If you’re Supercharging in freezing weather—even with preconditioning—you might notice steam rising from your Tesla. But rest assured, your car isn’t smoking.
Your Tesla’s heat pump is hard at work warming both the cabin and battery to keep you comfortable and ensure optimal charging temperatures. Over time, condensation and ice build-up in the heat exchanger coils.
Why Does It Happen?
When you reach a Supercharger with your vehicle, the heat pump is still running hot, but without the cold air from driving to keep the heat exchanger coils cool, the ice and condensation quickly start to evaporate—creating what looks like smoke.
Since this typically happens near the front of the vehicle, where a car would traditionally have an engine, new vehicle owners can be startled by the discovery. However, rest assured that it’s just water vapor and it’s completely normal in cold weather.
In fact, this behavior can be experienced in any EV with a heat pump in cold climates. So, if you saw steam coming out of your vehicle and panicked, don’t worry—you’re not alone.
Now that you know what’s happening, go ahead and Supercharge with confidence.
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Tesla has added another touch of customization, and this time for the owners of the 2024+ refreshed Model 3 Performance. Tesla is launching another set of puddle projection lights. These new puddle lights will illuminate the ground with a colorized Model 3 Performance emblem when the doors are opened.
Puddle Projection
This accessory adds a touch of personalization to the door light, similar to the options already available for the original and refreshed Model Y, which projects the Tesla wordmark, as well as for the Cybertruck, which projects the Cybertruck logo. However, this one, in particular, is a little different because it’s the first option that includes color. It projects a crisp blue and white Performance logo onto the ground below the door.
The lights are sold in a pack of two, similar to Tesla’s options for other vehicles. These lights are usable for both the front and rear doors, which means you’ll need two sets if you want to do all four doors of the vehicle.
Interestingly, while the physical form factor of these lights means they would fit any Model 3, Tesla is explicitly stating these are exclusively for 2024+ Model 3 Performance vehicles. This means that, at least for now, purchases through the official Tesla Shop are restricted to owners with a refreshed Model 3 Performance VIN. In general, you should be able to use these on any Model 3 or Model Y, as the size of the projector and the power attachment point are the same for all these vehicles.
Installation is simple and is to be completed by the customer. Tesla does offer a page on their DIY service manual on how to get them installed. You'll need a blunt plastic tool to remove them from the door and to detach the power adapter from the original puddle lights.
The Model 3 Performance Projection Lights are priced at $75 USD in the United States and $125 CAD in Canada. They will likely become available within the coming weeks for the European and Asia-Pacific markets as stock becomes available globally.
As Tesla is at the cusp of launching its Robotaxi network, which hinges entirely on the application of AI and neural networks in the real world, the question of the company’s relationship with Musk’s other AI venture - xAI, has never been larger.
In a recent interview with CNBC, Elon’s biographer, Walter Isaacson, who has had unparalleled access to Elon and his thought process, shared his perspectives. Isaacson’s view is a fantastic analysis of why Tesla and xAI are intertwined under Elon’s guidance, even if they’re technically two separate companies for now.
Symbiotic Relationship
Speaking on CNBC, Isaacson stated that he believes wholeheartedly that a merger between xAI and Tesla is likely to happen. He explained that from its inception, xAI was envisioned by Elon to solve “real-world AI,” almost exactly what Tesla is doing with vehicles and robots.
Elon’s vision for Tesla requires harnessing the massive amounts of data generated by Tesla’s fleet - and soon, its Optimus humanoid robots. All that video, audio, and other sensor data, along with real and perceived feedback shapes the AI used in these products.
Isaacson noted that Elon feels a need to control the companies involved in developing AI, which further supports the logic of a future merger. xAI recently acquired X for $33 billion, increasing Musk’s ownership in the company.
More AI Is Needed
While Tesla possesses an unparalleled dataset of real-world, physical interactions, xAI is heavily focused on AI models that will be increasingly powerful in the future. While Tesla may not need access to these models now, that’s likely to change in the future.
We’ll soon look back at FSD and recognize how much smaller and more contained that challenge was compared to Optimus. Driving is just a narrow slice of what a humanoid robot must master—it’s essentially a robot on rails, confined to a structured environment with a strict set of rules. In contrast, Optimus must navigate the full complexity and unpredictability of the real world.
Musk’s Perspective
While Isaacson’s reasons for a potential merger are clear, Elon has shied away from the topic in recent interviews. There is a distinct corporate relationship between Tesla and xAI, but he has so far stopped short of mentioning a potential merger. He recently said that a merger is “not out of the question,” but ultimately, it’s up to Tesla shareholders.
Elon’s public stance has been that the two companies will work closely together, with Tesla’s shareholders potentially being offered a stake in xAI in the future. Musk currently owns about 59% of xAI and about 13% of Tesla.
Ultimately, whether the two companies formally merge or continue in a deeply integrated partnership may be more of a question for shareholders. From a technology and product perspective, the fusion is already happening, with Grok confirmed to be coming to Tesla vehicles in the future.
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