Detailed look at the new Energy App in update 2022.36 (updated with more images and video)

By Kevin Armstrong
Tesla's new Energy App that will be available in 2022.36
Tesla's new Energy App that will be available in 2022.36
Not a Tesla App

Tesla provides users plenty of apps to view in the car, but the one most enthusiasts find themselves checking more than the rest is the Energy app. So be prepared to spend even more time on this application with the 2022.36 update. The Energy app has been overhauled to provide users far more data to monitor consumption and tips to extend the charge range.

The redesigned Energy app has three tabs at the top of the screen, Drive, Park and Consumption. The Consumption tab already existed, but the Drive tab (formerly Trip) has been revamped and the Park tab is brand new.

Tesla's new Energy App that will be available in 2022.36
Tesla's new Energy App that will be available in 2022.36
Not a Tesla App

Drive Tab

By tapping on Drive, users are presented with a wealth of information about how their Tesla is consuming energy throughout a trip.

A chart shows how the battery power is depleted over distance driven. It's also color-coded now, not based on the state of charge of the battery, but based on how the vehicle performed over the segment of the route compared to Tesla's predictions. You still have the gray line which is Tesla's prediction and the colored line which is your actual usage.

However, now owners can go deeper into the data. Further down the screen is a list detailing what was consuming the energy. The list includes Driving, Climate, Battery Conditioning, Elevation and Everything Else.

Below each item, you have the percentage of energy each item used, and to the right, you can see how it compared to Tesla's trip projection.

Tesla also provides feedback on how the user can extend the vehicle's range by offering tips like keeping the speed down or a recommended cabin temperature.

Park Tab

Tesla's new Energy App that will be available in 2022.36
Tesla's new Energy App that will be available in 2022.36
Not a Tesla App

By tapping on Park, the screen lists all the features that can consume energy when the Tesla is, you guessed it, parked. The list includes Sentry Mode, Screen Time, Preconditioning, Cabin Overheat Protection, Mobile App, Summon Standby and Vehicle Standby.

Of course, we know that all these elements consume energy. But now, with this knowledge, users can determine if they think having conveniences such as the Cabin Overheat Protection active is worth the energy consumed (you'll soon be able to customize when COP turns on).

Similar to the Drive tab, Tesla will display the percentage of energy consumed for each item and how it compares to presumably the Tesla fleet. This allows you to see whether a specific feature is consuming more energy than expected.

You'll also be able to view the energy used while parked since the last drive or since the vehicle was last charged by tapping the menu on the top right corner.

Consumption Tab

Tesla's new Energy App that will be available in 2022.36
Tesla's new Energy App that will be available in 2022.36
Not a Tesla App

The Consumption tab appears to be the same information currently found in the current energy app. This line chart displays all the time users experimented with the acceleration or regenerated braking over the past 5, 15 and 30 miles. It also gives that vital information, your projected range based on how you've been operating your Tesla during those distances. The Trip tab has been renamed Drive.

Video: New Energy App in Aciton

Tesla owners are always looking for more information about how this piece of technology is operating. The Energy tab provides that information in real-time and now will give vital data for how energy is consumed. This redesigned app will be especially useful for those who push the range limits or go on long trips where every percentage point of battery power is crucial.

Tesla Introduces ‘Pay Later’ Option for Tesla Service Invoices in North America

By Karan Singh
@TESLA_winston

Tesla recently introduced Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) payment options in the United States and Canada for items in the Tesla Shop, letting owners pay later for new vehicle accessories.

However, with Tesla app update 4.46, they’re expanding support to a much more critical area — Tesla Service. Qualifying owners in the U.S. and Canada will now be able to use Pay Later options for service performed by Tesla, which includes maintenance or repairs.

Services are provided by Affirm and Klarna, as per Mark Fonte, a Senior Software Engineer working on the Tesla app.

Tesla app update 4.46 also added improvements to Tesla Assist, Wall Connector details, Tesla Energy ownership changes, and added visualizations for the updated Model S and Model X.

How It Works

The new feature is seamlessly integrated into the existing service workflow within the Tesla app.

On the Service Estimate, before work on the vehicle begins, you will see a new message on the estimate screen: Pay over time - see if you qualify.

Tapping this link opens the payment calculator, which allows you to view potential payment structures and monthly costs. This provides a clear picture of what a payment plan would look like before you commit to servicing your vehicle.

Additionally, after service is complete and you are ready to pay, the final payment screen will present Affirm and Klarna (region-dependent) as selectable payment methods, alongside the usual options of Tesla Credit or your primary payment card.

Tapping Affirm or Klarna here will reopen the payment calculator, and a confirmation prompt will appear before selecting either BNPL option.

Service Now, Pay Later

Overall, the integration of BNPL providers for service is a thoughtful one for vehicle owners. The terms can vary widely, so it’s important to compare them to other payment options you may have access to. The additional financial flexibility, when faced with a large repair bill, allows more owners to get their vehicle professionally and properly serviced by Tesla.

For those getting larger work done, such as high-voltage battery pack replacements, this is an excellent option to spread payments over a longer period, helping reduce the burden of vehicle repair.

Tesla Robotaxi: A Breakdown of Its New FSD Abilities

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

With the launch of Tesla’s Robotaxi Network, we didn't just get a peek into the future of transportation—we got a detailed look at the next version of FSD.

Videos from early access riders revealed some additional capabilities over current public FSD builds, showing off how it handles emergency vehicles and more.

Safety First for First Responders

One of the biggest changes in FSD’s capabilities is its improved handling of emergency vehicles. During a ride in Austin, Robotaxi is seen identifying an approaching ambulance using a combination of visual and audio data, activating its turn signal, and smoothly pulling over to the side of the road to let the ambulance by (video below).

This is a driving task that requires more than simple awareness of laws. It requires reasoning skills to determine where to move the vehicle to create a safe path, as well as the ability to quickly identify an ambulance or another emergency service vehicle with its sirens and lights activated. Understanding the context and executing a safe and predictable maneuver is crucial, as a wrong maneuver could actually make matters worse.

For FSD and Robotaxi to gain both public trust and regulatory approval, this skill is non-negotiable, and Tesla demonstrated its advancements right here. It’s not surprising Tesla added this ability before Robotaxis made it to public roads.

This is a feature that Tesla previously mentioned would arrive as part of future updates to FSD V13, so expect it in future customer builds as well.

Automated Camera Cleaning

How does a fleet of Robotaxis keep its eyes clean without constant human intervention? Well, a clever new feature that Tesla has previously hinted at in their FSD release notes provides the answer. Robotaxi can now trigger a specific wiper and washer fluid sequence designed to clean the main front-facing cameras.

This might seem like a small detail, but it’s a brilliant solution to one of Tesla’s primary challenges - maintaining sensor clarity. While the vehicle could simply wipe the windshield multiple times, this is a clever solution to clean the most important area of the windshield as thoroughly as possible by focusing extra wiper fluid and wipes on that area.

Complex Maneuvers

Two areas where current builds of FSD V13.2.9 sometimes show hesitation are U-turns and navigating busy parking lots. The latest Robotaxi build appears to improve on both of these areas.

This first video shows a Robotaxi performing a flawless U-turn with no hesitation, and then smoothly switching lanes to take a turn.

Another video on X shows FSD’s updated confidence in navigating a complex parking lot for a precise drop-off. Today’s builds can sometimes struggle in parking lots, being slow and overly cautious when not needed, or too confident elsewhere. This appears to have been improved in these Robotaxi FSD builds with improved path planning and confidence.

We’re also likely to see FSD begin to handle more complex destination options, including parking garages and driveways, which have been promised features for almost a year. The Robotaxi FSD build has also gained the ability to safely pull over on a road, similar to the ambulance example above, but it uses this capability to drop off and pick up passengers. This is a feature that was mentioned in FSD v13.2’s Upcoming Improvements section.

Better Nighttime Performance

Driving at night presents additional challenges, including headlight glare and reduced visibility. The latest version of FSD appears to handle it with almost the same grace as it does during the day. Remember that Tesla’s Robotaxis are available up until midnight.  Early access riders mentioned that FSD is far smoother and is a step up from the behavior of current FSD builds.

Human Support

Now, what happens when a passenger feels unsafe or has a critical question? Tesla has placed two key buttons on the rear screen for just those purposes. Users are given control over the ability to Call Support, which almost instantly connects them with a real human agent at Tesla’s Robotaxi Operations Center via video call.

While it isn’t a fundamental driving feature, it does mean that Tesla’s team can provide support to Robotaxi vehicles remotely, like issuing directive commands to have a vehicle proceed straight, rather than attempting to turn through a gated community.

The other option, Pull Over, allows a rider to immediately request the vehicle to safely pull over, which it will do when it can find a safe and open location. At this point, you can either continue your trip or get out of the Robotaxi.

Both options prompt you with an “Are You Sure?” button before letting you continue, which means you won’t have your Robotaxi ride come to an abrupt stop if you tap the ‘Pull Over’ button by accident.

What This Means for Tesla Owners

These features are likely to be included in future FSD builds. This is essentially the new benchmark by which to judge FSD, at least once it begins rolling out to customer vehicles.

Many of the core driving improvements, such as the more confident maneuvering and emergency vehicle response, will make their way to the wider fleet in upcoming FSD updates.

Remember - Robotaxi isn’t just a service, it is also a preview of Tesla’s driverless FSD builds.

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