One of the biggest benefits of a Tesla is its vast charging infrastructure. Tesla opened their first Superchargers in October 2012, which were capable of charging at speeds of up to 150kW.
Tesla to increase the speeds of v3 Superchargers
Since then Tesla has released two revisions of their Superchargers. V3 Superchargers now support charging at up to 250kW and do not share power with neighboring stalls like their previous counterparts.
According to Sawyer Merrit on Twitter, Tesla will upgrade some of their Superchargers to charge 35% faster later this year. V3 Superchargers will support charging at up to 324kW, while V1 and V2 Superchargers will continue to have a maximum speed of up to 150kW.
Sawyer also says that Tesla will release v4 Superchargers soon after increasing the speed of their v3 chargers. It's not clear what other benefits v4 chargers may have, but we'll likely see a speed boost with v4 chargers as well.
It'll also be interesting to see whether Tesla supports CCS ports directly with their new Superchargers.
Tesla has started to allow non-Tesla vehicles to use some of their Superchargers in Europe. Tesla cars in Europe already use the standard CCS plug instead of Tesla's proprietary cable, so the only changes for Tesla have been to allow other vehicles to pay and activate the Supercharger.
If the testing goes well, Tesla is planning to expand non-Tesla charging to other markets.
Having a fast-charging infrastructure was crucial for EV adoption, but as electric vehicles become the norm, allowing other vehicles to charge will introduce a new revenue stream for Tesla.
How Fast Are V3 Superchargers
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We recently reported on an update from Tesla’s VP of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, confirming that the refreshed Model Y will feature adaptive headlights, including matrix headlight functionality.
In an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage (video below), Lars mentioned that adaptive headlights are just a few months away in the U.S. and that many Tesla vehicles already have the necessary hardware—it’s simply a matter of enabling the feature via software.
Matrix headlights selectively dim individual pixels, which greatly improves road safety by better illuminating the road for Tesla drivers and reducing blinding lights for oncoming traffic.
Two Months Away
Lars has now confirmed on X that Tesla has received regulatory approval for matrix headlights in the United States. The company will begin rolling out adaptive headlights, starting with the new Model Y, and then expand it to the rest of their vehicles that have matrix headlights.
This is great news, as competitors like Rivian and Mercedes-Benz have already introduced full matrix headlight systems in North America, bringing them in line with what’s available in other regions.
Canada and Mexico
Unlike in the U.S., Tesla won’t face regulatory hurdles in Canada and Mexico, where adaptive headlights and matrix functionality were approved several years earlier. Once Tesla ensures compliance with local guidelines, enabling the feature should be a straightforward process.
High-Resolution vs Low-Resolution
Tesla first introduced matrix headlights with a high-resolution LED matrix headlight, allowing precise control over individual pixels. Over time, they transitioned to a lower-resolution version of the same system. While the headlights can no longer project things like “TESLA” during a light show, they’re likely cheaper to produce.
Whether your vehicle has the original high-resolution matrix headlights or the newer low-resolution version, once Tesla enables the feature, the experience should be similar.
Tesla has begun installing new anti-theft measures on some Supercharger cables, consisting of an exterior wrap called DyeDefender and engravings on the copper wiring inside the cables.
Like other high-speed EV charging stations, Superchargers have been frequent targets of vandalism and theft. While vandalism can often be mitigated through increased security, theft presents a bigger challenge. Thieves primarily target the copper inside the charging cables, which is densely packed and valuable as scrap metal.
DyeDefender
To address this, Tesla is trialing DyeDefender, a theft deterrent system commonly used to protect catalytic converters. It consists of a pressurized staining dye housed within a stainless steel hose called CatStrap, which wraps around the Supercharger cable. The CatStrap is highly resistant to cutting, but if breached, it releases a bright blue dye. While harmless, the dye is difficult to remove, making it easier to identify suspects.
Engraved Cables
Engraved -
Not a Tesla App
In addition to DyeDefender, Tesla is also engraving the actual copper wiring inside the cables, making stolen material harder to sell since scrapyards often reject marked metals.
This solution is more scalable, cost-effective, and doesn’t disrupt service operations or the customer experience—it simply involves engraving the copper inside the cables. Supercharger cables will be permanently marked with “Property of Tesla Motors,” engraved directly at the factory in Buffalo, New York.
Recycling companies and scrap yards will immediately recognize that the cables belong to Tesla and refuse to accept them. Instead, they may notify Tesla that they’ve received stolen goods. While this may not have an immediate impact, over time, as thieves realize that stolen Supercharger copper is unsellable and could get them caught, they’ll be less inclined to target them.
It’s interesting to see Tesla experiment with unique ways to protect Supercharger sites. While the company will likely focus on DyeDefender deployments in high-theft areas, this remains a trial phase. The full impact of cable engraving may take time to materialize, but it should prove effective in the long run.
In the meantime, continue reporting any downed Supercharger sites through the Tesla app by navigating to Location > Charging > Select Site > Report an Issue.
If you have any creative ideas on how Tesla can prevent vandalism and theft, share them with us on social media.
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