Tesla – AC vs. Fans vs. Windows Energy Consumption Tested
With most of the country sitting under some type of heat warning in late July, we decided to revisit Tesla’s impressive HVAC efficiency. We tested the heat pump system last winter, but this time we want to measure the extra energy consumption of cooling the cabin. Main Findings: Test Setup: Limitations
How to retrieve Sentry/Dashcam footage from Teslas?
Sentry Mode is one of many high-tech features that set Teslas apart from other premium new cars. The ability to use the suite of cameras to detect and record security incidents can prove very useful for insurance claim purposes. When Sentry Mode is enabled, threat events are automatically saved and locked to prevent being overwritten […]
Do new Tesla cars come with Free Supercharging?
There used to be a time when this young electric car company incentivized new sales of the Model S with free unlimited Supercharging for the life of the vehicle. The volume of vehicle sales was small, and the Supercharger network was a faction of the size it is today. Refferal Program in 2023 These days […]
Should you get Brake Caliper Covers for your Tesla?
EVs generally do not need big brakes because they slow down using a combination of friction brakes AND regenerative braking from the electric motor. But in the automotive industry, brightly painted brakes signify a sporty car with performance credentials. For this reason, top trim ‘Performance’ Tesla cars come with larger wheels, larger brake disks, and […]
PSA: Popular Tesla models can filter air pollution from wildfires
Outdoor air quality has really declined in recent days in the Northeast due to raging forest fires in parts of eastern Canada. Not only can you visually see reduced visibility on the horizon, but at times you can actually smell smoke in the air despite being hundreds of miles from the sources of the fires. […]
How to see a Tesla’s battery temperature
The internal temperature of the high-voltage battery pack of an electric vehicle will have a big effect on performance characteristics. If the battery is too cold; there will be limits on how quickly it can charge and discharge power. But if the battery is too hot for prolonged periods, the capacity and useful life of […]
Can you charge a Tesla at Electrify America stations?
Yes, you absolutely can. However, you will need an additional accessory and a little bit of planning. Electrify America charging stations (and the sister network Electrify Canada) use industry-standard CCS1 connectors for charging EVs. However, Tesla vehicles use competing (NACS) plugs that are not directly compatible. How to charge a Tesla at Electrify Ameria The […]
YouTube stuck on 360p in Tesla – How to fix the bug
Feb. 23, 2023 Update: It appears that Tesla Software update version 2023.2.12 has mostly solved the bug. While the quality dropdown selector still does not work, the app is now better at automatically scaling to 1080p. But you can still use the scroll wheel trick below to select a custom resolution. Watching content on the […]
How to get back Music/Trip ‘Cards’ on the Tesla Screen UI
How you accidentally dismissed the swipeable cards that appear below the vehicle visualization on the Tesla center screen? Those cards that display the current music source, trip information, and tire pressures? It turns out that you can hide the cards in the current iteration of the software by swiping down on the cards. However, swiping […]
What’s the Difference Between J1772 and CCS Charging Adapters for Tesla?
This article is intended for users in North American markets where Tesla cars include a proprietary charging connector. Teslas use CCS connectors natively in other markets, so adapters are not needed. In North American markets Tesla uses a proprietary plug, it was recently renamed as the North American Charging Standard (NACS). But EV models from […]