TESLA ROLLS OUT GENIUS CHARGING CONTEST WITH MYSTERY PRIZE

EV Channels Review

This episode of Trending in Tesla covers several key updates and discussions within the EV community. A significant point is Tesla's confirmation that the refreshed Model Y, codenamed 'Project Juniper,' will not be released in 2024, a decision that may impact consumer purchasing decisions. The show also highlights Tesla's new Supercharging contest, which incentivizes owners to use the most unique Supercharger locations, with a mystery 'Easter egg' software update as the prize. The hosts debate the fairness of this contest given the uneven distribution of chargers across the US. Additionally, the discussion touches on the vandalism of a Waymo Jaguar I-Pace in San Francisco, raising concerns about the viability of robotaxi models in certain urban environments. Stellantis's recent announcement to adopt the NACS port is also covered, noting their intention to rely on their own charging network rather than Tesla's Superchargers. Finally, a potential battery breakthrough from a Stanford PhD student is mentioned, which could theoretically double EV range by improving lithium metal battery cycling life through software algorithms.