Tesla Cybertruck To Have 50-Amp 240v Outlet, Enough to Charge Another Tesla

November 13, 2023

By Kevin Armstrong

The Cybertruck will have two 120v outlets and one 220v outlet

niccruzpatane/RyanZohoury

Tesla's Cybertruck may have that feature that was the competition's advantage. A recent "leak" shows an array of built-in power outlets. We've previously covered Tesla offering bi-directional charging on the Cybertruck, but even if that falls through, it looks like owners could use the vehicle's onboard outlets to power other items. According to leaked information, these outlets could herald a new vehicular energy independence and utility standard.

Speculations, courtesy of an anonymous insider and brought to the public eye by the YouTube channel TFLEV, indicate that the Cybertruck may offer multiple onboard power outlets, including two 120-volt outlets and a robust 50 amp, 240-volt outlet (NEMA 14-50). The potential of these outlets isn't merely for powering tools or campsite essentials but extends to energizing an entire household during power outages.

Cybertruck's Electrical Outlets

The inclusion of a 240-volt NEMA 14-50 outlet is particularly intriguing, as this specification implies a high-power output capability. This type of outlet is commonly used for large appliances or for EV charging and can handle up to 12kW of power. Such a feature points to Tesla's vision of a vehicle that gets you to your destination and serves as a dependable power reserve in emergencies or for off-grid living.

Ford's F-150 Lightning: A Benchmark for Comparison

Any other company rarely sets the bar when it comes to the EV game, but Ford did offer something that Tesla had not yet developed. To contextualize the Cybertruck's power supply features, comparing it with existing vehicles like the Ford F-150 Lightning is essential. Ford's electric pickup boasts a Pro Power Onboard system with power outputs that vary from 2.4 kW to 9.6 kW, depending on the configuration. With options for both 120-volt and 240-volt (L14-30) outlets, the Lightning can power tools and appliances directly from the vehicle.

The F-150 Lightning's Charge Station Pro and Home Integration System, developed in collaboration with Sunrun, illustrates the practical application of vehicle-to-grid technology. It has proven worth enabling homeowners to keep their lights on during utility failures. Tesla's Cybertruck, with its powerful 240-volt outlet, is expected to offer similar functionality, allowing the vehicle to serve as an energy lifeline.

Tesla's Edge: Potential for Higher Power Output

While the Ford F-150 Lightning can supply substantial power to a home, Tesla's Cybertruck may have the upper hand with the ability to output up to 12kW. This capability could make it a more potent mobile generator, capable of running high-demand home appliances during emergencies or power outages.

In the evolving landscape of electric vehicles, the Cybertruck's power outlets are not just about convenience. They symbolize Tesla's commitment to energy solutions that empower owners to be more self-sufficient. The outlets could bridge Tesla's automotive and energy sectors, potentially integrating with home energy storage systems like the Powerwall for enhanced energy management.

As electric vehicles become increasingly entwined with home energy ecosystems, Cybertruck's proposed power outlets position it as a leader in this integration. The vehicle's ability to potentially power a home resonates with Tesla's overarching mission to facilitate a sustainable energy future.

U.S. Raising Tariff Rates on Imported EVs and Batteries From China: How It Affects Tesla

May 15, 2024

By Not a Tesla App Staff

Today, as part of a broader change of tariff rates on Chinese goods, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that he’ll raise tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China, increasing the rate from 25% to 100%, effective this year.

This increase won’t just impact the import of vehicles, but also the rate for lithium-ion batteries produced in China, which will be moving from 7.5% to 25%.

Impact on Competition

The immediate impact of this new regulation is significant for Chinese manufacturers, who have been regarded as Tesla’s largest and greatest competition. Given the tariff hike, this means that new Chinese manufacturers, such as Nio, XPeng, or BYD, will either need to set up production in North America, or be subject to the increased import tariff.

Nio’s vehicles cost between $40,000 USD to $70,000 USD in China based on today’s conversion rates, and with an import tariff of 100%, an imported vehicle’s price would be doubled to $80,000 USD to $140,000 USD, not including other fees. Chinese manufacturers will have to closely weigh the advantages and disadvantages of opening up the North American market, with challenges including vehicle homologation, new tariffs, and a difficult EV market.

Tesla and Chinese Tariffs

Elon Musk recently visited China, engaging with officials to build a foundation for what is currently the world’s largest electric vehicle market. With the potential import of Chinese EVs becoming restricted to the United States, this places Tesla in an advantageous position over its Chinese competitors who have yet to establish their brands in North America.

On the other hand, this could also impact Tesla, as they import Chinese batteries for usage in some vehicles in the United States.

Tesla does not import Gigafactory Shanghai vehicles to the US, but has been increasing North American battery production lately, with expansions in Lathrop, California and a new facility in Sparks, Nevada.

Canadian Tariffs

In Canada, the Model 3 and Model Y are currently being imported from Gigafactory Shanghai. Given Canada’s close following of US foreign policy, this could impact either the prices of Tesla vehicles in Canada or have Tesla shipping vehicles from Fremont and Texas to the United States once again, should Canada also adopt a similar tariff policy.

Tesla to Add Restricted Driver Profiles for Safer Teen Driving

May 14, 2024

By Not a Tesla App Staff

Tesla is set to introduce restricted driver profiles in an upcoming update, aiming to improve safety for teenage drivers. Tesla hacker @greentheonly, also known as Green, recently decompiled the 2024.14.3 update, revealing the change.

Restricted Driver Profiles

Over the years, many people have asked Tesla to bring in restricted driver profiles, similar to Tesla’s currently existing Valet Mode. Valet Mode already serves to restrict the car’s maximum speed, reduces acceleration, and disables the use of Autopilot and FSD. The new restricted profiles will let you apply certain restrictions to driver profiles without the full-fledged restrictions of Valet Mode which also limits HomeLink, GPS history and more.

What Restricted Profiles Could Do

From Green’s post on X, restricted driving profiles will display “training wheels” next to the profile, indicating their usage for new drivers. The ability to add a maximum speed and enforced chill mode are expected to be part of the feature package.

Other restrictions that could also be implemented could include disabling the use of Autopilot and FSD, or perhaps requiring certain features to remain disabled or enabled, like disabling “Joe Mode”, frunk or glove-box access, summon, and locking Sentry Mode to active.

Given how easy it is to swap profiles on a Tesla, Tesla would need to prevent a user from switching from a restricted profile to a regular profile. Tesla could do this in a variety of ways, such as tying driver profiles to a key card or mobile device and requiring a PIN code to exit the restricted profile, much in the same way they do it in Valet Mode.

Enhanced Safety Implementations

Additional safety measures could include alerts that notify parents or guardians when the vehicle reaches its destination or exceeds set speed limits. Given that a Tesla can automatically call emergency services in a crash, this could be an excellent feature for ensuring the safety and security of young drivers on their own for the first time.

Release Date

Elon Musk has previously mentioned that FSD V12.4 is being rolled out sometime shortly, and given that Green has found this 2024.14.3, it could be coming very soon. The latest Tesla update being rolled out now is 2024.14.6.