Tesla is getting ready to release 'Charge on Solar' feature
@olympusdev_ (Edited by NATA)
Tesla is set to introduce its innovative "Drive on Sunshine" feature, which allows Tesla owners to charge their cars using surplus solar energy generated by their home solar panels. We first revealed the feature in March with a rendering of what the feature could look like based on details found in the app.
However, we now have our first official screenshots shared by Twitter user @olympusdev_. If you have Tesla Solar and possibly a Powerwall, the feature promises to bring more efficiency and economy to Tesla's clean energy efforts.
For solar panel owners, options for utilizing excess energy generated have been limited. Typically, the surplus energy charges Powerwalls if available, and once full, the excess is sent back to the grid. However, Tesla's "Drive on Sunshine" feature aims to provide a better solution for using this excess energy, making it more economical for Tesla owners than selling the energy back to the power company.
According to a phrase found by Olympus, the "Drive on Sunshine" feature may require a Powerwall to function, although it's not entirely clear. The phrase "Charge on Solar paused for Powerwall Export" hints at the integration of Tesla's energy storage system with the new feature. Further details regarding the exact role of the Powerwall in this process are yet to be disclosed.
How "Drive on Sunshine" Works
The Tesla app, which already allows users to set charging limits for their vehicles, will gain new functionality with the "Drive on Sunshine" feature. Users will have access to two sliders, one for setting the minimum charge of the vehicle that they'd like regardless of the energy generation source and another, called the "Charge on Solar" slider, for specifying the maximum charge they'd like from excess solar energy.
For instance, Tesla owners can set a minimum charge level for daily driving, such as 50%, and a solar limit of 90%. The car will charge at the time specified to reach your minimum charge goal of 50%, enough for your daily errands. If the vehicle remains plugged in during the day and excess solar energy is available, the car will automatically charge up to the 90% limit.
Charging from Multiple Solar Sites
Another exciting aspect of the "Drive on Sunshine" feature is the ability for Tesla owners to choose from multiple solar sites where they want their vehicles to charge using excess solar energy. This added flexibility allows owners to optimize their vehicle charging based on the availability of surplus solar power in different locations.
Release Date
It appears that the Drive on Sunshine feature is dev complete or nearing completion, based on the underlying source code in the latest Tesla app. It may even already be live and in testing for some employees. The feature is expected to launch soon for the general public, and it may even not require an app update for it to appear. Tesla may simply be able to adjust a configuration to turn this feature on for everyone. Keep an eye out for it in your Tesla app.
Tesla's "Drive on Sunshine" feature marks a significant step forward in using clean energy for electric vehicle owners. By enabling Tesla owners to charge their vehicles using excess solar power, the feature ensures a more efficient and eco-friendly approach to electric vehicle charging.
As Tesla continues to push the boundaries of clean energy and electric vehicle technology, the "Drive on Sunshine" feature is yet another example of its commitment to creating a sustainable future.
Tesla previously told its employees on the Cybertruck production line that work would be halted for three business days and that they would not be required to show up to Giga Texas for any other work. Work was halted on the Cybertruck line from December 3rd until December 6th.
Many speculated that Tesla had hit a demand mark with the Cybertruck or run into other production-related difficulties. However, pausing production for such a short period is a fairly normal business operation, as Tesla continuously retools and upgrades its production lines.
Halts for business demand tend to look more similar to Ford’s F-150 Lightning production halt - where they halted production from November 18, 2024, until January 6, 2025. Ford also announced that this production halt was due to reduced demand for its electric truck in the face of stiffer competition.
Cybertunnel
In this case, part of the reason for the halt could potentially have been due to upgrades to the underground tunnel that is used to move Cybertrucks fresh from the production line to the holding lot at Giga Texas. Tesla has been working on improving the production flow rate for its vehicle - and rather than encountering issues with production, they’ve previously mentioned they’ve had issues with getting vehicles out of their outbound parking lots and off their assembly lines - and into customers’ hands fast enough.
The Cybertunnel moves trucks from inside Giga Texas to the holding lot just outside the factory. At that holding lot, they’re either loaded into trains or trucks to be transported across North America. The tunnel passes underneath Texas Highway 130, helping to ensure that Tesla isn’t clogging up traffic crossing the highway with brand-new trucks.
More Shut Downs?
It’s likely we’ll see even more shutdowns at Giga Texas in the coming months. Tesla has shown that it intends to continue increasing production rates at Giga Texas, which means it will need time to upgrade its assembly lines and processes. In addition, the Model Y is also produced at Giga Texas—and once the Model Y Juniper arrives, there will need to be shutdowns to accommodate re-tooling.
So, no need to stress - it's just regular operations. And we get to see a cool Cyber-themed tunnel too. In the meantime, check out Joe Tegtmeyer’s drone video of Giga Texas below.
Giga Texas on this cold 6 December 2024 morning! Big news with the @boringcompany paving & tunnel covering structure on W side, new mystery construction on W side of GA, continued work on SW corner for tunnel alternate exit & production of both @cybertruck & Model Y today,… pic.twitter.com/94a894ix1I
Tesla’s FSD V13 introduced a host of new features, including the ability to Unpark itself, travel in reverse, and Park at its destination. While FSD can now navigate itself out of a parking spot or garage, there are limited options when arriving at your destination, but that’s about to change.
Garage Support
Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla’s VP of AI, confirmed on X that a future revision of FSD V13 will introduce a variety of parking options, including parking in garages, driveways, parking spots, or simply pulling over on the side of the road. Drivers will presumably be able to pick when choosing a location, or maybe the vehicle will offer suggestions based on the location.
This will be a big addition, as today, FSD doesn’t understand how to park in a garage or driveway. Some owners trick FSD into parking in their driveway by using tape or road paint to outline parking spots.
Soon, that may not be necessary, and instead, FSD will simply back itself into your garage. This feature will probably work best in larger garages—extremely tight garages may not work, given the reduced precision of vision at extremely close distances.
We hope that if Tesla introduces this feature, they’ll sell printable guides you can stick on the garage walls or floor to help ensure your vehicle is in the perfect spot every time. Many commenters mentioned that they park in urban/suburban garages with only inches to spare around their vehicles, so this will be an interesting challenge for Tesla to address.
Parking Garages
Parking garages offer their own unique problem set. For the most part, FSD can already navigate its way out of a parking garage, assuming that there aren’t any special gates or sequenced/signaled signage.
It is also able to find a parking spot in multi-level garages and navigate its way out. More support for multi-level parking garages is coming, as FSD seems to stick to the garage walls until it can find the exit itself. It seems that Tesla’s data gathering and vehicle-to-fleet communication could aid Tesla in figuring out parking garages in terms of knowing the entrances and exits.
FSD 13.2 enters a parking garage. I then park it on the second floor and it escapes the parking garage. I then park it on the snow covered roof and... pic.twitter.com/GxfsldfkUz
In the Upcoming Improvements section of FSD V13, Tesla mentions that more destination options will be supported, including pulling over (at the side of the road) and parking in a spot, driveway, or garage.
These other destination options are going to be important soon - because one of the biggest FSD features we’re all still waiting for is Banish AutoPark. Once your vehicle can pull over at the entrance of a location and then go park itself, we’re going to be super close to Unsupervised FSD becoming a reality.
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