Tesla is reportedly preparing to launch the third generation of its home battery pack, Powerwall 3, according to information obtained by Electrek. Since introducing the first Powerwall in 2015, Tesla's residential energy storage systems have become an integral part of the company's energy division, with each subsequent iteration improving upon its predecessor.
Tesla's Certification Process for Powerwall 3
Electrek reports that Tesla has applied for certification with some electric utilities for Powerwall 3, indicating that the launch may be imminent. Though the specifications and features of the new product are not yet available, last year's internal meeting at Tesla highlighted three main upgrades: easier installations, better aesthetics, and higher performance.
The upcoming Powerwall 3 is expected to maintain the same 13.5kWh energy capacity as the current Powerwall 2. However, the new unit will boast a higher peak backup power of 15.4kW compared to the 10kW offered by its predecessor, according to Drive Tesla Canada. One of the most significant changes to the new battery pack is the switch from lithium NMC (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt) cells to Prismatic LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) cells, which will make Powerwall 3 cheaper to produce.
What to Expect: Upgrades in Design, Performance, and Installation
Regarding design, Powerwall 3 resembles the current Powerwall 2 but with a smaller form factor. The new unit will be approximately 5 inches shorter and 25% narrower than its predecessor. Made of die-cast aluminum, Powerwall 3 will utilize weld sealing rather than adhesive sealing for its enclosure. While the exact dimensions and visuals are not yet available, the changes suggest a more refined and sleek appearance for the Powerwall 3.
Tesla has not yet announced pricing for the new product, but its launch is expected to occur soon, given that some electric utilities have already certified Powerwall 3. The current Powerwall 2 sells for $9,200 for a single unit, $17,200 for two units, and $25,200 for three units. Tesla recently resumed accepting orders for Powerwall without requiring a simultaneous solar purchase.
With these anticipated design, performance, and installation upgrades, Powerwall 3 is set to reaffirm Tesla's dominance in the residential energy storage market. As the company continues to innovate and evolve its products, customers can look forward to even more efficient and user-friendly energy solutions.
Last night, Tesla released software update 2024.45.25.15, which includes FSD V12.6.1. This update adds support for all HW3 vehicles, including the Model 3 and Model Y. We’re excited to see the continued support for HW3 owners.
FSD V12.6.1
V12.6.1 is now going wide, according to Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla’s VP of AI. This update is going to the Model 3 and Model Y for the first time - as only the Model S and Model X were included in FSD V12.6.
V12.6 is a big step forward for HW3 - it includes End-to-End on Highway, Improved City Streets Behavior, and Smoother and More Accurate Tracking - all contributing towards a better, smoother, and more comfortable build of FSD. You can read our comparison between FSD V12.6 and V13.2.2 here.
In short, FSD V12.6 performs considerably closer to V13 than V12.5.4.2 - which is a massive improvement. It performs as well as the Cybertruck version of FSD V13, which is still missing a few features when compared to other HW4 vehicles, but it’s a great sign for HW3. A lot of the improvements can be pointed to in the improvements to lane selection and decision-making - the vehicle tends to hesitate far less on V12.6, meaning the ride is a lot smoother. Many early V12.6 testers mentioned that it felt more like V13-mini than anything else.
Legacy Model S & X
We haven’t seen this update hit any legacy Model S and Model X vehicles just yet. We’re not sure whether Ashok’s statement of “generally” applies here - but it should. If you do get the update, please let us know.
Legacy Model S and Model X vehicles are still on an older FSD build and potentially won’t see another FSD update for a little while longer. While they do have the same FSD hardware as other vehicles, there are enough hardware differences that require a build specifically for these vehicles.
FSD V12.6.1 is going out now to the redesigned Model S and X with HW3 and all Model 3 and Model Y vehicles with HW3. The initial wave went out last night, and we expect to see more later today or tomorrow. If this release ends up going “wide,” we should see much larger waves go out next week.
Tesla has issued a recall for some vehicles due to issues linked to a revision of the Hardware 4 (HW4) computer that was introduced this past November. This recall affects all vehicles with the revised hardware except for the Cybertruck, as it uses a slightly modified version of the HW4 system.
Many vehicle owners have reported a complete failure of their Autopilot computer, which not only leaves the vehicle without FSD and Autopilot but also disables many of the active safety features that make a Tesla what it is.
Let’s take a look at this recall - because the recall is partially physical and partially a software recall.
HW4 Failure
Tesla has identified the failure and flagged it to the U.S. NHTSA (but not Transport Canada or Euro NCAP at the time of publishing) as a recall.
Tesla mentions that the vehicle’s FSD computer circuit board may short circuit, resulting in the loss of the rearview camera image. The recall itself is focused on the rearview camera - as not having a functional rearview camera breaks a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. However, it does impact more than just the rearview camera.
As previously mentioned, users have experienced the full loss of Autopilot and FSD on these vehicles, as well as reduced traction control and removal of safety features such as automatic emergency braking, collision avoidance assist, and forward collision warnings.
While the vehicle remains driveable, it is not necessarily a good idea to drive the vehicle with many of these features, especially with the reduced traction control noted by many people. We’ve already noted that while Tesla has been sending tow trucks to pick up some vehicles, it is also prompting owners to drive the vehicle to their service center in some cases.
Remedy
Unlike most of Tesla’s recalls, this one isn’t entirely an OTA recall, owing to the fact that people have already experienced circuit board shorts and are already waiting for replacements.
The software portion of the recall has already been mostly completed for any vehicles with Tesla software update 2024.45.25.3 or greater. However, a significant portion of the tracked fleet remains on update 2024.44.25.2 (approximately 20%), so we recommend updating your HW4 vehicle whenever you receive the notification.
On the hardware side, Tesla is immediately identifying and replacing hardware that has had circuit board failure. Tesla is also reaching out to customers who have expressed intermittent issues with Autopilot features, active safety features, or vehicle cameras that don't display correctly. If you have experienced any of these issues in a late 2024 vehicle, we recommend submitting a service ticket with Tesla to ensure that your vehicle isn’t affected by this recall.
![Video Reveals the Cybertruck's Unique User Interface [Video]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/images/news/2023/cybertruck-ui-1_300w.jpg)
