Tesla is testing adding more charging options to its app
Not a Tesla App
Tesla lets you easily view and navigate to nearby Superchargers in their app, but they're now testing out some additional features that will give you more charging destinations and options to find the best charger.
Destination Chargers
In Tesla's latest app update, v4.26, Tesla is testing adding more charging locations to the app. The app will now display Destination Chargers alongside its own Superchargers. This modification has appeared in the app north of the border, but our Canadian friends can also see Destination Charger locations in the U.S.
Adding thousands of chargers in the Tesla app drastically broadens the charging options available to Tesla owners. Right now, Tesla only includes Superchargers and Destination Chargers in the app, but this may soon open the door to third-party charging solutions as well.
Filter and Chargers
Further enhancing user experience, the Tesla app in Canada now gives users more control. Owners can filter charging points based on power and charger type, whether private or public. But it goes further by filtering for available amenities such as restrooms, restaurants, shopping, Wi-Fi, lodging, cafes, and open 24 hours. This targeted approach ensures drivers find the most compatible and convenient charging station.
The app also introduces the ability to sort available chargers in various ways. You can now sort by distance, power (low to high, or high to low), as well as availability. As Tesla adds more chargers to the app, these filters become increasingly useful.
Reduced Dependency on Third-Party Apps
Third-party charging apps like PlugShare, ChargePoint, and Electrify America have been indispensable tools for EV owners. They offer comprehensive charging station lists, real-time availability, user reviews, and more. But Tesla's new feature could reduce the dependency on such apps for its car owners. By integrating some of these features within their own app, Tesla aims for a streamlined user experience.
In Europe, Tesla already displays third-party fast chargers in the vehicle to provide a more comprehensive look at available chargers. Tesla may offer the same capability in other parts of the world in the future, either through the app or the maps in the vehicle.
Tesla's move to integrate Destination Chargers into its app demonstrates its commitment to the great charging experience. While it's still early days and only available in Canada, Tesla is likely to expand the feature in an upcoming update. If rolled out globally and refined further, Tesla owners might need a single app for all their EV charging needs. As the electric vehicle ecosystem evolves, seeing how other brands and third-party apps respond to these innovations will be interesting.
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Rendering of what Tesla's license plate feature could look like
Not a Tesla App
Tesla update 2024.38 has started rolling out to several regions and vehicles. Thanks to Tesla hacker Greentheonly, we have a behind-the-scenes look at some new features coming to Teslas.
License Plate Display
According to Greentheonly, it looks like Tesla may soon let you display your actual license plate in the vehicle’s visualization on the screen. In our article, The Most Request Tesla Features, several readers suggested displaying the vehicle’s license plate in the visualization instead of a blank, white plate.
It looks like Tesla will be doing just that, at least in China. Green found references that appear to conclude that you’ll be able to display your vehicle’s plate on screen. This will likely be user input, so you could have it say anything you’d like, and it doesn’t have to be your actual license plate.
For many owners, who may find it difficult to remember their license plate, this could serve a practical purpose in addition to adding to the visualization's realism.
While Green was only able to say it’ll be available in China, we expect this is due to China’s software development team working on it and that it’ll eventually be released worldwide.
While code for this feature was found in update 2024.38, we may not be turned on in China yet. We suspect this feature may be a strong candidate for Tesla’s upcoming holiday update.
FSD Hardware Version Display
As part of the 2024.38 update, Tesla has now made it easy to determine whether your vehicle includes Hardware 3 or Hardware 4. You can now simply navigate to Controls > Software and tap Additional Vehicle Information. In addition to other hardware information about your vehicle, your Autopilot hardware version will now be listed as well.
You can see whether your vehicle has HW2.5, HW3, or AI4. This in-car display is useful, but if you don’t have access to the vehicle, you can always use our guide on how to determine the hardware version of a Tesla.
New Battery Health Test & Service Mode Improvements
Green found some additional things as well. There’s a new and improved Battery Health Test. The new test will show you how your car scores compared to similar vehicles in the Tesla fleet.
In addition, maintenance records can now be permanently stored “in the car.” It doesn’t appear that this feature is activated yet, but it’s likely in active development with some parts leaking out in the 2024.38 update.
Tesla has included various Service Mode improvements and new visualizations in this update.
Mr Li on X came across some covered-up Project Juniper vehicles recently and he managed to get various shots of the vehicle.
Juniper Images
This front image reveals what looks like two rows of lights, possibly confirming the front light bar for the Model Y refresh — similar to the one on the Cybercab.
The rear side has a lot of lights on it!
Mr Li on X
The rear side shows a ton of brake lights, but it’s not clear why. While it looks like the Model Y refresh will also feature a rear light bar similar to the Cybertruck, there isn’t strong evidence of that in this photo.
Mr Li on X
There's an obvious set of lights at the bottom, so it looks like the Model Y refresh will be similar to the new Model 3 where the bottom lights can operate as brake lights when the one-piece tail lights and trunk are up.
Mr Li on X
In the last photo, we see that the overall form factor of the refreshed Model Y will remain unchanged, and Tesla is focusing the changes on the front and rear ends of the vehicle, much like the Model 3 refresh. However, in this one shot, we can also see what appears to be red light leaking out of the rear camera cover opening, possibly due to the rear light bar.
The Model Y is not only Tesla’s best-selling vehicle but also the world’s best-selling car in 2023. This year, it’s expected to be the best-selling vehicle in the United States and again in the world, so this refresh will be huge for Tesla.
@DominicBRNKMN made another fantastic set of concepts based on these new images. Given he had the most accurate Model 3 Highland concept before the official launch, we’re pretty sure his latest work be close here as well.
@DominicBRNKMN
We’re super excited to see the eventual reveal of Project Juniper, which is expected in the first half of 2025. However, expect to see a few more leaks before production kicks off at Giga Shanghai.
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