Tesla bolsters Referral Program with big change and bigger rewards
Tesla has made a big change in terms of its ordering process to reflect the new rules regarding the $7,500 EV tax credit, which the IRS adjusted the rules to just a few weeks ago. The EV tax credit is set to expire on September 30, bringing an end to a program that has been widely advantageous to consumers and automakers, helping to incentivize the purchase of a sustainable powertrain for those who qualify. However, the rules and language regarding the tax credit were adjusted slightly a few weeks ago. Previously, the tax credit was only available to those who took delivery of their vehicle by September 30, something Tesla was sure to be transparent about on its website: Tesla warns consumers of huge, time-sensitive change coming soon In late August, the IRS slightly adjusted the rules to reflect that those who are purchasing their EV outright do not need to take delivery by September 30. Instead, those consumers now need to enter a written binding contract and have a “nominal” down payment on the car to qualify. The agency said: “For purposes of sections 25E, 30D, and 45W, a vehicle is ‘acquired’ as of the date a written binding contract is entered into and a payment has been made. A payment includes a nominal down payment or a vehicle trade-in.” This adjustment was greatly appreciated by many, as Tesla had previously suggested ordering and purchasing from inventory instead of a custom build. This led some consumers to settle for a trim, color, or features that they did not necessarily want as their first choice. The new rules allow the order to be placed by September 30, and delivery can occur afterward. Leasing does not qualify for this offer, as delivery must take place before September 30 to receive the tax credit. For outright purchases, however, customers can place an order until September 30 and still receive the tax credit, even though delivery could occur after that date. Tesla has now made a big adjustment to the language on its website to reflect this: This significant change reflects the IRS rules, which were previously confusing to many, as the meaning of a written agreement and nominal down payment still left many customers uncertain about whether they would be able to take delivery after September 30 and still receive the tax credit. Tesla employees are also reaching out to potential customers, reiterating this point: The move has potentially monumental implications for Tesla, as many took delivery over the past three months in preparation for the phase-out of the tax credit. However, the deliveries that will occur after Q3, thanks to this adjustment, could benefit Tesla’s Q4 performance as well.
10 Quick Responses to Common Electric Car & Renewable Energy Myths
Support CleanTechnica's work through a Substack subscription or on Stripe. Contrary to popular belief and media hype, there are a number of myths regarding cleantech that aren’t true or lack context, yet are pushed year after year after year after year. Here are some quick responses to 10 of them: 1. Gasoline-powered cars are actually much more likely to catch fire than electric cars. (Myth: Electric cars are a major fire risk.) 2. EV batteries should last for 15+ years, or at least 10+ years. (Myth: EV batteries are like conventional 12V car batteries and need replaced every few years at a cost of thousands of dollars.) 3. There are now many affordable electric car options on the market. That includes great long-range electric cars nearly $20,000 below the average selling price of a new car in the United States (~$30,000 rather than $48,699). (Myth: Electric cars are all super expensive.) 4. For most owners, electric cars are actually much more convenient than gas-powered cars. You just plug in at home every few days or so and then unplug when you leave — no need to go to the gas station to fuel up, and no need to go for oil changes, emissions checks, etc. (Myth: Electric cars are less convenient than gas-powered cars because once in a blue moon, when you go on a long road trip, it takes slightly longer to charge during bathroom stops, food stops, and coffee stops than in a gas car.) 5. Solar power and wind power are now the cheapest options for new electricity on the market. For this reason, solar and wind actually dominate new power plant capacity around the world. (Myth: Solar and wind power are expensive.) 6. Solar panels, wind turbines, and electric cars lead to a lot less pollution than their fossil-fueled alternatives. (Myth: Because these cleaner technologies aren’t made out of unicorn farts and do take some energy and natural resources to produce, they are just as dirty as coal power plants, natural gas power plants, and conventional gas-powered cars.) 7. Solar power and wind power partner great with traditional farmland, helping some crops do grow better and helping farmers financially via supplemental income. (Myth: Solar and wind power are a threat to farmland.) 8. We can easily integrate a lot more wind and solar power into the grid while improving grid reliability and grid security. We just combine renewables with increasingly cheap battery storage and more transmission infrastructure. (Myth: We can’t add much more solar and wind power to the grid because the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow.) 9. Solar and wind power are much quicker and much cheaper to install than new nuclear power. (Myth: We should build new nuclear power plants rather than more solar and wind power.) 10. We do need solar power, wind power, and electric cars to protect our economy. Without them, we are facing increasingly severe climate disasters and destruction. (Myth: Clean technologies are not helpful for our economy, or even drag it down.) Note: This is an update to an earlier attempt at debunking these myths that was far too verbose. Sign up for CleanTechnica's Weekly Substack for Zach and Scott's in-depth analyses and high level summaries, sign up for our daily newsletter, and follow us on Google News! Advertisement Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here. Sign up for our daily newsletter for 15 new cleantech stories a day. Or sign up for our weekly one on top stories of the week if daily is too frequent. CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here. CleanTechnica's Comment Policy
GridStor, Flatiron, Jupiter advance 1.6GWh US BESS projects
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Neuralink is planning to launch US trials translating thoughts into text
Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain-computer interface company, is reportedly planning to start a US clinical trial in October to use its technology to translate thoughts directly into text. The trial was approved by the FDA under an investigational device exemption, and it could help pave the way for people with speech impairments to communicate more quickly and efficiently. Thought-to-text technology The upcoming trial aims to read speech directly from the brain, enabling participants to transmit words without moving their mouths or using a keyboard, as noted in a report from Bloomberg News. DJ Seo, Neuralink’s president, told an audience at the Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies in Seoul that the company hopes to demonstrate communication with large language model AI platforms “at the speed of thought,” potentially faster than spoken speech. “We think that it’s actually possible to demonstrate abilities to speak to the latest AI model, or LLM models, at the speed of thought, even faster than how you’re speaking, and being able to potentially get that information back through your AirPods, effectively closing the loop,” Seo stated. Production ambitions Ultimately, Seo described the trial as a stepping stone toward broader human enhancement and consumer-facing applications, beyond the company’s initial focus on medical conditions like ALS, stroke, blindness, and Parkinson’s disease. While initial implants will focus on patients with severe speech impairments, Neuralink plans to eventually expand to healthy individuals by 2030. The company aims to scale to 20,000 implants per year by 2031. “We’re currently envisioning a world where, in about 3 to 4 years, there will be someone who’s otherwise healthy who’s going to get a Neuralink. If you’re imagining saying something, we would be able to pick that up,” the executive noted. The post Neuralink is planning to launch US trials translating thoughts into text appeared first on TESLARATI.
Green Gravity to trial gravitational energy storage in Australia
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Tesla Cybertruck slapped with world's least intimidating ticket, and it's pure cringe
A growing number of Tesla enthusiasts and longtime community voices are calling on the electric vehicle maker to acquire Unplugged Performance, a California-based aftermarket company best known for tuning Tesla vehicles and developing specialized government fleet solutions under its UP.FIT division. The idea was once considered a niche proposal among EV fans, but it is now gaining serious attention not just as a performance play but as a strategic move to deepen Tesla’s roots in the fleet and security industry. A strategic fit Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles, from track-optimized components to visual and aerodynamic upgrades. But in recent years, its UP.FIT division has pivoted toward a more functional future by outfitting Tesla vehicles like Model Ys for police, military, and government use. That work has sparked growing calls for closer collaboration with Tesla, especially as the EV maker increasingly leans into autonomy, AI, and fleet services as core components of its next chapter. “I posted this four years ago, but I think it’s more true now than ever,” wrote Whole Mars Catalog, a well-known Tesla investor and FSD Beta tester, on X. “Tesla should buy Unplugged. But not just as a Performance division. What they are doing with UP.FIT unlocks large government and commercial fleet purchases that can improve utilization.” I posted this four years ago, but I think it’s more true now than ever. Tesla should buy Unplugged. But not just as a Performance division. What they are doing with UP FIT unlocks large gov & commercial fleet purchases that can improve utilization. They also have some… pic.twitter.com/tUd08SzyHz— Whole Mars Catalog (@WholeMarsBlog) July 10, 2025 Tesla fans such as shareholder Sawyer Merritt echoed the sentiment, calling Unplugged a “great fit within Tesla.” adding, “They are literally located directly next to Tesla’s design studio in Hawthorne.” Enabling the next wave Supporters of the idea noted that integrating Unplugged into Tesla’s corporate structure could help accelerate the adoption of autonomous technologies in government sectors. With UP.FIT patrol cars already in use across some U.S. police departments, Tesla fans envisioned a future where self-driving Teslas could potentially revolutionize law enforcement, search-and-rescue, and public service logistics. “Just imagine how autonomous patrol cars could transform policing and bring us into a safer future,” the veteran FSD tester wrote. The benefits could also extend to Tesla’s existing consumer base. “They also have some incredible products in the works that I think will appeal to many ordinary Tesla drivers — not just those looking for performance or mods. Stuff that’s so good it should have come straight from the design studio next door,” Whole Mars Catalog noted. Thank you. Our very existence is to support the Tesla mission with @UpfitTesla and @UnpluggedTesla. I appreciate your earlier 2021 post and today’s as well. We love working with Tesla and are grateful for the community’s support since 2013!— Ben Schaffer (@BenSchafferUP) July 10, 2025 Unplugged Performance, founded in 2013, shares not just a product vision with Tesla, but also geography. Its Hawthorne headquarters sits directly adjacent to Tesla’s design studio, and the two companies have maintained a close working relationship over the years. The aftermarket firm has long positioned itself as a “mission-aligned” partner to Tesla. In response to the recent calls for acquisition, Unplugged Performance acknowledged the support from the community. “Our very existence is to support the Tesla mission with @UpfitTesla and @UnpluggedTesla,” Unplugged CEO Ben Schaffer posted on X. “We love working with Tesla and are grateful for the community’s support since 2013!”
When quality slips through the cracks: A procurement guide to hidden BESS risks
Some integration factories still do not fully verify critical steps like wiring polarity, fire detection loop continuity, or system grounding before shipment — areas that CEA always inspects and frequently uncovers issues during audits. Moreover, many integrators rely on third-party contractors to assemble their battery cabinets, which can result in a lack of direct accountability. Unlike integrators, these contractors may have minimal long-term accountability for the performance and longevity of the systems they assemble, reducing their incentive to adhere rigorously to best practices. Major system-level defect categories found in 2024 The following are the most frequent system-level problems CEA uncovered for its BESS Quality Risks report: Fire detection and suppression — 28% percent of systems inspectedFrequent issues include reversed or misconnected smoke detectors, temperature sensors wired to incorrect control loops, and abort buttons missing redundant triggers. Such defects can disable emergency suppression systems or cause false activations, which can lead to unnecessary downtime and costly equipment damage. Thermal management — 15%Common problems involve leaking coolant hoses, overtightened pipe joints during manual fitting, and compressor control boards with faulty solder joints, causing short circuits. Poor thermal management can accelerate battery degradation, compromise battery health, and even lead to thermal runaway. Auxiliary circuit panels — 19%Issues such as poor cable routing, unsecured terminations, and loose terminals frequently cause intermittent loss of power to sensors and control relays, creating hidden risks that become apparent only under high-load operations. Enclosure issues — 30%Weak panel welds, poorly sealed doors, and inconsistent protective coatings commonly lead to water ingress, corrosion, and compromised structural integrity. These enclosure defects can severely affect electrical safety, increasing insulation breakdown risks and reducing overall system lifespan. Capacity test failures — 6%System capacity failures often stem from high internal resistance due to defective busbar welds or unbalanced wiring runs. These hidden defects are typically discovered only during detailed final functional testing, highlighting the importance of thorough Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT). How robust QA catches these defects Third-party quality assurance (QA) identifies these problems at the factory level rather than post-delivery. Inspectors verify critical aspects such as wiring routing, terminal torque, fire system actuation circuits, pipe fittings, and enclosure finishes against established documented standards. A robust QA process includes multiple inspection hold points during integration, along with rigorous final functional testing involving real power flow and comprehensive safety checks. Effective FAT replicates site conditions, thoroughly verifying thermal management and fire suppression under realistic loads. CEA’s defect resolution protocol ensures rapid escalation, corrective action, and re-inspection of critical and major defects, significantly reducing the risk of defective units leaving the factory. Documentation and traceability A strong QA programme demands meticulous documentation and traceability. We often find incomplete torque logs, missing grounding checks, or generic sign-offs without supporting evidence such as photographs or detailed test data. Developers should insist on comprehensive, verifiable inspection reports linked to each container’s serial number, detailed non-conformance logs including root cause analysis, and documented corrective actions. These records provide critical leverage when addressing future warranty claims or operational issues. Receiving inspection and site checks Even systems assembled to exacting standards can sustain damage during transit. Upon arrival, procurement teams should carefully inspect containers for dents, broken cable trays, moisture ingress, and verify that protective packaging is intact. Shipment records must be cross-checked against factory test certificates to ensure nothing has been altered or substituted. Early detection of transit-related issues can prevent significant commissioning delays. How contracts make QA enforceable Contracts must clearly translate technical QA requirements into enforceable supplier accountability. Essential contractual terms include explicit rights for third-party inspections, clearly defined FAT pass/fail thresholds, explicit defect rework obligations at supplier cost, and financial penalties for recurring non-conformances. Scope language should clearly delineate ownership and responsibilities for subsystems such as fire panels, HVAC units, and control wiring to avoid disputes during integration and commissioning. Contracts should also define clear off-ramps, providing actionable responses in case of significant tariff changes, force majeure events, or major project disruptions, protecting developers from unforeseen operational and financial risks. No surprises, with the right oversight Integration-stage defects represent the most frequent quality risks in battery energy storage projects. Procurement managers can proactively identify and resolve defects early by combining rigorous quality assurance practices, detailed documentation, thorough FAT, and carefully structured contracts. Effective oversight at each stage — from supplier selection through final commissioning — ensures system performance, protects project timelines, and safeguards long-term profitability. About the Author Jeff Zwijack is associate director for energy storage at Clean Energy Associates (CEA), a North American-owned solar PV, green hydrogen, and battery storage clean energy advisory company across the whole value chain, with offices in Denver, USA and Shanghai, China. Zwijack helps energy storage buyers choose the right suppliers and ensure product quality and safety. Before joining CEA, he started and grew the application engineering and sales team at IHI Terrasun Solutions.
Tesla gives big hint that it will build Cyber SUV, smaller Cybertruck
Tesla is officially ditching the development of a key Cybertruck charging feature, and the reason is very obvious, all things considered. The Cybertruck is among the most unique vehicles available on the market, and, like all Tesla vehicles, it has continued to improve through Over-the-Air software updates that enhance performance, safety, and other technological features. However, the development of some features, while great on paper, turns out to be more difficult than expected. One of these features is the presence of wireless charging on the all-electric pickup, a capability Tesla has been working to integrate across its entire vehicle lineup. Tesla wireless charging patent revealed ahead of Robotaxi unveiling event Most people who have used wireless charging for their phones or other devices have realized it is not as effective as plugging into a cord or cable. This is even relevant with Tesla vehicles, as the introduction of wireless charging for smartphones within the vehicles has been a nice feature, but not as impactful as many would hope. It’s not necessarily Tesla’s fault, either. Wireless charging is a complex technology because much of the energy intended to be transferred to the phone is lost through heat. Instead of the energy being stored in the battery, it is lost on the outside of the phone, which is why it becomes warm to the touch after sitting on a charging mat. This is something that Tesla is likely trying to resolve with its vehicles before rolling out inductive charging to owners. The company has confirmed that it is working on a wireless charging solution, but it has yet to be released. However, this feature will not be coming to the Cybertruck. Wes Morrill, the Cybertruck’s lead engineer, said that the vehicle’s height makes wireless charging “silly,” according to Not a Tesla App: “Wireless charging something as far off the ground as the CT is silly.” This is something that could impact future vehicle designs; the Cybertruck might not be the only higher-ground clearance vehicle Tesla plans to offer to customers. Therefore, being transparent about a design’s capabilities, or even developing technology that would enable this, would be useful to potential buyers. At this point, wireless charging seems like it would be more advantageous for home charging than anything. Due to its current inefficiency, it would likely be a great way to enable seamless charging in a garage or residential parking space, rather than something like a public charger where people are looking to plug and go in as little time as possible.
Lightsource bp begins work on 562MWh solar-plus-BESS in NSW
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Tesla says it is working on rides for the handicapped and disabled with Robotaxi
Elon Musk is urging Tesla shareholders to take part in the company’s upcoming annual meeting, calling the vote critical not just for the automaker but potentially for the world. “This shareholder vote decides the future of Tesla and may affect the future of the world,” Musk posted on X, emphasizing the importance of proposals that will be voted on in the upcoming meeting on November 6, 2025. A pivotal inflection point In a message from its official account, Tesla described itself as being at “a critical inflection point” as it prepares for its annual meeting. Shareholders will soon receive voting instructions, with the company asking investors to back the Board’s recommendations on all proposals. The post also referenced Tesla’s Master Plan Part IV, which outlines ambitious growth targets across vehicles, energy, and artificial intelligence. “Tesla is at a critical inflection point. We need your vote ahead of our 2025 Annual Meeting on November 6. Tesla shareholders, the owners of our company, will soon receive their control numbers and voting instructions from their brokers. This will enable you to vote. We are asking you to vote with the Board’s recommendations on *all* proposals,” Tesla wrote in its post. The company also highlighted that it is currently on the brink of a “massive wave of transformational growth.” Tesla stressed that confidence in Musk’s leadership is central to this trajectory, as he is the CEO who could lead Tesla into its new, ambitious era. This shareholder vote decides the future of Tesla and may affect the future of the world. Please let us know if you have any difficulty voting. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 18, 2025 Some Key proposals Two proposals stand out in Tesla’s recommendations, as per the company’s VoteTesla.com website. The first seeks to amend and restate Elon Musk’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, creating a special reserve of nearly 208 million shares to give the board flexibility amid ongoing litigation surrounding Musk’s 2018 CEO Performance Award. It also calls for replenishing the general share reserve with 60 million additional shares, ensuring capacity for employee equity grants. “Equity is the cornerstone of Tesla’s compensation philosophy. We believe we need a framework that allows us to honor the deal we made with Elon and the extraordinary value he created for Tesla shareholders under the 2018 CEO Performance Award. In addition, it is essential that we maintain sufficient equity reserves and maximum flexibility to attract, retain and motivate talent at Tesla,” Tesla wrote. The second proposal is a new 2025 CEO Performance Award, a pay-for-performance framework that links Musk’s compensation to reaching ambitious market cap and operational milestones. Under the plan, Musk would earn nothing unless Tesla achieves extraordinary results, potentially creating more than $7 trillion in shareholder value and pushing the company’s valuation to as high as $8.5 trillion. The company also asked shareholders to vote in favor of re-electing three directors: Ira Ehrenpreis, Joe Gebbia, and Kathleen Wilson-Thompson.
Soaring energy storage orders, robust financial performance drive up Chinese ESS cell prices
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Tesla Robotaxi is headed to a new U.S. state following latest approval
Tesla Robotaxi is headed to a new U.S. state following its latest approval, which was revealed on Friday night. Tesla has been operating its Robotaxi platform in Texas and California, with Austin being the first city where the company could test a ride-hailing platform without anyone in the driver’s seat. First launching in Austin in late June, Tesla’s focus has been expanding its service area, its fleet of Robotaxi vehicles, and its rider population, which has grown most recently due to its public launch. However, Tesla is also filing applications in states where these autonomous driving programs can operate, aiming to expand to all 50 states eventually. CEO Elon Musk said earlier this year that the company should be able to offer Robotaxi rides to roughly half of the U.S. population. Alongside Texas and California, Tesla recently gained permission to test its Robotaxi in Nevada, marking the third state where it had some form of regulatory permission to perform rides using an unreleased version of the Full Self-Driving suite. Tesla adjusts one key detail of Robotaxi operations in Austin Now, Tesla has gained another approval in a new state, its fourth, marking a significant step in its expansion across the U.S. In Arizona, Tesla gained regulatory approval to begin testing autonomous vehicles on public roads. BREAKING: Tesla has officially received approval from the Arizona Department of Transportation to start testing autonomous vehicles on public roads. Today, I confirmed directly with the Arizona DOT that @Tesla has met requirements to begin testing its autonomous vehicles in… pic.twitter.com/kjgFnKEcJF — Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) September 20, 2025 The vehicles in Austin and the Bay Area of California both use what Tesla has been referring to as “Safety Monitors” in the cars. During city operation in Texas, the Safety Monitor sits in the passenger’s seat. When the route takes the car on the highway, the Safety Monitor jumps into the driver’s seat. Tesla explains why Robotaxis now have safety monitors in the driver’s seat In California, the Safety Monitor is always in the driver’s seat. In Arizona, Tesla will also utilize what a communication said was “Safety Drivers,” insinuating that the monitor would be in the driver’s seat. However, another line in the email states: “Only a trained employee, contractor, or other person authorized by the company can operate or monitor the vehicles.” It sounds as if there is the potential for the Safety Monitor to be in either seat, much like Tesla’s process in Austin. However, this is currently unconfirmed. The new approval marks a drastic step forward for Tesla as it has received two new approvals in just two weeks. Regulatory hurdles seem to still be the biggest bottleneck for Tesla in terms of gaining permissions to operate in new states, but things seem to be moving along pretty well so far.
Italy: IPP orders 220MWh from Sungrow as MACSE approaches
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Tesla CEO Elon Musk says this common issue is 'major area of focus'
Elon Musk is urging Tesla shareholders to take part in the company’s upcoming annual meeting, calling the vote critical not just for the automaker but potentially for the world. “This shareholder vote decides the future of Tesla and may affect the future of the world,” Musk posted on X, emphasizing the importance of proposals that will be voted on in the upcoming meeting on November 6, 2025. A pivotal inflection point In a message from its official account, Tesla described itself as being at “a critical inflection point” as it prepares for its annual meeting. Shareholders will soon receive voting instructions, with the company asking investors to back the Board’s recommendations on all proposals. The post also referenced Tesla’s Master Plan Part IV, which outlines ambitious growth targets across vehicles, energy, and artificial intelligence. “Tesla is at a critical inflection point. We need your vote ahead of our 2025 Annual Meeting on November 6. Tesla shareholders, the owners of our company, will soon receive their control numbers and voting instructions from their brokers. This will enable you to vote. We are asking you to vote with the Board’s recommendations on *all* proposals,” Tesla wrote in its post. The company also highlighted that it is currently on the brink of a “massive wave of transformational growth.” Tesla stressed that confidence in Musk’s leadership is central to this trajectory, as he is the CEO who could lead Tesla into its new, ambitious era. This shareholder vote decides the future of Tesla and may affect the future of the world. Please let us know if you have any difficulty voting. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 18, 2025 Some Key proposals Two proposals stand out in Tesla’s recommendations, as per the company’s VoteTesla.com website. The first seeks to amend and restate Elon Musk’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, creating a special reserve of nearly 208 million shares to give the board flexibility amid ongoing litigation surrounding Musk’s 2018 CEO Performance Award. It also calls for replenishing the general share reserve with 60 million additional shares, ensuring capacity for employee equity grants. “Equity is the cornerstone of Tesla’s compensation philosophy. We believe we need a framework that allows us to honor the deal we made with Elon and the extraordinary value he created for Tesla shareholders under the 2018 CEO Performance Award. In addition, it is essential that we maintain sufficient equity reserves and maximum flexibility to attract, retain and motivate talent at Tesla,” Tesla wrote. The second proposal is a new 2025 CEO Performance Award, a pay-for-performance framework that links Musk’s compensation to reaching ambitious market cap and operational milestones. Under the plan, Musk would earn nothing unless Tesla achieves extraordinary results, potentially creating more than $7 trillion in shareholder value and pushing the company’s valuation to as high as $8.5 trillion. The company also asked shareholders to vote in favor of re-electing three directors: Ira Ehrenpreis, Joe Gebbia, and Kathleen Wilson-Thompson.
Dominion receives approval to develop 400MWh BESS in Virginia after fire safety concerns alleviated
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New data shows Tesla registrations climbing across Europe in September
Tesla Full Self-Driving is amongst the most robust and refined semi-autonomous driver assistance systems on the market today. After three weeks of ownership, I’ve driven around half of my miles using it, and my impressions put me right in the middle of it being very impressive and needing some work. Of course, if it were perfect, it would be driving us all around all the time while we sleep, scroll our phones, or watch movies in the cockpit. It does a lot of things very well, and it has managed to impress everyone I’ve put in the passenger’s seat. However, there are some things that are obvious pain points, situations that need improvement, and areas where I believe it has a long way to go. Regardless, these are things I have noticed, and they may differ from your opinions based on your location or traffic situations. Tesla Model Y ownership two weeks in: what I love and what I don’t I’ll try to keep it pretty even and just highlight the things that are truly noticeable with Full Self-Driving. I won’t be too critical of the things that it is bad at, and I won’t try to give it too much of a pat on the back. I will be fair and tell you all what I truly enjoy, as well as what frustrates me about it. *Disclaimer: These Full Self-Driving examples were in use with v13.2.9. Where Tesla Full Self-Driving is Great Highway Driving I have yet to have a critical intervention of any kind on the highway. I have driven on easy highways like Rt. 30 in Pennsylvania, and I have driven on congested four-lane parking lots like I-695 near Baltimore, Maryland. Tesla FSD does a tremendous job on all of it. I usually use the “Hurry” setting of FSD with an offset of between 25 and 40 percent, depending on what I’m doing and where I’m going. Sometimes, I want to push it a bit, and at other times, I’m okay with taking my time and enjoying the drive. I find the driving style of Hurry is more similar to the traffic around me than the Standard, which tends to drive like an 80-year-old on their way to Bingo. It does a great job of being considerate, maintaining an appropriate rate of travel, getting over for cars that are tailgating in the left lane after passing traffic, and it always is where it needs to be when it needs to be there. Taking the Stress Out of Driving A few nights ago, I was having some trouble sleeping, and I was up at 3 a.m. I decided it would be a good time to get up, grab a breakfast burrito and a coffee, and head to the Supercharger. (If you don’t know, I do not have home charging, and I will be diving into EV ownership without that in a future article.) I let FSD drive me to the Supercharger and back while I was done. I was able to enjoy a beautiful sunrise without having to focus all my attention on the traffic around me, while still maintaining enough attention to the road to keep the driver monitoring happy. It was really nice. I enjoyed the ride, and it felt like I was in an Uber with a very careful driver while I enjoyed the rest of my coffee and peeked at the sky every few seconds. Learning and Improving A few weeks ago, I approached an “Except Right Turn” stop sign. I have discussed how these are a Pennsylvania specialty, and the first time FSD encountered one in my Model Y, it stopped, even though we were heading right. I took over, submitted a voice memo to Tesla about it, and went on with my evening. A week later, the car approached the same turn, and, to my surprise, it proceeded through the Stop Sign correctly, safely, and at an appropriate speed. It was nice to see this improvement, especially since this is one of those regional issues that Tesla will need to address before FSD is fully autonomous. The change even impressed my Fiancé, who was with me during both instances we came upon this turn. Where Tesla Full Self-Driving Could Be Better Auto Wipers Good gravy, these Auto Wipers always seem to give me a good laugh. They never really have the right speed; they are either way too fast or not fast enough. There’s never been a happy medium. It also loves to activate a single wipe of the blade at the strangest times. I’ve noticed that it actually seems to activate at the same spots on the road sometimes. There’s a hanging branch near my house, and every time we go under it and FSD is activated, the wipers wipe once. It would be nice to set your own intervals for the wipers, but I am okay with the current presets. I do hope the Auto Wipers improve, because it could be one of the best features the car has if it’s more accurate. It Struggles with Signs That Require Reading The “Except Right Turn” sign is one example, but another is a “Stop Here on Red” sign that is recessed from an intersection at a stop light if it’s a tighter turn. Recently, I had to slam on the brakes as it was headed straight through one of these signs. It can recognize Stop Signs and Yield Signs, but signs with instructions for an intersection appear to present a greater challenge for FSD. Sometimes, It Just Does Things I Don’t Like There is a four-lane light near my house; the two right lanes go straight, but the lane furthest right is for turning into businesses past the intersection. Some people tend to go in that far right lane, even if they have no intention of turning right into the businesses, and take off quickly from the light to cut ahead. I’m not saying it’s illegal or even wrong, but
National Fire Protection Association releases NFPA 855 ESS safety standard, 2026 edition
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Tesla Full Self-Driving impressions after three weeks of ownership
Tesla Full Self-Driving is amongst the most robust and refined semi-autonomous driver assistance systems on the market today. After three weeks of ownership, I’ve driven around half of my miles using it, and my impressions put me right in the middle of it being very impressive and needing some work. Of course, if it were perfect, it would be driving us all around all the time while we sleep, scroll our phones, or watch movies in the cockpit. It does a lot of things very well, and it has managed to impress everyone I’ve put in the passenger’s seat. However, there are some things that are obvious pain points, situations that need improvement, and areas where I believe it has a long way to go. Regardless, these are things I have noticed, and they may differ from your opinions based on your location or traffic situations. Tesla Model Y ownership two weeks in: what I love and what I don’t I’ll try to keep it pretty even and just highlight the things that are truly noticeable with Full Self-Driving. I won’t be too critical of the things that it is bad at, and I won’t try to give it too much of a pat on the back. I will be fair and tell you all what I truly enjoy, as well as what frustrates me about it. *Disclaimer: These Full Self-Driving examples were in use with v13.2.9. Where Tesla Full Self-Driving is Great Highway Driving I have yet to have a critical intervention of any kind on the highway. I have driven on easy highways like Rt. 30 in Pennsylvania, and I have driven on congested four-lane parking lots like I-695 near Baltimore, Maryland. Tesla FSD does a tremendous job on all of it. I usually use the “Hurry” setting of FSD with an offset of between 25 and 40 percent, depending on what I’m doing and where I’m going. Sometimes, I want to push it a bit, and at other times, I’m okay with taking my time and enjoying the drive. I find the driving style of Hurry is more similar to the traffic around me than the Standard, which tends to drive like an 80-year-old on their way to Bingo. It does a great job of being considerate, maintaining an appropriate rate of travel, getting over for cars that are tailgating in the left lane after passing traffic, and it always is where it needs to be when it needs to be there. Taking the Stress Out of Driving A few nights ago, I was having some trouble sleeping, and I was up at 3 a.m. I decided it would be a good time to get up, grab a breakfast burrito and a coffee, and head to the Supercharger. (If you don’t know, I do not have home charging, and I will be diving into EV ownership without that in a future article.) I let FSD drive me to the Supercharger and back while I was done. I was able to enjoy a beautiful sunrise without having to focus all my attention on the traffic around me, while still maintaining enough attention to the road to keep the driver monitoring happy. It was really nice. I enjoyed the ride, and it felt like I was in an Uber with a very careful driver while I enjoyed the rest of my coffee and peeked at the sky every few seconds. Learning and Improving A few weeks ago, I approached an “Except Right Turn” stop sign. I have discussed how these are a Pennsylvania specialty, and the first time FSD encountered one in my Model Y, it stopped, even though we were heading right. I took over, submitted a voice memo to Tesla about it, and went on with my evening. A week later, the car approached the same turn, and, to my surprise, it proceeded through the Stop Sign correctly, safely, and at an appropriate speed. It was nice to see this improvement, especially since this is one of those regional issues that Tesla will need to address before FSD is fully autonomous. The change even impressed my Fiancé, who was with me during both instances we came upon this turn. Where Tesla Full Self-Driving Could Be Better Auto Wipers Good gravy, these Auto Wipers always seem to give me a good laugh. They never really have the right speed; they are either way too fast or not fast enough. There’s never been a happy medium. It also loves to activate a single wipe of the blade at the strangest times. I’ve noticed that it actually seems to activate at the same spots on the road sometimes. There’s a hanging branch near my house, and every time we go under it and FSD is activated, the wipers wipe once. It would be nice to set your own intervals for the wipers, but I am okay with the current presets. I do hope the Auto Wipers improve, because it could be one of the best features the car has if it’s more accurate. It Struggles with Signs That Require Reading The “Except Right Turn” sign is one example, but another is a “Stop Here on Red” sign that is recessed from an intersection at a stop light if it’s a tighter turn. Recently, I had to slam on the brakes as it was headed straight through one of these signs. It can recognize Stop Signs and Yield Signs, but signs with instructions for an intersection appear to present a greater challenge for FSD. Sometimes, It Just Does Things I Don’t Like There is a four-lane light near my house; the two right lanes go straight, but the lane furthest right is for turning into businesses past the intersection. Some people tend to go in that far right lane, even if they have no intention of turning right into the businesses, and take off quickly from the light to cut ahead. I’m not saying it’s illegal or even wrong, but
