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First look at Tesla Paid Supercharging: How it works

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Tesla announced last year that it would be discontinuing its free Supercharging for life model in favor of a paid program for Model S and Model X owners that purchased after January 15, 2017. Owners are given 400 kWh of free Supercharger use per year, or approximately 1000 miles (1609 km) of travel, after which a specific rate for each region is charged by kWh, by minute or by session depending on local regulations. While the concept makes sense and seen as a great way to prevent Supercharger abuse, there’s been little discussion within the community on how it actually works. Until now.

Updated: Tesla resurrects free unlimited Supercharging on Model S and Model X

Tesla YouTuber DÆrik documented the process by which paid Supercharging operates. Plugging into the Lone Tree-Park Meadows Supercharger in Colorado, DÆrik notes in his video that the experience appears to be very normal, but with one small change: the in-car charging screen includes a new section towards the bottom titled “Paid Supercharging”.

This portion of the charging screen is, by default, greyed out until one plugs into the actual Supercharger. Flipping over to the MyTesla page, DÆrik confirmed that the page was still showing 400 kWh of energy remaining despite having charged his Model S 100D earlier. However, a quick check later in the evening revealed that Tesla had updated the amount of Supercharger credits to 390 kWh.

Supercharging was rolled out by Tesla with the notion that it would always be free for life. However, Tesla quickly realized that free charging quickly fell victim to the tragedy of the commons, with local Tesla drivers stopping off to charge while picking up lunch, grabbing a coffee or catching a movie. This behavior quickly bogged down Superchargers and rendered them ineffective for drivers attempting to use the charging stations for long distance travel.

To solve this, Tesla enacted idle fees that bill drivers a surcharge when leaving their Model S or Model X plugged in for more than 5 minutes after charging. Tesla took it a step further and limited the amount of free charging it would provide to drivers by setting a cap of 400 kWh of free energy use per year

I'm passionate about clean technology, sustainability and life. I've worked in manufacturing, IT, project management and environmental...and enjoy unpacking complex topics in layman's terms. TSLA investor. Find more of my words on my website or follow me on Twitter for all the latest. Tesla Referral link: http://ts.la/kyle623

Lifestyle

Tesla owner highlights underrated benefit of FSD Supervised

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Credit: Tesla

Elon Musk has been pretty open about the idea of FSD being the difference maker for Tesla’s future.

If Tesla succeeds in achieving FSD, it could become the world’s most valuable company. If it doesn’t, then the company would not be able to reach its optimum potential.

FSD Supervised’s safety benefits:

  • But even if FSD is still not perfect today, FSD Supervised is already making a difference on the roads today.
  • This was highlighted in Tesla’s Q4 2024 Vehicle Safety Report.
  • As per Tesla, it recorded one crash for every 5.94 million miles driven in which drivers were using Autopilot technology.
  • For comparison, the most recent data available from the NHTSA and FHWA (from 2023) showed that there was one automobile crash every 702,000 miles in the United States. 

FSD user’s tale:

  • As per an FSD user’s post on social media platform X, FSD Supervised was able to help him drive a relative to a medical facility safely even if he was exhausted.
  • During the trip, the driver only had to monitor FSD Supervised’s performance to make sure the Tesla operated safely.
  • In a vehicle without FSD, such a trip with an exhausted driver would have been quite dangerous. 
  • “This morning, Tesla FSD proved to be an absolute godsend. I had to take my brother-in-law to the hospital in Sugar Land, TX, which is 40 miles away, at the ungodly hour of 4 AM. Both of us were exhausted, and he was understandably anxious about the surgery.
  • “The convenience of sending the hospital’s address directly from my iPhone to my Tesla while still inside my house, then just a single button press once inside, and 40 miles later we were precisely in front of the hospital’s admissions area.This experience really underscores just how transformative this technology can be for society,” Tesla owner JC Christopher noted in his post.

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Tesla Optimus “stars” in incredible fanmade action short film

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Credit: @SoKrispyMedia/YouTube

There are few things that prove an enthusiast’s love towards a company more than a dedicated short film. This was highlighted recently when YouTube’s SoKrispyMedia posted a 10-minute action movie starring Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robot, as well as several of the company’s most iconic products. 

The video: 

  • Shot like a Hollywood action flick, the video featured a rather humorous plot involving a group of thieves that mistakenly targeted a Tesla Model 3 driver. 
  • The Model 3 driver then ended up speaking to Tesla for assistance, and some high-octane and high-speed hijinks ensued.
  • While the short film featured several Tesla products like the Model 3, Superchargers, and the Cybertruck, it is Optimus that truly stole the show.
  • Optimus served several roles in the short film, from an assistant in a Tesla office to a “robocop” enforcer that helped out the Model 3 driver.

Cool inside jokes: 

  • The best Tesla videos are those that show an in-depth knowledge of the company, and SoKrispyMedia definitely had it. 
  • From the opening scenes alone, the video immediately poked fun at TSLA traders, the large number of gray Tesla owners, and the fact that many still do not understand Superchargers.
  • The video even poked fun at Tesla’s software updates, as well as how some Tesla drivers use Autopilot or other features without reading the fine print in the company’s release notes.
  • The video ended with a tour de force of references to Elon Musk products, from the Tesla Cybertruck to the Boring Company Not-a-Flamethrower, which was released back in 2018.

Check out SoKrispyMedia’s Tesla action short film in the video below.

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Tesla releases Cybertruck metal key card—because why not?

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Credit: Tesla Shop

Tesla definitely seems to be determined to release the coolest lineup of accessories for its coolest vehicle. As could be seen in an update to the Tesla Shop, the electric vehicle maker has now launched a metal key card for the Cybertruck—because why not?

Cybertruck keys:

  • The Cybertruck, similar to Tesla’s other vehicles, is shipped with a regular key card. 
  • The vehicle could also be accessed and locked through a phone key. 
  • As per the Cybertruck’s Owner’s Manual, the all-electric pickup truck is capable of supporting a total of 19 keys.

The Cybertruck’s Metal Key Card:

  • Tesla’s Cybertruck Metal Key Card functions much like the vehicle’s regular key card, but it is finished using premium stainless steel
  • As per Tesla’s description of the item: 
  • “Convenient, durable, versatile. The Cybertruck Metal Key Card is a premium stainless-steel alternative to our traditional plastic key cards, making it easy to access your Cybertruck without your Phone Key. Ideal for when your phone is unavailable or when sharing your vehicle with a friend or valet.”
  • The Cybertruck Metal Key Card costs $60.
  • In comparison, the Cybertruck’s regular key card is sold for $40.
  • The Cybertruck Metal Key Card comes with the metal key card itself, as well as a bifold key card wallet.

Tesla Cybertruck merch push:

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