Tesla's Full Self-Driving beta may be enabled on European streets as early as September 2024. The new UN Economic Commission for Europe regulation on Driver Control Assistance Systems (DCAS) has been added to the annotated provisional agenda for the upcoming 192nd session of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations.
BREAKING NEWS The new UNECE regulation DCAS, which could allow Tesla's FSD Beta in Europe, was added to the annotated provisional agenda for the 192nd session of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29). If it gets adopted, the regulation could come into… pic.twitter.com/yK8tLP0nYt
This discussion was initially set for 2025, with the regulatory body deciding the journey towards autonomous driving on the continent. Adding the DCAS regulation to the provisional agenda signals a crucial step in the regulatory process, suggesting a more accelerated timeline than anticipated. The provision comes with a 70-page document that dives into every aspect of autonomous driving.
The Essence of the Proposal and Its Impact
The DCAS regulation aims to establish a standardized framework for advanced driver assistance technologies, specifically targeting systems that provide sustained lateral and longitudinal motion control support. Unlike fully autonomous systems, DCAS requires the driver to remain engaged and responsible for the vehicle, fitting within the SAE level 2 automation category and lining up with Tesla’s FSD warnings. Adopting the DCAS regulation could mean re-enabling certain Autopilot features previously restricted in Europe and introducing the much-anticipated FSD Beta.
The document focuses on preventing misuse and overreliance on DCAS and addresses concerns about drivers overestimating the capabilities of automated systems. For Tesla and its users, the FSD Beta will have clear guidelines and interfaces to keep drivers informed and engaged, preventing potential safety issues from misunderstanding the system's limits.
Tesla’s Technology Will Face a New Standard of Tests
Tesla has an ongoing relationship with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the U.S., and now the company will have to adhere to a new rule book. The proposal details the safety measures that DCAS-equipped vehicles must adhere to, including response to system failures and compliance with speed limits. The FSD Beta must meet stringent safety standards for Tesla, ensuring its deployment in Europe will be innovative and aligned with the highest safety protocols.
Highlighting the various testing methods for verifying DCAS reliability and effectiveness provides insight into the rigorous approval process that Tesla's FSD Beta must undergo. This thorough testing and compliance process is reassuring for potential users, indicating that the system will have been extensively evaluated for safety and functionality before it becomes available in Europe.
The journey to this point has not been without its challenges. Regulatory processes, especially those involving new technologies and international standards, are inherently complex and time-consuming. The inclusion of the DCAS regulation in the WP.29 agenda comes after intensive efforts by stakeholders to prioritize and expedite the framework, reflecting the high level of interest and investment in the future of mobility.
The potential early adoption of the DCAS regulation holds promise for a new era of driving in Europe. Tesla's FSD Beta could soon be within reach for European drivers. The meeting takes place in Geneva in early March.
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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
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 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.
