Earlier this year, Tesla released a update for its Beach Buggy Racing 2 game in update 2024.20, which brought a new leaderboard feature to the game.
Grab your wheel, and step on the accelerator, because it's time to take a look at Tesla’s updated Beach Buggy Racing 2 – Supercharger Edition.
Supercharger Leaderboards
Tesla introduced Supercharger Leaderboards to the game, which means anytime you’re at or near a Supercharger site, you can open up Beach Buggy Racing, and compete against other real people in a local leaderboard. Leaderboard are time-based, so that you’re able to compete against other drivers even if there’s no one else currently at the Supercharger.
Leaderboards are available for each track and are location specific, meaning that all Supercharger locations have their own unique leaderboard.
When you arrive at a Supercharger Tesla will prompt you to play Beach Buggy Racing and take a stab at the Leaderboards, but you don’t actually need to be charging to play. All the game requires is that your vehicle is physically at the Supercharger location.
So far, there are no global leaderboards, but competing with fellow Tesla owners at your local Supercharger offers a fun way to pass the time during a 15-minute charge.
Vehicle Colorizer
Not a Tesla App
One lesser known feature of Beach Buggy Racing is that changing your vehicle’s on-screen color through Tesla’s Colorizer will also change the way your vehicle looks in Beach Buggy Racing. It’s a neat little easter egg, but it's all the small details that count. The paint style options apply as well – so Solid, Matte, and Metallic also all reflect in the game.
How to Play Beach Buggy Racing
There are a few ways to play Beach Buggy Racing, and Tesla has thought of everything for this specific game.
You can open up the game from Tesla Arcade when the vehicle is in Park. You have three control options – using the touchscreen, using a Bluetooth or USB controller, or using your vehicle’s steering wheel.
If you’re using the steering wheel, keep in mind that unless you’ve got a Cybertruck with Steer-by-Wire, your actual wheels will also turn. This can add some flat spots to your tires if you play excessively. We recommend using a controller or the touchscreen. Keep in mind that if you’re playing with the vehicle’s steering wheel, you actually use the Brake pedal to accelerate, not the real accelerator pedal.
The author recently took first place at the Leaderboards for the Supercharger in Scarborough, so if you’re in Toronto anytime, feel free to challenge my score! If you’re a leaderboard holder, come let us know where you took first place in the forums.
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The Ride the Lightning podcast recently featured Tesla’s VP of Engineering, Lars Moravy, covering a wide range of topics—including the upcoming Model S and Model X refresh. However, some of the most intriguing details came from his comments on Tesla’s charging technology.
Moravy revisited Tesla’s once-hyped robotic charger snake, which was showcased years ago before quietly fading from the spotlight. He also dropped an interesting remark about wireless charging but didn’t go into detail.
Death of the Charger Snake
When discussing the Charger Snake, Lars had some strong opinions. It was an internal Tesla project that never gained much traction because engineers ultimately felt it wasn’t necessary.
At Superchargers, most people leave their vehicles to grab food, a drink or simply stretch—making manual plugging the vehicle in a non-issue. There was little justification for a complex, maintenance-heavy robotic charger, especially considering the challenges it would face in winter conditions. Just imagine the nightmare of keeping it operational in snow and ice.
But what about autonomous charging? As Tesla moves toward full autonomy, vehicles will need a way to charge without human intervention. And it isn’t like a Robotaxi passenger is going to like the idea of getting out of their vehicle to plug in either - which would ruin the seamless experience.
Wireless Charging and V4 Superchargers
Not a Tesla App
That’s exactly where Tesla’s wireless charging comes in. We got an early glimpse of its design during the We, Robot autonomy event, where the Cybercab was shown charging wirelessly—without a traditional charging port.
Compared to complex robotic systems for handling charging cables, wireless charging is a far more practical solution. A simple charging mat eliminates the need for moving parts while allowing vehicles to charge without human intervention.
In the future, Supercharger stations will likely support both wired and wireless charging, enabling Cybercab users or owners to charge their vehicles while sleeping, watching video content, or simply relaxing—without ever needing to step outside. Wireless charging may also be cheaper to install than a complete Supercharger stall, which Tesla is now able to install for below $40k per stall.
And here’s the most exciting part. When asked whether wireless charging would require new infrastructure, Lars hinted:
“Could be. But we’re making some smart plays about that with the new V4 Superchargers…”
This suggests that as Tesla expands its V4 Supercharger network, it will include wireless charging capabilities in the upcoming V4 cabinets. While every stall won’t need wireless capabilities, having the ability to add a few wireless chargers per major location will be enough to kickstart Tesla’s Robotaxi network.
The Cybertruck has been named MotorTrend’s 2025 Best Tech Winner for chassis technology—but surprisingly, not for its stainless steel exterior. Instead, the award recognizes its Steer-by-Wire system.
Steer-by-Wire is a technology that many automakers have explored for years, but Tesla was the first to bring it to mass production. Now, tens of thousands of Cybertrucks across North America are driving with this cutting-edge innovation.
As one reviewer put it, “Steer-by-Wire feels as natural as riding a bicycle.”
What is Steer-by-Wire?
Most modern cars use a rack-and-pinion steering system, which creates a mechanical link between the steering wheel and the front wheels. To make steering easier, most vehicles incorporate hydraulic or electric power assist, reducing the effort needed to turn the wheels.
The steering ratio determines how many turns of the steering wheel are needed to move the front wheels from lock to lock. In most cars, this requires 3 to 3.5 full turns, translating to a ratio between 12:1 and 20:1.
Some high-performance sports cars also feature adaptive variable-ratio steering, which adjusts based on speed. At higher speeds, the ratio becomes less aggressive, allowing for added precision and control.
How it Works
The Cybertruck uses a fully electronic Steer-by-Wire system, eliminating any mechanical connection between the steering yoke and the wheels. Instead, the yoke sends inputs to a computer, which then controls independent electric motors dedicated to steering the front and rear wheels.
This redundancy ensures that even if one steering motor fails, the vehicle remains steerable through the other. Tesla also built in a backup power system—one motor runs on 48V low-voltage power, while the truck’s high-voltage battery powers the other.
Cybertruck Steer-By-Wire wins @MotorTrend Best Tech award – thank you!
Steer by Wire replaces traditional mechanical steering with electronic controls, letting you turn the wheels with less effort
The steering inputs are triple-redundant, with two primary sensors monitoring wheel angles and a third acting as a tie-breaker. If the two primary sensors detect conflicting data, the tie-breaker determines the correct reading, and the system alerts the driver to pull over safely if needed. Tesla’s engineering played a key role in the Cybertruck earning a 5-star safety rating.
Beyond safety, the system also features a variable steering ratio. At low speeds, such as in parking lots, the ratio is around 5:1, making tight maneuvers easier. At higher speeds, it adjusts to around 12:1 for greater stability. Unlike traditional steering wheels, the Cybertruck’s yoke maxes out at 340 degrees, removing the need for hand-over-hand turning.
The system is surprisingly intuitive. According to MotorTrend, it only took them three turns to get comfortable with how the Cybertruck steers, describing it as feeling almost natural.
Because of how the steering is designed, there’s rarely a need to remove your hand from the yoke—unless you’re using FSD. Whether navigating a tight parking lot, off-roading, or cruising on the highway, maneuvering a full-size truck has never been this effortless.
On by default—super useful when traversing narrow jobsites, parking lots & more pic.twitter.com/pQHecxfyQJ
With the Cybertruck’s ability to turn its rear wheels, driving it feels almost effortless. Even if you’re not a fan of its design, we highly recommend visiting a Tesla showroom and taking one for a spin—you won’t regret it. The Cybertruck delivers one of the most enjoyable driving experiences, something you’d never expect from its bulky stainless steel exterior.
At low speeds, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the front wheels, greatly reducing the turning radius for tighter maneuvers. At higher speeds, they turn in the same direction as the front wheels, allowing for smooth, stable lane changes without requiring dramatic steering adjustments. This makes highway driving feel remarkably fluid and controlled.
At low speeds, rear wheels rotate opposite to the front wheels—enabling tighter turns pic.twitter.com/Dv5yvjRw8L
Tesla has already confirmed that future vehicles will adopt features pioneered by the Cybertruck, with Steer-by-Wire being one of them. Since this technology requires a 48V low-voltage architecture, Tesla’s VP of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, mentioned on the Ride the Lightning podcast that it will be introduced in future models. Moravy also mentioned that the Model S and Model X will be updated later this year, potentially being the first models to take advantage of this.
The main challenge lies in transitioning to a 48V supply chain. Eventually, all Tesla vehicles will operate on 48V, likely incorporating Steer-by-Wire as well. This change should result in simplified parts, easier repairs, and improved handling.
As MotorTrend put it, when Cybertruck engineers replaced the traditional intermediate shaft with a ribbon cable, they didn’t just redefine how to steer a truck—they set the stage for the future of the entire industry.
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