricing in the Tesla app

Not a Tesla App

Tesla recently updated its app to provide users with real-time information on wait times at Supercharger stations. The app displays whether there is no wait, an estimated wait time, or the station is simply busy. This new feature is designed to help Tesla owners plan their charging stops more efficiently and reduce wait times at popular charging locations.

Know Before You Go

In addition to wait times, Tesla has now updated its app to provide users with a graph displaying the expected congestion at a specific Supercharger station based on the time of day. This predictive feature can help drivers plan their charging sessions during less busy times, further streamlining their charging experience and minimizing downtime.

Implementing this feature is expected to improve customer satisfaction, allowing Tesla owners to make informed decisions about when and where to charge their vehicles. It also addresses a long-standing concern among electric vehicle (EV) owners — the uncertainty and inconvenience surrounding charging station availability.

Tesla App Now Displays Supercharger Prices

Tesla has also introduced a new feature that displays Supercharger pricing information within the app. Users can now easily view the cost of charging at a particular station, as well as any variable rates depending on the time of day. This update aims to provide greater transparency and help users better understand the costs associated with charging their vehicles.

Supercharger prices can vary based on local electricity rates, demand, and regional pricing strategies. By offering this information within the app, Tesla owners can make more informed decisions about which Supercharger stations to use and potentially save money by selecting stations with lower prices or charging during off-peak hours.

Unfortunately, Supercharger prices are only shown when you're viewing a specific charger. If you're viewing the list of nearby Superchargers, prices are still absent. However, that may change in a future update.

Availability

These enhancements come with a configuration change on Tesla's end and do not require an app update. As long as you have the latest Tesla app, v4.19.5 you should now be able to view Supercharger wait times and pricing on Android and iOS.

This enhanced pricing transparency is another step towards improving the overall user experience for Tesla owners. With a better understanding of the costs and wait times associated with Superchargers, drivers can plan their trips more effectively, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free EV ownership experience. As the EV market continues to grow, these features will likely become increasingly important to both new and existing Tesla owners.

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

July 26, 2024

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

July 26, 2024

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 10^th 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.