A few different features have been uncovered in Tesla's latest software update, version 2024.2.6.
This update already includes features such as improved phone key support for newer models, a reminder to plug in your vehicle if you forget, adaptive high beam support for the new Model 3 (matrix headlight support coming), and more. However, now several additional quality-of-life improvements have been discovered.
Two of the features are improvements to Supercharging, while the other is a better representation of your vehicle's range.
Supercharger Improvements
If you arrive at a Supercharger and your battery is too cold to DC fast charge, the vehicle will now display how long it'll take for the battery to warm up until DC fast charging begins.
This is one of the main reasons why the driver should always use the vehicle's navigation system to navigate to a Supercharger. The vehicle will look at the battery's temperature and the Supercharger's charging capability to determine if the battery needs to be warmed up to help reduce charging times.
Another improvement to Supercharging in this update is that the vehicle will now automatically warm up the charge port. This again requires that the driver add the Supercharger location as a destination in the navigation system. Warming up the charge port will keep it from freezing shut in extreme temperatures.
Update 2024.2.6
Percent of Fleet
Installs on Dec 26
Battery Range Update
Most Tesla vehicles will always display the same range in the vehicle. Contrary to early Model S and Model X vehicles, newer Teslas do not consider driving history, outside temperature, climate use, or other characteristics when displaying the battery range on the main screen or instrument cluster. To have an accurate representation of your vehicle's range that takes into account all of these environmental issues, and much more, like wind direction and acceleration, a driver should use the vehicle's Energy app.
However, as of this update, it looks like Tesla will now consider one thing — battery age.
The release notes state:
"Your estimated battery range now incorporates additional characteristics related to battery aging over time."
While there are other factors that determine the amount of energy a battery can hold over time, such as charging habits, battery age is one of the biggest. It sounds like Tesla will now adjust the range displayed in the vehicle to take the battery's age and how much energy it can still store into consideration.
This may result in a lower range displayed in the vehicle as the car and the battery ages, but it should be a more accurate representation of the vehicle's actual range.
These three features are a part of update 2024.2.6 which has started going out to a small fraction of the Tesla fleet. Since Tesla rolls out their updates in waves, it may take several weeks before the update is available for most owners.
