Tesla Begins Construction of Its Epic Hollywood Diner and Drive-In Supercharger

By Kevin Armstrong
Tesla has begun construction of its diner and drive-in Supercharger combo
Tesla has begun construction of its diner and drive-in Supercharger combo
@HowardModels

Tesla's innovative Supercharger site, which promises to fuse a diner and drive-in movie theater into the charging experience, is swiftly moving from vision to reality in Hollywood. Images posted by @HowardModels/X show vertical construction and groundwork signaling the initial phases of a unique Tesla ecosystem.

Innovative Amalgamation: Fusing Retro Flair with Futuristic Charging

Imagine pulling up to charge your Tesla, and instead of scrolling through your phone, you are whisked away into a cinematic experience reminiscent of 1950s Americana but powered by cutting-edge technology. This isn't just a trip down memory lane; it's a leap into a new paradigm where sustainability meets showbiz.

Located at the coveted 7001 W. Santa Monica Boulevard address, this site is not just another pin on the map of Tesla's extensive Supercharger network. It's set to become a cultural fixture offering a throwback diner experience and modern-day drive-in theater. The two-story restaurant will cater to 218 diners, with the added allure of a rooftop seating area where patrons can take in movies on towering LED screens, blending nostalgia with Tesla's high-tech brand.

What began as Elon Musk's ambitious idea in 2018 is now rapidly taking shape. The planned facilities, open 24/7, will offer Tesla drivers and the public a place to recharge in more ways than one. With 32 Supercharger stalls and constant short video broadcasts, Tesla is setting the stage for what could become the most memorable charging stop yet.

Entertainment Charging: A Destination in Itself

Tesla has begun construction of its diner and drive-in Supercharger combo
Tesla has begun construction of its diner and drive-in Supercharger combo
Tesla

This Supercharger station is designed to be more than a mere waypoint. It is a token of Tesla's mission to enhance the EV ownership experience by offering drivers a place to relax and engage in an era when time spent at charging stations is an expected part of the journey. The site not only promises efficiency but also a refreshing entertainment twist to the otherwise mundane waiting times.

As the construction of this pioneering project continues, it encapsulates the spirit of Tesla's commitment to innovation. This isn't just about expanding infrastructure; it's about reimagining the future of EV charging stations. With every steel beam erected and every concrete slab poured Tesla is crafting a landmark that marries leisure with the lure of sustainable technology.

The Hollywood Supercharger is poised to redefine the norms of electric vehicle charging, making it an exciting and enjoyable pit stop that might become a social and cultural hub for Tesla enthusiasts and movie-goers alike.

Giga Small Haus - A Demo Home Powered by Solar and Powerwall 3

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Tesla recently showed off Giga Small Haus, an interesting new display project hosted at Giga Berlin. The small new house is located just outside the main entrance of Tesla’s Giga Berlin factory, with a Quicksilver Model Y parked inside.

Giga Small Haus is powered only by solar and Powerwall 3 - disconnected from the local grid and from Giga Berlin itself. It serves as a live demonstration of Tesla Solar and Tesla’s Powerwall battery backup.

Giga Small Haus

The centerpiece of the display is a Model Y in Quicksilver - a beautiful pick for a beautifully lit house. However, that’s not the real focus here - it's the Powerwall and Gateway on the wall.

The Powerwall is the focus of Giga Small Haus, and there’s a display with some additional information on the wall. Part of the display also includes a screen that displays the current output of the Powerwall itself versus the consumption of Giga Small Haus, as well as the input from solar.

The interior exhibit of Giga Small Haus
The interior exhibit of Giga Small Haus
Not a Tesla App

The text on the exhibit is divided into several sections. Here’s a translated and edited version of what we can see from Tesla’s images. Some additional text is obscured. If someone visits Giga Small Haus, let us know.

Powerwall

Powerwall is a home battery system that stores energy from solar panels, the electrical grid, or during off-peak hours and powers your home during the day or during a power outage. 

With Powerwall, you can use self-generated solar energy during the day and night, thus avoiding high electricity costs. You can also store excess energy produced during sunny periods for use during times of low production or power outages.

Key Features

Energy Storage: Powerwall stores excess energy from solar panels or the grid for later use or during power outages.

Backup Power: In the event of a power outage, Powerwall automatically switches to battery power to ensure continuous power supply.

Integration: Powerwall can be seamlessly integrated with existing solar systems and other power sources.

Scalability: Multiple Powerwalls can be installed to meet higher energy storage needs.

Smart Energy Management: Powerwall works with Tesla's software to optimize energy consumption and reduce costs.

How Powerwall Works

Storage: During the day, when solar panels produce more energy than needed, the excess is stored in Powerwall.

Usage: At night or during times of low solar production, the stored energy is used to power the home, reducing reliance on the grid.

Backup: During a power outage, Powerwall automatically provides power to critical circuits, ensuring continuous operation of essential appliances.

Benefits

Cost Savings: By storing and using solar energy, you can reduce your electricity bills.

Reliability: Provides backup power during outages, ensuring your home remains powered.

Sustainability: Promotes the use of renewable energy by storing excess solar production for later use.

Overall, Giga Small Haus is an interesting real-life demo of what Powerwall and Solar can accomplish. It would be neat if Tesla built more of these displays - perhaps near major Delivery and Service Centers and at Giga Texas, Fremont, Giga Shanghai, and other facilities. Many Tesla owners have yet to learn about and experience some of Tesla’s Energy products.

Tesla Adds Acceleration Boost Option for 2024 Model 3

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Tesla has added the Acceleration Boost option to the Tesla store for owners of the 2024 Model 3 Long Range - specifically owners in Australia and China. Acceleration Boost is an upgrade that provides a significant performance boost, drastically narrowing the performance gap between the Long Range and Performance versions of the same model.

This upgrade will likely become available in Europe, Canada, and the United States in the next few days as Tesla updates its shops globally.

Acceleration Boost

This new Acceleration Boost is retailing for $3,000 AUD, or approximately $2,000 USD. That’s the same price for current owners of older Model 3 or Model Y Long Range vehicles, which all have the option to purchase Acceleration Boost through the shop.

The boost provides improved 0-100km/h (0-60mph) performance, bumping the 2024 Model 3 LR from 4.4s to 3.8s. The 2024 Performance version comes in at a blazing fast 2.9 seconds, so while it isn’t equivalent to just buying a performance variant in the first place, it is still a noticeable and significant upgrade.

Performance variants also come with a different front fascia vent for cooling, performance drive units, sport seats, adaptive suspension, 20-inch wheels, and Track Mode V3. That’s a significant number of additional features in the $10,000 USD price difference between the Long Range and Performance versions.

Should You Buy It?

If you’ve purchased a Long Range model and are itching to go just that little bit faster at every red light, this is the upgrade for you. It previously came with the cost of slightly reducing vehicle range, but the Tesla store doesn’t make a note of reduced range this time around. The 2023 Model 3 and Model Y Long Range models had an efficiency loss of about 5% due to the additional always-available acceleration and cooling. 

You could drive in Chill mode to mostly negate that efficiency loss, but what’s the fun in driving in Chill when you just got Acceleration Boost? Anyhow, the shop listing for the 2024 variant doesn’t include this detail, so it's possible Tesla may have worked some more engineering magic.

Overall, if you’ve got the $3,000 AUD burning a hole in your pocket, some Tesla referral credits sitting around, or just want to go faster, it's definitely an upgrade many users find valuable.

Latest Tesla Update

Confirmed by Elon

Take a look at features that Elon Musk has said will be coming soon.

More Tesla News

Tesla Videos

Latest Tesla Update

Confirmed by Elon

Take a look at features that Elon Musk has said will be coming soon.

Subscribe

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter