News
Cars & Coffee group keeps Tesla Supercharger free after mass blocking incident
After its members were called out for blocking a Tesla Supercharger en masse last Sunday, the Cars & Coffee Yorktown, NY group has made sure that its next regular meetup will be free of any untoward incidents. The result of these efforts was a Supercharger that was free to use by any Tesla owners in need and a Cars & Coffee session that welcomed a member of the electric car community.
The Cars & Coffee Yorktown, NY group caught the ire of the Tesla and electric car community last week after images emerged online showing a group of its members parking their muscle cars and other high-performance vehicles in a Supercharger, effectively blocking access to all of the station’s stalls. The incident resulted in strong reactions among EV enthusiasts online, especially after it became evident that the organizers of the meetup had posted a request to its members to not block the Supercharger before the Cars & Coffee session.
With images of the mass-blocked Superchargers spreading online, the organizers of the auto enthusiast group explained that they would work harder to ensure that such incidents will not happen again. If photos taken of the Supercharger this past Sunday are any indication, it appears that Cars & Coffee Yorktown, NY stayed true to their word, keeping the charging station’s stalls free of parked vehicles during the duration of its most recent meetup.
Tesla Model 3 owner Benswing Rich, who wanted to check out the location following the previous week’s incident, posted several images of the ICE-free Supercharger. Cones clearly marked “Tesla Only” appear to have been placed by the auto enthusiasts as well, to further emphasize that the spaces in the charging station were only intended for Teslas. The Tesla owner shared his observations on a Tesla Model 3-themed Facebook group.
“Cars & Coffee in Yorktown NY, where a bunch of people blocked the Superchargers last weekend, has put cones to signify the Superchargers are for Tesla owners only. I met the organizer and he is a good guy. He loves cars including Teslas. Please share!” he wrote.
An update from the Cars & Coffee organizers revealed that the Tesla Model 3 owner actually ended up being encouraged to attend the group’s next meetups. The organizers added that the group’s members learned more about Teslas from the Model 3 owner, though they maintained that the anti-EV allegations thrown at the Cars & Coffee group the previous week were false.
“We had a nice turnout today at C&C. We met a great Tesla owner Ben Rich who was spurred to come to C&C due to the social media ruckus of this past week. He saw that what was being said by many folks in the Tesla community (most that live nowhere near here) portraying us as EV/Tesla haters were false. As you can see pictured, we made sure to block off all the Tesla charging spots for the C&C time period to avoid issues experienced last week. We learned a lot about Teslas from Ben and had an all-around great morning,” the organizers wrote.
Ultimately, credit is due to the organizers of Cars & Coffee Yorktown, NY for stepping up and staying true to its word. While the previous week’s incident was unfortunate, the group appears to be showing some real effort to ensure that such a thing does not happen again. Perhaps more Teslas could be part of the group in the future? If the Tesla Model 3 owner’s update is any indication, that seems to be a real possibility. Real car enthusiasts recognize and respect great vehicles, after all, electric or otherwise.
Tesla has rolled out a new Supercharging safety feature in the United States, one that will answer concerns that some owners may have if they need to leave in a pinch.
It is also a suitable alternative for non-Tesla chargers, like third-party options that feature J1772 or CCS to NACS adapters.
The feature has been available in Europe for some time, but it is now rolling out to Model 3 and Model Y owners in the U.S.
With Software Update 2026.2.3, Tesla is launching the Unlatching Charge Cable function, which will now utilize the left rear door handle to release the charging cable from the port. The release notes state:
“Charging can now be stopped and the charge cable released by pulling and holding the rear left door handle for three seconds, provided the vehicle is unlocked, and a recognized key is nearby. This is especially useful when the charge cable doesn’t have an unlatch button. You can still release the cable using the vehicle touchscreen or the Tesla app.”
The feature was first spotted by Not a Tesla App.
This is an especially nice feature for those who commonly charge at third-party locations that utilize plugs that are not NACS, which is the Tesla standard.
For example, after plugging into a J1772 charger, you will still be required to unlock the port through the touchscreen, which is a minor inconvenience, but an inconvenience nonetheless.
Additionally, it could be viewed as a safety feature, especially if you’re in need of unlocking the charger from your car in a pinch. Simply holding open the handle on the rear driver’s door will now unhatch the port from the car, allowing you to pull it out and place it back in its housing.
This feature is currently only available on the Model 3 and Model Y, so Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck owners will have to wait for a different solution to this particular feature.
News
LG Energy Solution pursuing battery deal for Tesla Optimus, other humanoid robots: report
Optimus is expected to be one of Tesla’s most ambitious projects, with Elon Musk estimating that the humanoid robot could be the company’s most important product.
A recent report has suggested that LG Energy Solution is in discussions to supply batteries for Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot.
Optimus is expected to be one of Tesla’s most ambitious projects, with Elon Musk estimating that the humanoid robot could be the company’s most important product.
Humanoid robot battery deals
LG Energy Solution shares jumped more than 11% on the 28th after a report from the Korea Economic Daily claimed that the company is pursuing battery supply and joint development agreements with several humanoid robot makers. These reportedly include Tesla, which is developing Optimus, as well as multiple Chinese robotics companies.
China is already home to several leading battery manufacturers, such as CATL and BYD, making the robot makers’ reported interest in LG Energy Solution quite interesting. Market participants interpreted the reported outreach as a signal that performance requirements for humanoid robots may favor battery chemistries developed by companies like LG.
LF Energy Solution vs rivals
According to the report, energy density is believed to be the primary reason humanoid robot developers are evaluating LG Energy Solution’s batteries. Unlike electric vehicles, humanoid robots have significantly less space available for battery packs while requiring substantial power to operate dozens of joint motors and onboard artificial intelligence processors.
LG Energy Solution’s ternary lithium batteries offer higher energy density compared with rivals’ lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which are widely used by Chinese EV manufacturers. That advantage could prove critical for humanoid robots, where runtime, weight, and compact packaging are key design constraints.
News
Tesla receives approval for FSD Supervised tests in Sweden
Tesla confirmed that it has been granted permission to test FSD Supervised vehicles across Sweden in a press release.
Tesla has received regulatory approval to begin tests of its Full Self-Driving Supervised system on public roads in Sweden, a notable step in the company’s efforts to secure FSD approval for the wider European market.
FSD Supervised testing in Sweden
Tesla confirmed that it has been granted permission to test FSD Supervised vehicles across Sweden following cooperation with national authorities and local municipalities. The approval covers the Swedish Transport Administration’s entire road network, as well as urban and highways in the Municipality of Nacka.
Tesla shared some insights into its recent FSD approvals in a press release. “The approval shows that cooperation between authorities, municipalities and businesses enables technological leaps and Nacka Municipality is the first to become part of the transport system of the future. The fact that the driving of the future is also being tested on Swedish roads is an important step in the development towards autonomy in real everyday traffic,” the company noted.
With approval secured for FSD tests, Tesla can now evaluate the system’s performance in diverse environments, including dense urban areas and high-speed roadways across Sweden, as noted in a report from Allt Om Elbil. Tesla highlighted that the continued development of advanced driver assistance systems is expected to pave the way for improved traffic safety, increased accessibility, and lower emissions, particularly in populated city centers.
Tesla FSD Supervised Europe rollout
FSD Supervised is already available to drivers in several global markets, including Australia, Canada, China, Mexico, New Zealand, and the United States. The system is capable of handling city and highway driving tasks such as steering, acceleration, braking, and lane changes, though it still requires drivers to supervise the vehicle’s operations.
Tesla has stated that FSD Supervised has accumulated extensive driving data from its existing markets. In Europe, however, deployment remains subject to regulatory approval, with Tesla currently awaiting clearance from relevant authorities.
The company reiterated that it expects to start rolling out FSD Supervised to European customers in early 2026, pending approvals. It would then be unsurprising if the company secures approvals for FSD tests in other European territories in the coming months.
Tesla rolls out new Supercharging safety feature in the U.S.
LG Energy Solution pursuing battery deal for Tesla Optimus, other humanoid robots: report
