Apple's iOS 17 Will Add Real-Time EV Charger Availability in Apple Maps

By Kevin Armstrong
Apple Maps will offer real-time EV charger availability
Apple Maps will offer real-time EV charger availability
Not a Tesla App

With iOS 17's upcoming release, Apple continues its forward-thinking approach to improving the user experience for electric vehicle owners. The upcoming update to Apple Maps offers real-time charging availability information, an inclusion that promises to streamline the charging process and heighten convenience for Tesla and other EV drivers.

Apple Maps: Integrating Real-Time EV Charging Details in iOS 17

In 2020, Apple first ventured into offering support for EV routing via Apple Maps. Initially launched for Ford Mustang Mach-E and Porsche Taycan drivers, Apple has now evolved the feature to incorporate real-time charging information in iOS 17. The updated interface will display the total number of stalls at a specific charging station and will also indicate how many of these are currently in use.

Real-Time Charging Information

Given the burgeoning popularity of electric vehicles, charging stations will likely see increasing demand. The real-time charging information offered by Apple Maps in iOS 17 aims to optimize the user experience by providing up-to-the-minute data on charging station availability, thereby minimizing potential wait times. This function is bound to be a boon for Tesla drivers, who can better plan their charging stops, knowing the availability status ahead of time.

Apple Maps goes beyond merely presenting users with real-time charging availability. It further enables drivers to set up their preferred charging networks, including Tesla's Supercharger network, Electrify America, Chargepoint, and more. Once a driver selects their preferred networks, Apple Maps tailors the information presented to align with this preference. Such personalization paves the way for an even more seamless charging experience for EV drivers.

Apple Maps and iOS 17: Embracing the Future of Sustainable Travel

While currently only available to cars supporting Apple Maps EV routing, the expanded functionality holds promise for broadening its reach in the future. Considering the rising trend of electric vehicles, features like real-time charging availability and preferred charging networks are set to transform the user experience of EV drivers substantially.

The updates provided by Apple in iOS 17 indicate the tech giant's commitment to promoting and adapting to the future of sustainable travel. Given the rate of EV adoption and the growing demand for smart, seamless solutions, Apple Maps' enhanced features, including real-time charging details, align with the evolving needs of modern EV drivers, especially Tesla owners.

The recent updates by Apple are indeed game-changers. By offering Tesla and other EV owners real-time charging information, preferred charging network selection, and intelligent routing, Apple Maps on iOS 17 is ushering in a new era of convenient and efficient EV travel.

Unfortunately, Tesla owners will likely not see support for Apple's EV routing feature, but they'll still be able to benefit from the real-time availability information of EV chargers.

Apple's iOS 17 was released to developers at their WWDC conference earlier this month and is expected to be released this fall.

Tesla Cybertruck: Puddle Lights, Powershare & FSD in Canada and Cybertruck on Mars?

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

The Cybertruck is having an eventful November. Just last week, we shared the news that Tesla isn’t offering their in-house wrap service for the Cybertruck anymore; the Foundation Series is now available in inventory in select US locations, Crossbars have arrived, and faster charging is around the corner. Now there’s even more to discuss about the stainless steel beast.

Projection Puddle Lights

Like the recently launched puddle lights for the Model 3 and Model Y, Tesla has introduced a set of add-on Projector Puddle Lights for the Cybertruck. These Cybertruck-specific ones go for $75 USD, or $105 CAD and are available in both the Canadian and US Tesla stores.

However, these don’t have the Tesla wordmark - instead, they feature the iconic Cybertruck symbol and, in our opinion, look even nicer. Here’s to hoping Tesla also introduces a set with the graffiti-style Cybertruck wordmark.

Powershare in Canada

While the Foundation Series Cybertruck has been getting delivered in Canada since November 7th, there was no news on Powershare being supported due to regulatory constraints. On the 20th, Foundation Series owners in Canada began to receive emails to get their Powershare installs started through Tesla’s official installer - Qmerit.

More to follow on pricing and the process as we receive our Canadian quote from Qmerit soon.

FSD in Canada

The Cybertruck Program Manager, Siddhant Awasthi, confirmed that with Powershare now becoming available, FSD for the Cybertruck in Canada will also become available soon. Canadian trucks shipped with a factory software build that didn’t include FSD, but did include TACC and stoplight/traffic control.

Early this morning Tesla began rolling out a new version of FSD 12.5.5.3 for the Cybertruck, which is update 2024.39.5. Will this be the version that rolls out in Canada?

Update 2024.39.5

FSD Supervised 12.5.5.3
Installed on 0% of fleet
0 Installs today
Last updated: Nov 22, 1:02 pm UTC

First Mars Payload

Following Integrated Flight Test 6 for SpaceX’s Starship, Elon Musk confirmed that uncrewed Starships are likely to begin making their way to Mars in about 2 years. You’re probably going to ask what’s going to be in those Starships - that’s what Brett Winston on X asked as well. Elon confirmed that Cybertrucks and Optimus robots will be among some of the first items landing on Mars.

That’s a ton of awesome news for Cybertruck, and there’s absolutely going to be more around the corner, especially as we await the big Tesla Holiday Update. While you wait, why not take a look at our Holiday Update Wishlists?

First Look at Tesla’s New 'Blind Spot While Parked' Feature [VIDEO]

By Karan Singh
Automobile Propre

Tesla software update 2024.44.3 has started rolling out to customers in larger waves recently and it brings several new features - including Actually Smart Summon to Europe and the Middle East, as well as improvements to Autopark. But that’s not all, it also adds a new Blind Spot Monitoring feature to the new Model 3, and potentially the Cybertruck, but that’s still to be determined.

We previously covered the Blind Spot Warning While Parked as part of our preview notes for update 2024.44, but now that it's going out to customers, it's time to see it in action.

Blind Spot Monitoring While Parked

If the vehicle’s door open button is pressed, and a vehicle or object is near or incoming, the vehicle’s Blind Spot Warning Light (2024 Model 3 and Cybertruck) will illuminate, an audible tone will ring and the door won’t open. A message will also be displayed on the center displaying, letting driver’s know why the door didn’t open.

Pressing the button a second time will allow you to override the warning and open the door normally, providing a way to get out in case you just parked close to a nearby vehicle or obstacle.

The object detection for this new feature includes cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and other objects - like things including traffic cones, bollards, strollers, and other large obstacles that FSD and vision-based Autopark detect during normal operation. Of note - this only works for the front two doors. Thanks to X user Max, who did some testing for us, It does not work for the rear passenger doors.

Optional Feature

The feature is optional - it’ll be enabled by default for safety, but if you need to enable or disable it, you can do so under Controls > Safety. For now, the feature is only available on the 2024 Model 3, but we expect it to roll out to the Cybertruck at least. However, there’s no reason why it can’t be added to other vehicles as well, minus the small red dot. We expect Tesla to eventually add this feature to all Tesla vehicles, but it’s currently not a part of update 2024.44.

Enhauto’s S3XY Buttons & Commander

If that’s not enough safety and vision for you, Enhauto, the makers of the popular S3XY Buttons and Commander recently put out a new software update for the 2024 Model 3, which makes some fantastic use of the ambient lighting.

With Enhauto’s solution, users are able to tie their ambient lights to Autopilot use, turn signals or even if a vehicle is their blind spot. Check out the video below for this awesome implementation, where the ambient lights turn red when another vehicle approaches.

Maybe Tesla will integrate something like this into a future update? We’ve been hoping for more customizability with their ambient lighting - it's an easy safety win and a demonstration of Tesla’s do-more-with-less attitude.

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