Tesla is no longer including the mobile charging connector with new vehicles

By Jorge Aguirre
Tesla is no longer including the mobile connector with new vehicles
Tesla is no longer including the mobile connector with new vehicles

In a series of tweets, Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed that the company will no longer include the Gen 2 mobile connector bundle with new car orders and will instead sell it separately for $200. The mobile connector package includes an adaptor that allows drivers to charge their vehicles using a conventional 110v or 220v household outlet.

According to Musk, the move was triggered by customer input. He explained his choice on Twitter to sell the package individually: “Usage statistics were super low, so seemed wasteful. On the (minor) plus side, we will be including more plug adaptors with the mobile connector kit.”

Musk provided another update hours later in a response to Tesla owner @WholeMarsBlog, stating that “based on user feedback,” Tesla will lower the price of the mobile connector to $200, from the previous $275. He also stated that Tesla will "make it easy" to order the mobile connector when purchasing a car, and that owners should install a wall charger "long before" their car arrives.

The Gen 2 mobile connector package, which includes a 20-foot cable, a 110V adapter, and a storage bag, is still available on Tesla's website, but it’s impossible to get your hands on one right now; the mobile connector, like the Gen 1 connector, is presently out of stock. This fact has made some wonder whether it was a supply chain shortage that prompted this decision.

Tesla's mobile connector
Tesla's mobile connector

Over time, the charging kit that came with it evolved. Tesla used to supply a charging cable that included both a NEMA 14-50 (Level 2) connector and a normal outlet connector (Level 1). Later, the manufacturer opted to remove the NEMA 14-50 connector from the bundle, leaving only the NEMA 5-15 adaptor for regular outlets. The Level 2 connector could be purchased separately.

The reaction to this current decision has been divided. Even though most Tesla owners may charge their cars from a wall charger at home or at a charging station, many also use the vehicle's mobile connector to charge at home.

Having the Gen 2 bundle in the vehicle can also make drivers feel more comfortable when adventuring far from their homes.

Since the adapter allows Tesla owners to connect their car to a regular outlet, it can prove very useful at campsites or when traveling in an area without charging facilities, despite it charging at a remarkably slower rate - offering around two to three miles of range after an hour of charging.

For those owners waiting for delivery of their vehicle and wondering whether the mobile connector will be included, we're hearing that it depends on your delivery date.

If you ordered your Tesla after April 17th, then your vehicle will not include the mobile connector at delivery.

As long as you ordered your Tesla on or before April 17th then it looks like you will receive the mobile connector. It shouldn't matter when your delivery date is scheduled for, as Tesla is basing it on your order date.

This move has been compared by some to Apple’s controversial decision in 2020 to stop including chargers with its new iPhones, a move that was quickly followed by the likes of Samsung and Google. Only time will tell if other EV makers will follow Tesla in this choice.

Tesla FSD in Europe: June Update

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

The road to bringing FSD to Europe has been a long and complex one and filled with regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles. Elon Musk, as well as other members of Tesla’s AI team, have previously voiced their grievances with the regulatory approval process on X.

However, it appears that there is finally some progress in getting things moving with recent changes to upcoming autonomy regulations, but the process still seems slow.

Waiting on the Dutch

Elon commented on X recently, stating that Tesla is waiting for approval from Dutch authorities and then the EU to start rolling out FSD in Europe. Tesla is focusing on acquiring approvals from the Dutch transportation authority, which will provide them with the platform they need to gain broader acceptance in Europe. Outside of the Netherlands, Tesla is also conducting testing in Norway, which provides a couple of avenues for them to obtain national-level approval.

The frustration has been ongoing, with multiple committee meetings bringing up autonomy regulation but always pulling back at the last second before approving anything. The last meeting on Regulation 157, which governs Automated Lane Keeping Systems, concluded with authorities from the UK and Spain requesting additional time to analyze the data before reaching a conclusion.

Tesla, as well as Elon, have motioned several times for owners to reach out to their elected representatives to move the process forward, as it seems that Tesla’s own efforts are being stymied. 

This can seem odd, especially since Tesla has previously demoed FSD working exceptionally smoothly on European roads - and just did it again in Rome when they shared the video below on X.

DCAS Phase 3

While the approval process has been slow, Kees Roelandschap pointed out that there may be a different regulatory step that could allow FSD to gain a foothold in Europe.

According to Kees, the European Commission is now taking a new approach to approving ADAS systems under the new DCAS Phase 3 regulations. The Commission is now seeking data from systems currently operational in the United States that can perform System-Initiated Maneuvers and don’t require hands-on intervention for every request.

This is key because those are two of the core functionalities that make FSD so usable, and it also means that there may not be a need to wait years for proper regulations to be written from scratch. Now, the Commission will be looking at real-world data based on existing, deployed technology, which could speed up the process immensely.

What This Means

This new, data-driven regulatory approach could be the path for Tesla to reach its previous target of September for European FSD. While the cogs of bureaucracy are ever slow, sometimes all it takes is a little data to have them turn a bit faster in this case.

Alongside specific countries granting approval for limited field testing with employees, there is some light at the end of the tunnel for FSD in Europe, and hopes are that a release will occur by the end of 2025. With Europe now looking to North America for how FSD is performing, Tesla’s Robotaxi results could also play a role.

Tesla Launches 'TeslaVision' Contest With Big Prizes — See Last Year’s Winner [VIDEO]

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Tesla’s marketing has always been relatively unconventional, relying on word-of-mouth rather than traditional advertising. The passion of the owner’s community is always massive, but it is especially high now with the launch of the Robotaxi network just around the corner.

Tesla is now tapping into that spring of fan creativity and announced the TeslaVision video contest, with some seriously impressive prizes up for grabs.

The Contest

The core of the contest is simple. Create a video that shows how your Tesla gives you more in life. Tesla is looking for submissions that highlight themes of freedom, safety, fun, and convenience.

Prizes

The prizes definitely make this contest worth entering if you’re good with a camera and have some basic video editing abilities.

For North America, the prizes include a brand new Model Y AWD Long Range, alongside an all-expenses-paid trip to Austin for a tour of Giga Texas. The grand prize winner will also be able to custom order their Model Y, allowing them to select their preferred wheels and color.

The two runners-up won’t get a Model Y, but they’ll also enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip to Giga Texas for a tour of the factory.

The travel and tour include lodging in Austin for 2 nights, as well as economy-class round-trip tickets from anywhere in North America. Tesla will also provide a vehicle for use during the trip.

Hopefully, these winners will also have the opportunity to experience the Robotaxi network while they’re in Austin, as it’s expected to be opened to the public later this month.

Project Loveday

For long-time followers of Tesla, this contest may feel familiar. The contest is a direct throwback to the 2017 Project Loveday contest, which was inspired by a letter to Tesla from a 10-year-old aspiring marketer. That contest was won by MKBHD, with his submission below:

How to Enter

If you’re ready to start filming, here are the key pieces of information you’ll need to know:

  • Video must be 90 seconds or less

  • Video must be uploaded to YouTube with a public URL

  • Make a post on X and Instagram tagging “@Tesla” and include the words “TeslaVision contest” in the post.

  • Provide links to both social media posts in your submission to Tesla’s form

  • Provide your personal details in the form

  • You have until July 17th, 2025, or until Tesla receives 10,000 entries, whichever comes first.

You can find the official submission form and all region-specific details on Tesla's website.

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