Teslas will now more accurately predict energy usage and reduce range anxiety

By Kevin Armstrong
Update 2022.16 brings better energy usage predictions
Update 2022.16 brings better energy usage predictions
gregsramblings.com

Tesla's latest update, version 2022.16.0.2, makes calculating energy consumption on your next trip even more precise.

When navigating to your destination, your Tesla will already show you the estimated energy available upon arrival.

However, with update 2022.16, Tesla's 'Navigation Energy Prediction' will become even more accurate.

Before the update, Tesla's routing system estimated energy usage by distance, elevation changes, and some additional information such as your vehicle type and its wheel configuration.

The new Navigation Energy Prediction makes this projection even more definitive by forecasting wind conditions, assessing if you will be driving into a headwind or crosswind, determining the humidity, and gauging the ambient temperature.

Since Tesla is relying on additional weather information for these predictions, your vehicle will need to have an active cellular connection, but Premium Connectivity is not required.

All Teslas in supported regions (US included) will have access to this information except for older Teslas (2015 and older) that only supported 3G cellular networks which have recently gone offline in the US. Tesla offers an upgrade for those owners affected.

This latest update may not be the most significant factor for short trips; it could be a meaningful upgrade for those who use their Tesla for long-distance traveling when every acceleration and regenerative braking matters.

Also, for those who live in regions with a wide range of inclement weather conditions. One of the biggest rebuffs about Tesla, and all EVs, is that they are not as efficient in extremely cold conditions. Certainly, using the heater will use more energy.

Those concerned about traveling in the winter months now have access to even more detailed information about consumption and can better plan for stops along their way to the chilly destination.

Tesla first included environmental factors in a 2018 update, and the wind calculations have been showing up in the code since March 2022, but it's now available in the production build of 2022.16.

Although these changes are completely invisible to the owner they will help reduce range anxiety on long trips and increase our confidence in the vehicle's predictions.

These changes will also improve the accuracy of your suggested wait time at a Supercharger before you're able to move on to your next stop or destination.

Energy App

A great way to track your energy usage on a long trip is by using the graph in the Energy app.

The energy app will also use these new predictions and will now more accurately display the predicted energy curve.

The energy graph displays two graphs. Your predicted energy usage and your actual energy usage. You may sometimes see your vehicle performing worse or better than the prediction. With 2022.16, these graphs should be even more similar, as the predictions have become more accurate.

Before 2022.16, if you were driving against a headwind, it was possible to use significantly more energy than anticipated, but those instances should be far reduced now.

The energy graphs are still a great way to keep tabs on your energy usage on a long trip and a reliable way to see how your car is performing compared to its prediction.

The Energy app is available on all Teslas, except the new Model S and Model X. Tesla appears to still be tweaking the app to work on the larger display, but there is a little workaround to get it to work.

If you have a new Model S or Model X, you can access the Energy app by using the voice command 'Open Energy'.

Increasing Range

There are several ways to increase the range of your Tesla's energy consumption with or without the Navigation Energy Prediction enhancements.

These include driving in Chill Mode and using Speed Assist to monitor bursts of speed. Tesla also encourages users to understand how to control the accelerator pedal to slow down instead of using the brake pedal.

Then, of course, regenerative braking slows the car and puts energy back into the battery. Drivers can also reduce the use of creature comforts such as heat, air conditioning, driver assistance, and even the Toy Box.

However, Caraoke is a must for long trips, so you may want to better plan your route by using the Energy app.

This action ensures you can sing all the tunes you want to entertain, or annoy, your passengers.

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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