Tesla Cybertruck Receives Major Update: Charging Speed "Unleashed"

Early test results showed that the peak charging power of the Cybertruck could reach 255kW, but it would gradually decrease thereafter. Charging power started to noticeably decrease when the battery reached 20%. By the time the battery was at 40%, the power had decreased to 150kW, and at 60%, it was 100kW. Subsequently, it maintained a level of 75-80kW until the battery reached around 90%. From the perspective of the 800V platform, this performance was not outstanding.

In regions where the Cybertruck is primarily sold, such as North America, this charging performance has received criticism from many users. Seizing this opportunity, the latest OTA update aims to improve the Cybertruck's charging performance.

Drew Baglino, responsible for Tesla's energy and powertrain engineering, stated that they would enhance the charging curve to increase the Cybertruck's range by up to 154 miles (approximately 247.84 kilometers) within 15 minutes. After the upgrade, the range would increase by 20% with the same charging time. Baglino mentioned that this update would arrive later this quarter, by the end of June.

There have been numerous examples in the past of vehicles unlocking charging speed, performance, or even features through OTA updates. In January of this year, GAC Aion announced that three models, AION Y Plus, AION S Plus, and AION S MAX, would receive OTA updates to increase charging speed. These updates claimed to boost charging speed by up to 28%, allowing for a 30%-80% charge in 30 minutes and a full charge in 77 minutes, providing a range of 610km.

On the last day of 2023, Zeekr's C11 received an OTA update, enhancing various aspects from guarding the vehicle to intelligent driving, cabin experience, and user-friendly features, with 17 new additions and 17 optimizations, totaling 34 upgrades.

While post-delivery enhancements through OTA updates may seem benevolent on the surface, ensuring vehicles remain up-to-date and offer a fresh experience for owners, it begs the question: shouldn't these features have been available at the time of purchase? When buying a car, shouldn't both hardware and software already be included? It seems like receiving the hardware upfront and then waiting for the software to be developed afterward is akin to lending money to a business to develop something that rightfully belongs to you.

Regarding enhancements like charging speed and vehicle performance, why not wait until the vehicle is fully optimized before selling and delivering it? Selling us these "semi-finished products" and then adapting them based on actual usage scenarios afterwards seems to imply that users are acting as guinea pigs.

Moreover, the practice of delivering the vehicle first and then upgrading it poses a certain risk to the owners. Although car manufacturers may make bold promises, such as "lifetime OTA updates," given the current environment, this "lifetime" likely refers to the lifetime of the company, which is fundamentally unfair to consumers.

In conclusion, when it comes to vehicle performance, such as charging speed and powertrain systems, these areas should be fine-tuned to optimal conditions before delivery, providing consumers with a satisfactory product. As for features and configurations, the "base version" should be in place before delivery, while the "advanced version" can evolve gradually with technological updates.

The Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China) will be held from April 25th to May 4th, with the theme "New Era, New Automobile." It serves as a benchmark for the transition of automobiles from electrification to intelligence.

Top brands including BYD, Xiaomi, AITO, XPeng, NIO, IDEAL, Jidu, Jiduoyuan, and Changan BluePark will all make appearances. Besides the "battle of new models," advancements in autonomous driving technology, the evolution of intelligent cockpits, and the integration of AI models with automobiles will be key highlights.