News
Tesla tests Supercharger blocking device to prevent gas cars from ‘ICEing’ charging stalls
Tesla is testing a clever solution to prevent Superchargers from getting blocked (intentionally or unintentionally) by fossil fuel-powered vehicles. In a recent video shared online, the electric car maker is seen using camera-enabled ground locks to ensure that only Tesla vehicles can access a Supercharger.
A video of the system in action has been shared by the Tesla Owners Taiwan group on Twitter. In their post, the group noted that the Supercharger ground locks are fitted with a camera that identifies a Tesla electric car via its license plate as the vehicle is backing up. Upon identification, the ground lock would promptly unlock and lower itself, allowing the Tesla to gain access to the charging station.
Tesla Taiwan testing out new supercharger ground locks solution to fix ICE issues. A camera identifies the Tesla via plate number as the car backs up and unlocks accordingly. @elonmusk @tesla pic.twitter.com/tFU1twMBdg
— Tesla Owners Taiwan (@TeslaOwnersTwn) February 14, 2019
Tesla China used a similar system last month to prevent ICE-ing incidents. As could be seen in previous social media posts from Chinese Tesla owners, the method employed in the country utilized locks that could be unlocked through QR codes linked to an app. Between the two systems, Tesla Taiwan’s solution appears to be a bit more convenient, considering that the Supercharger lock itself determines if a vehicle is a Tesla or not.
In China here is our creative solution to the ICEing problem. Well done to Tesla China for this great solution. Mostly all of the new Tesla Supercharger Station have these installed. Takes less than one minute of your time. #Tesla #TeslaChina #ICEing pic.twitter.com/gBPXVoORxU
— Jay in Shanghai 电动 Jay 🇨🇳 (@JayinShanghai) January 13, 2019
A comparison of the two systems also shows Tesla Taiwan’s locks being a bit taller than those employed in China. This makes them more effective, as they can deter vehicles with higher ground clearance, such as SUVs and pickup trucks. Of course, Tesla Taiwan’s system is not foolproof, as owners of lifted vehicles could easily drive over the ground locks. Nevertheless, the presence of the locks would likely discourage a good number of would-be ICE-ers to think twice before parking on a Supercharger spot.
View from inside car pic.twitter.com/fpTqbIPcfS
— Tesla Owners Taiwan (@TeslaOwnersTwn) February 14, 2019
Such Supercharger lock systems appear to be used in territories outside the United States for now. Considering the seemingly increasing number of ICE-ing incidents in the US, it would be a good idea for Tesla to implement a similar system in areas where it is able. Granted, such a method would not prevent ICE-ing incidents completely, but it would likely decrease the number of blocked Superchargers significantly.
Incidents of Supercharger ICE-ing, wherein a fossil fuel-powered vehicle blocks a charging station (intentionally or unintentionally) have been a prominent source of annoyance for the Tesla community for years. While some ICE-ing incidents result from honest mistakes or simple carelessness, reports from members of the electric car community over the past couple of months have indicated that some owners blocking the EV charging stalls have been quite aggressive towards Tesla owners. These anti-Tesla incidents escalated last month, when vandals practically attacked a Supercharger by partially severing cables, and later, drilling through the stalls’ charging plugs.
Investor's Corner
Tesla (TSLA) Q4 and FY 2025 earnings results
Tesla’s Q4 and FY 2025 earnings come on the heels of a quarter where the company produced over 434,000 vehicles, delivered over 418,000 vehicles, and deployed 14.2 GWh of energy storage products.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) has released its Q4 and FY 2025 earnings results in an update letter. The document was posted on the electric vehicle maker’s official Investor Relations website after markets closed today, January 28, 2025.
Tesla’s Q4 and FY 2025 earnings come on the heels of a quarter where the company produced over 434,000 vehicles, delivered over 418,000 vehicles, and deployed 14.2 GWh of energy storage products.
For the Full Year 2025, Tesla produced 1,654,667 and delivered 1,636,129 vehicles. The company also deployed a total of 46.7 GWh worth of energy storage products.
Tesla’s Q4 and FY 2025 results
As could be seen in Tesla’s Q4 and FY 2025 Update Letter, the company posted GAAP EPS of $0.24 and non-GAAP EPS of $0.50 per share in the fourth quarter. Tesla also posted total revenues of $24.901 billion. GAAP net income is also listed at $840 million in Q4.
Analyst consensus for Q4 has Tesla earnings per share falling 38% to $0.45 with revenue declining 4% to $24.74 billion, as per estimates from FactSet. In comparison, the consensus compiled by Tesla last week forecasted $0.44 per share on sales totaling $24.49 billion.
For FY 2025, Tesla posted GAAP EPS of $1.08 and non-GAAP EPS of $1.66 per share. Tesla also posted total revenues of $94.827 billion, which include $69.526 billion from automotive and $12.771 billion from the battery storage business. GAAP net income is also listed at $3.794 billion in FY 2025.
xAI Investment
Tesla entered an agreement to invest approximately $2 billion to acquire Series E preferred shares in Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, xAI, as part of the company’s recently disclosed financing round. Tesla said the investment was made on market terms consistent with those agreed to by other participants in the round.
The investment aligns with Tesla’s strategy under Master Plan Part IV, which centers on bringing artificial intelligence into the physical world through products and services. While Tesla focuses on real-world AI applications, xAI is developing digital AI platforms, including its Grok large language model.
Below is Tesla’s Q4 and FY 2025 update letter.
TSLA-Q4-2025-Update by Simon Alvarez
News
Tesla rolls out new Supercharging safety feature in the U.S.
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.