Tesla to add WiFi to Superchargers

One advantage Tesla has over its competition is its Supercharger network. No one else comes even close to having such a vast charging network. That's not even taking other considerations into account such as the speed of chargers.

Tesla to add WiFi to their Superchargers

Tesla's v3 chargers can charge at rates of to 1,000 miles per hour according to Tesla. It really starts rivaling the speed of gas stations. Of course, you may not always see those speeds, since there are various factors to consider. You'll need to have a battery that's at least 50% depleted. Usually having a battery around the 30% mark is what will result in the fastest charging speeds.

The car will also need to have a warm battery in order to achieve such a high rate of charging. Your car will do automatically warm up the battery as long as you have a Supercharger destination set in your GPS. And of course, the Supercharger can't be crowded or that could affect the amount of power available to each vehicle as well.

The other big advantage that I feel is often overlooked is the simplicity of the whole thing. When you arrive at a Supercharger, you know what to expect, you're not dealing with different charging networks or figuring out how to pay. You literally just plug it in. It couldn't be simpler.

Adding WiFi

Now, Tesla is going to add another advantage to it's already great charging network. Elon tweeted that Tesla will be adding WiFi networks to all of their Superchargers.

This will be especially useful for those of us without Tesla's Premium Connectivity package. Connecting to Tesla's WiFi network will allow you to stream video services like Netflix and others. It will also give you the ability to use the web browser, Caraoke and the many features that are only available with Premium Connectivity.

Even for owners with Premium Connectivity, the WiFi access will be nice if you have other devices in the car that are WiFi only, such as a gaming device, laptop or an iPad.

They will

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 14, 2021

Why This is a Win for Tesla

Adding WiFi to Superchargers actually makes a lot of sense for Tesla. The amount of data Tesla vehicles use is probably fairly small, with the exception of video streaming.

Considering that streaming YouTube or Netflix is likely one of the more popular entertainment options if you're waiting in the car while charging, this could lead to large amounts of data usage.

If Tesla added WiFi to Superchargers, they'll likely greatly reduce the amount of data that is being consumed through the car's cellular network.

In the US, Tesla has a partnership with AT&T. Since the very first Model S in 2012, all Teslas have used AT&T's network. We don't know the exact details of Tesla's partnership with AT&T, but Tesla is likely paying AT&T based on the amount of data used. After all, there's a reason why Tesla forces software updates to be downloaded over WiFi.

This move is likely to improve the customer experience at Superchargers while also saving Tesla some money.

Software Updates

Tesla is selling almost a million vehicles a year. Many of these are now being sold to owners who may not be able to get their car close enough to their homes in order to connect to WiFi and download the latest updates.

By adding WiFi to Superchargers, Tesla will now give owners a reliable and easy way to download software updates, regardless of their connection at home.

How to Connect to Tesla WiFi

We discussed earlier how easy it is to use a Supercharger. There's no need to authenticate, process payments or anything. It's all seamless. Expect Tesla to provide a similar experience when connecting to their WiFi network. You may not have to do anything. Just driving your car within range of Tesla's WiFi network will be enough to get it to automatically connect.

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Tesla Cybertruck Features Coming: New Suspension Controls, Rockers and Free Cyber Wheel Caps

Not a Tesla App

Another month brings another exciting update packed with Cybertruck news. Grab your stainless steel mug and join us as we dive into the latest developments, from new features to upcoming products—all things Cybertruck.

This recap covers news from early January to early February, keeping you updated on the latest updates and what’s coming next for the Cybertruck.

Off Road Armor & Rockers Coming Soon

The prototype Off Road Armor in all its glory.

Not a Tesla App

Back in 2024, Wes Morril (Cybertruck’s Lead Engineer) and Siddhant Awasthi (Cybertruck’s Program Manager) teased the arrival of off-road armor, expected to launch for customer purchase in Winter 2024. Unfortunately, that hasn’t materialized.

But there’s good news. Wes recently showcased the prototype off-road armor and side rockers, confirming they’re on the way. Tesla plans to add them to the store by the end of March. Pricing details are still unknown, but since this armor covers the entire underbody of the Cybertruck, it’s safe to assume it won’t come cheap.

Wheel Cover Supply Confirmed

Tesla has been working hard to get Cybertruck wheel covers to early owners. While new deliveries now come with them pre-installed, some customers— including those who received their Cybertrucks as far back as March 2024—are still waiting.

According to Siddhant Awasthi, Tesla has secured a supply of the covers, but distribution remains a challenge. So far, about 32% of eligible owners have received theirs, with more shipments on the way.

In the meantime, Tesla is offering complimentary Cyber Wheel Caps to owners still waiting for their covers. These will be sent out for free, with email notifications already rolling out.

Air Suspension Controls and Improvements

Strangely, the Cybertruck still lacks the ability to control vehicle height from the app—a feature that would be incredibly useful for off-roading and just cool to have in general.

The good news is that Siddhant Awasthi recently hinted that improvements to the air suspension controls are on the way, along with other unannounced feature upgrades.

Could this mean more advanced vehicle leveling, finer height adjustments, or even the ability to drive in High mode at faster speeds? We’ll have to wait and see, but we’re definitely excited to find out.

Cold Weather Update Delayed

The Cybertruck continues to face regen and charging issues, and although a fix may arrive in update 2025.2, that update has yet to hit the Cybertruck.

We reached out to Tesla Service for an update. While they previously stated the fix would land in 2025.2, they now say it’s “coming soon,” so it’s unclear whether we’ll even get those fixes this winter.

RWD Cybertruck Coming Soon, EV Rebate Available Now

In case you missed it, the RWD Cybertruck is expected to arrive soon, and the Dual Motor variant now qualifies for the Federal EV Rebate in the U.S.

The RWD model will likely launch with a few feature omissions, including:

• A manual tonneau cover instead of an automatic one

• Potentially optional PowerShare functionality

• Internal and rear AC outlets may also be missing

You can dive into all the things that may be different with the RWD Cybertruck.

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Tesla Smoking While Supercharging? A Look at What's Actually Happening

Hot_Engineering3140 on Reddit

Winter is here, and temperatures are dropping, so one of the most common Tesla questions is about to resurface.

If you’ve landed here after frantically searching about “smoke” coming from your Tesla while Supercharging, take a deep breath—it’s completely normal.

Tesla Smoking While Charging

If you’re Supercharging in freezing weather—even with preconditioning—you might notice steam rising from your Tesla. But rest assured, your car isn’t smoking.

Your Tesla’s heat pump is hard at work warming both the cabin and battery to keep you comfortable and ensure optimal charging temperatures. Over time, condensation and ice build-up in the heat exchanger coils.

Why Does It Happen?

When you reach a Supercharger with your vehicle, the heat pump is still running hot, but without the cold air from driving to keep the heat exchanger coils cool, the ice and condensation quickly start to evaporate—creating what looks like smoke.

Since this typically happens near the front of the vehicle, where a car would traditionally have an engine, new vehicle owners can be startled by the discovery. However, rest assured that it’s just water vapor and it’s completely normal in cold weather.

In fact, this behavior can be experienced in any EV with a heat pump in cold climates. So, if you saw steam coming out of your vehicle and panicked, don’t worry—you’re not alone.

Now that you know what’s happening, go ahead and Supercharge with confidence.

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