Over the weekend, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a completely new 2022 Tesla Model Y AWD variant to their fuel efficiency listings.
According to Tesla hacker GreenTheOnly, Tesla reveals in update 2022.8.2 that there will be a Texas-made Model Y SR+.
The Standard Range Plus variant of the Model Y will likely be the first car configuration out of the new Giga Texas factory.
Further analyzing 2022.8.2: TX-made (2022Q1 dated) ModelY SR+ is added so I guess that would be the first car configuration out of that place pretty soon. Several new battery types added too (I don't dig in ECUs so I don't know what exactly they are)
Tesla’s new Austin, Texas factory is an important milestone that will continue to allow Tesla to expand their production capacity across all current models of cars and the upcoming Cybertruck, Roadster, and Semi.
There have been some speculations that the first Tesla from the new factory will use the new 4680 cells with a structural battery pack, but the efficiency reported doesn’t seem large enough to be the new battery cells.
Tesla has been using iron-based LFP batteries in their SR+ vehicles out of several factories. LFP batteries are cheaper to produce, but they also have a lower energy density per pound. However, LFP have some advantages as well. They're more environmentally friendly and can also be charged to 100% without any long-term effects.
Iron batteries compared
Tesla
There are various possible battery changes that Tesla may be making over the next few years at Giga Texas and other factories, but signs appear to indicate that Giga Texas will start with 2170 cell LFP batteries. Although it's possible that these SR+ cars will use the new 4680 structural battery cells since Tesla has had production constraints on those new cells and is looking to spread them out into more vehicles.
Tesla Model Y
The Tesla Model Y was initially released in 2019 from the Fremont factory in California, at a base price starting at $54,190. Since the mid-size SUV was launched, there has only been a Long Range and Performance model available. With Tesla focusing on expanding the configuration options to their most popular vehicle, it will be another step up against other car manufacturers.
To meet the growing demand for electric vehicles, the Texas factory is a necessary step in maximizing production efficiency. It is the first factory outside of California, and it will produce the first cars to be built as Standard Range Plus Model Ys. We anticipate that the new Tesla Giga factory will house all new configurations while the California factory transitions to new batteries and vehicles.
Where Tesla plans to use LFP batteries
Tesla
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on the latest Tesla news, upcoming features and software updates.
Tesla’s recent focus on expanding and vertically integrating its battery production is beginning to take global steps, starting with a battery recycling and service center in South Australia. In Marion, a suburb of Adelaide, the council recently voted in favor of a proposal that would see contaminated public land developed and leased to Tesla.
The move promises local jobs and environmental remediation but has garnered a lot of public debate focused on Elon’s moves outside his role as CEO.
The proposal involves a site that’s currently unusable for recreation due to chemical contamination. A local developer plans to acquire and remediate the land, constructing a new facility specifically for Tesla. This site would reportedly serve two purposes: recycling old lithium-ion batteries and serving as a Tesla Service Center.
Tesla’s Commitment to Recycling
Tesla recently announced its intention to ramp up its battery recycling and repurposing efforts. During the Q1 2025 Earnings Call, Tesla’s executives highlighted substantial progress. Tesla had recycled enough materials in Q1 2025 to build approximately 21,000 Model Y RWD vehicles, representing a 136% year-over-year increase from Q1 2024.
Dedicated regional hubs like this one would be a logical next step in expanding the recycling loop and furthering Tesla’s vertical integration while also reducing its reliance on new materials. In addition, local sources also mentioned that Tesla could be repurposing older lithium-ion batteries for other purposes, including their inclusion in stationary battery storage systems like Powerwall or Megapack.
Of course, the facility also has major benefits for the local community, including creating around 100 local jobs, as well as injecting approximately $56 million into the local economy. Further, developing the contaminated land as a renewable facility is one of the safest ways to use the land that’s been sealed off from the public for nearly a decade.
Elon’s Image
The proposal isn’t without its critics. Local opposition was voiced during community consultations, with most of the negative sentiment directed towards Elon rather than the facility itself. Despite these complaints, the local council elected to proceed, arguing that tangible economic and environmental benefits far outweigh any perceived geopolitical or symbolic harm that shutting down the project could cause.
With the council’s endorsement on record, the proposal now moves to the South Australian state government for approvals regarding the change in land classification.
Tesla’s software updates often hide some undocumented features alongside the official release notes, and software update 2025.20 is no exception. With this update, Tesla has introduced a welcome quality-of-life improvement for the in-vehicle Dashcam Viewer. Users now have the ability to select and delete multiple clips at once (thanks, Max!). However, this addition is limited to the updated Dashcam Viewer for Ryzen-based vehicles.
While it may seem a small change, if you wanted to clear out your Dashcam clips, you’d have to either delete them one by one in the vehicle or remove your Dashcam USB drive and take it to a computer to erase all the clips at once. For those who frequently see Sentry Mode notifications or often record clips with their Dashcam, this is a useful addition.
This feature is currently limited to vehicles that have received the updated Dashcam viewer - which means vehicles equipped with AMD Ryzen processors (how to tell if you have Intel or AMD). This includes all Model 3 and Model Y vehicles with AMD Ryzen, as well as the 2021+ Model S and Model X vehicles.
Unfortunately, since the Cybertruck does not yet have access to the updated Dashcam viewer or support for the additional two cameras in Sentry Mode, it has not received this feature yet either.
This undocumented feature is a very welcomed addition for many users who carefully manage their Dashcam and Sentry Mode videos.
![Tesla Adds Third-Party Charge Cable Release Shortcut in Update 2025.20 [VIDEO]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/img/containers/article_images/2021/ccs-adapter.jpg/596b5f1e1d3797f6d2e2667c8af972f7/ccs-adapter.jpg)
