As part of Tesla software update 2024.38.4, Tesla has finally included updates to Sentry Mode to reduce its power consumption.
Sentry Mode is part of Tesla’s security system that keeps the vehicle sensors and cameras on to detect, record, and then inform the owner about suspicious activity. You can read more about it, including how much power it consumes, in our guide covering Tesla Sentry Mode.
Sentry Mode Battery Drain
Sentry Mode keeps the vehicle awake and continuously processes data from the vehicle’s eight cameras. However, due to the vehicle’s architecture and processing the multiple video feeds, Sentry Mode consumes a significant amount of power. Over a 24-hour period, an average Model 3 or Model Y will typically experience a battery drain of about 7-14% with Sentry Mode enabled, or roughly about one mile per hour.
While Sentry Mode is a great security feature, owners often have to decide whether the loss of range is worth the added security. Sentry Mode also becomes an issue when leaving your vehicle parked for an extended period of time, such as at the airport.
Sentry Mode Improvements
Tesla announced earlier this year that they were bringing significant efficiency improvements to Sentry Mode by cutting power usage by 40%.
Update 2024.38 is bringing about those changes. Tesla is changing the way its onboard computers process video to make Sentry Mode use much more efficient. Right now, the vehicle needs to keep its FSD and MCU (infotainment) computers on to process videos from the vehicle’s cameras. However, that’s changing with some architectural improvements in update 2024.38. We’ll have a much closer look at what’s changing in an article later this week.
This change will arrive first with the Cybertruck in update 2024.38.4 and later. According to our source, it will also be available for other models in a future update, but Tesla is starting with the Cybertruck first.
Since most Cybertrucks have FSD included as part of the Foundation Series, they’re on FSD-specific updates, meaning that the number of Cybertrucks with update 2024.38 is extremely small. Once it becomes more widely available, we should be able to get some numbers to see how close Tesla got to its 40% power reduction.
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When navigating to or looking at a Supercharger in the Tesla app or in the vehicle, you can view how busy a Supercharger station is. However, viewing how busy a Supercharger is was limited to Tesla’s charging stations.
However, Tesla has now begun showing occupancy status at select third-party chargers in Europe. As part of the Qualified Third-Party Charger Program in Europe, Tesla began displaying third-party chargers on the vehicle’s maps.
Third-Party Occupancy
The third-party occupancy system appears when you tap a charger to navigate to. It provides the total number of stalls and the number of stalls currently occupied. In addition, it also provides the maximum charge speed of the stations located at the site. While not as seamless as Tesla’s prediction-based system used for Superchargers, which shows how many vehicles are actively driving to a particular Supercharger, it’s still a premium experience backed by Tesla’s high bar for its third-party program.
In addition, while you’re in map view, third-party charger sites show up as a grey bubble, with an indicator showing the number of free stalls currently available. That’s similar to how Superchargers are currently displayed on the map - though those are displayed in red. You can navigate to and precondition for these qualified third-party charging sites, which makes them an excellent option in areas where Supercharging isn’t available yet.
The third-party charger in grey.
@Matty06 on X
Qualified Third-Party Charger Program
Although Tesla’s third-party charging program is currently limited to the Chinese and European markets, it enables third-party charging providers to display their locations directly within Tesla’s navigation system. However, to participate, providers must meet certain criteria over a 60-day period:
At least one compatible charging connector
Frequent use by Tesla drivers, averaging at least one session every four days
An average charge success rate of 90% or higher
This criterion isn’t actually very strict, given that Tesla aims for and achieves much higher numbers with their own Supercharger program.
Third-party charging stations will be removed from Tesla’s navigation system if any of the following conditions are met over a 14-day period:
No charge sessions detected
Average charge success rate falls below 70%
Tesla has opened the Qualified Third-Party Charger program in North America, so we hope to see this functionality roll out in North America alongside third-party NACS stations.
Reliable charging stations help sell electric vehicles. In fact, Tesla Superchargers are loved by all EV owners, regardless of the brand they own. Tesla’s commitment to ease of use and reliability is unmatched in the EV charging space.
Thanks to Daniel Albrecht for letting us know of this new feature.
Tesla once offered factory tours at its Fremont Factory, a popular opportunity for owners to see how their favorite vehicles were built. Many traveled specifically to experience the behind-the-scenes look at Tesla’s production process.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic led Tesla to halt these tours for public health reasons. Once restrictions lifted, Elon Musk mentioned that tours would restart within a few months, and they did—briefly—before stopping again.
Elon Musk recently reiterated that Tesla may restart factory tours, this time at Giga Texas, specifically for customers awaiting their orders. Offering tours to those with pending deliveries could serve as both an incentive for placing an order and a way to build anticipation leading up to delivery. Musk shared this update during one of his recent live Spaces on X.
Return of the Factory Tour
Before the pandemic, Tesla owners could enjoy free tours of the Fremont factory up to once a year. These tours, offered four times daily, allowed owners and their families an up-close look at Tesla’s assembly process. Guided through the factory in carts, visitors could see various stages of the production line and learn about the engineering and manufacturing techniques behind each Tesla vehicle.
In 2023, after a pandemic-induced hiatus, factory tours resumed at Fremont, as well as Giga Texas and Giga Berlin. However, these tours were no longer free; instead, they required owners to redeem referral credits to secure a spot, making access more challenging for owners without substantial referral points.
Looking ahead, we hope factory tours will expand to all Tesla facilities, including Giga Shanghai in China, allowing more owners worldwide to witness Tesla’s advanced manufacturing. Additionally, reinstating free tours would offer an exciting experience for owners waiting on their new vehicle.
It’d be nice if Tesla opened up facilities like Mega Lathrop and Mega Shanghai to tours as well, where they manufacture Megapacks, Powerwalls, and Superchargers, to give fans a glimpse into Tesla’s energy production side.
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