Tesla executives have confirmed that wireless charging is in the works, and now we have our first bit of evidence to back up the claim. Until now, we’ve been able to go off a rendering at an investor event, but a few people have gone digging inside the Cybertruck and found a clue.
Tesla Community of Curiosity
The core of this innovation lies in Cybertruck's battery pack, which has been found to house connectors labeled as 'Inductive Charger headers.' This revelation, unearthed by eagle-eyed Cybertruck Owners’ Club members, signifies that the vehicle is not merely compatible with but designed for wireless charging technology.
The discovery was seemingly confirmed by Cybertruck’s lead engineer, Wes Morrill, who posted an image and stated: “Don't forget you can always check our publicly available service documentation! You don't have to figure it all out on your own.”
Don't forget you can always check our publicly available service documentation! You don't have to figure it all out on your own. https://t.co/xQymkBSVfW
Tesla's exploration into wireless EV charging is marked by strategic moves, including acquiring and selling a specialized wireless charging company, while retaining its key engineers. While Tesla's initial focus is on home charging, the technology has the potential to extend to road charging. A pilot program in Detroit utilizing embedded copper coils demonstrates the feasibility of in-road charging, opening up possibilities for broader adoption and seamless integration into the EV ecosystem.
This strategic move towards wireless inductive charging illustrates Tesla's forward-thinking approach and positions the Cybertruck as a pioneering vehicle in Tesla's lineup. With the efficiency of wireless charging systems having improved significantly, Tesla's solution is poised to offer convenience without compromising charging speed or efficiency. The implications of this technology extend beyond mere convenience, signaling a future where electric vehicles can charge autonomously, aligning with Tesla's vision of fully autonomous driving.
The discovery was met with some pushback about the need for wireless charging with statements like: are we really this lazy that we can’t plug in the car? While that’s true, the bigger picture could mean more charging areas, even on the road, like that pilot program. It also removes one more possible maintenance area with the charge port being a heavily used area of the car. The integration of wireless charging in the Cybertruck enhances the user experience and underscores Tesla's role as a trailblazer in the EV industry, driving innovation and shaping the future of transportation. While it opens up more possibilities, the big question will be the cost.
After a post on X, Tesla has confirmed that it recently exported its 1 millionth car from Giga Shanghai. That’s a massive number of vehicles from a factory that only opened in December 2019.
Since Q3 2021, Giga Shanghai has been responsible for producing over 50% of global EV production – with the single exception of Q2 2022 – where production fell to about 40% while the factory was retooling. That’s a jaw-dropping figure for a single factory.
1 Million Exports
Giga Shanghai produces Teslas for practically the entire world, including the European, Australian, Chinese, and other Southeast Asian markets. For now, it also produces cars for Canada; however, an upcoming tariff could change this.
Giga Shanghai also celebrated the shipping of 100,000 vehicles to Australia with the 1 million vehicles exported mark. While the majority of vehicles end up in Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia are still massive markets for Tesla.
Going forward, Giga Shanghai, with its continued expansions, will be at or above 1 million vehicles produced per year. A good chunk of these vehicles stay within China, while the rest are exported. Tesla sells on average 40 to 80,000 cars per month in China, depending on the season, with an average of 90,000 cars produced per month in 2024 so far.
Automated Production
This is all thanks to Giga Shanghai’s 95% automated production line. Giga Shanghai is likely one of the most automated and advanced factories in the world, a testament to Tesla’s manufacturing and engineering expertise. Giga Shanghai produces one vehicle every 40 seconds.
We’re looking forward to seeing how Tesla’s expansions and factory innovations continue in the coming months and years.
Giga Shanghai operates a 95% automated production line, enabling a cycle time of less than 40 seconds! From taking 2.5 years for the first million cars to be produced, the second million was done in just 12 months 🚘🪄 pic.twitter.com/IF1w27AFPr
Tesla’s last app update, version 4.37.1, introduces support for critical alerts on the iPhone. These alerts are designed for emergency situations and will override standard notification settings, including the mute switch, Focus modes, and Do Not Disturb. This ensures that owners are notified when immediate action is required, even if their phone is set to silent.
How to Enable Critical Alerts
Activate Dog Mode: Open the Tesla app and turn on Dog Mode.
Main App Screen: After activating Dog Mode, go back to the main section of the app.
Enable Critical Alerts: A new option called Critical Alerts will appear under Live Camera and the quick action icons (Tip: You can add up to 5 quick actions). It’ll state, “Grant permissions to receive critical notifications.” Tap it, and you’ll see a system dialog asking for permission to allow critical alerts for the Tesla app.
Confirm Permission: Choose to allow the Tesla app to send critical notifications, which will grant the app special privileges for sending urgent alerts.
This new feature is likely intended for situations where Dog Mode needs to be turned off unexpectedly. For example, if the vehicle’s battery drops below 20% or if the temperature inside the cabin rises or falls drastically outside of your set temperature, the Tesla app is expected to send a critical alert to the owner, ensuring they are informed right away.
What Are Critical Alerts?
Critical Alerts are a type of iOS notification available only to approved apps, which must meet specific criteria set by Apple. These alerts are designed to be used in emergencies and bypass all standard notification restrictions. This means that regardless of whether your phone is silenced or in Do Not Disturb mode, the alert will play a sound and appear prominently.
By adding support for Critical Alerts, Tesla is prioritizing the safety of pets who may be left inside the vehicle with the expectation that Dog Mode will keep conditions safe. This change makes the app more reliable for alerting owners when immediate attention is needed, ensuring they are always kept informed—even when their phone’s settings would typically prevent other notifications from coming through.