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Starlink provides free service for 30 days in areas impacted by Hurricane Helene
Starlink’s capability to provide fast, reliable connectivity to disaster zones was proven once again when the satellite internet system was deployed in states that were ravaged by Hurricane Helene. To further help communities that were affected by the natural disaster, Starlink has announced its Hurricane Helene Relief program, which offers 30 days of free internet connectivity to areas affected by the Category 4 storm.
While the deployment of Starlink kits to hurricane-ravaged areas such as North Carolina has become an unfortunately political topic, Starlink’s contributions to people who were affected by the storm are undeniable. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, SpaceX announced on X that about 500 Starlink kits have been deployed by private individuals and organizations to help with recovery efforts.
In total, ~500 Starlink kits have arrived, or will arrive shortly, and are being deployed by private individuals and organizations with @SpaceX support to help with the recovery efforts https://t.co/10dur9wr9R— Starlink (@Starlink) October 1, 2024
Separately, FEMA noted in a press release that it had deployed 40 Starlink kits to help with responder communications in North Carolina, with one terminal being deployed per county EOC to assist with communications and continuity of government. FEMA also noted that an additional 140 Starlink kits were being deployed. As of writing, FEMA noted that it has helped provide 67 total Starlink kits to North Carolina, including three terminals for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation and four terminals for critical lifeline locations as determined by the state.”
We are making a system update to allow all Starlinks in the affected areas to work, regardless of payment.
Software update hopefully completed tonight. Tomorrow at the latest. https://t.co/RcSwU54DtL— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 1, 2024
Amidst continued efforts to reestablish communication and connectivity in areas affected by Hurricane Helene, a number of private individuals who were donating Starlink kits asked Elon Musk if the satellite internet service could be made free for a period for time in disaster zones. Musk responded to these requests on X, stating that SpaceX was making a system update that would allow Starlink kits in disaster areas to work regardless of payment.
For those impacted by Hurricane Helene, or looking to support response and recovery efforts in affected areas, Starlink is now free for 30 days.
Learn more here → https://t.co/SmoEBQdj1j https://t.co/pfWsdREYMb— Starlink (@Starlink) October 2, 2024
In a later post on X, Starlink’s official account announced the launch of its Hurricane Helene Relief program, which provides 30 days of free connectivity to terminals operating in areas affected by Hurricane Helene. Starlink provided the following terms and conditions, as well as instructions, to new and current users in disaster zones:
Areas affected by Hurricane Helene are currently eligible for 30 days of free Starlink service to help with response and recovery efforts → https://t.co/SmoEBQdQQR pic.twitter.com/FBeBtn8cqn— Starlink (@Starlink) October 2, 2024
Hurricane Helene Relief
Starlink aims to enable anyone impacted by a natural disaster to be able to access internet connectivity.
For those in areas that were impacted by Hurricane Helene, Starlink is available and temporarily offering free service for the first month.
If you are impacted by Hurricane Helene, or are looking to enable rapid assistance for responding to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene, and need to access this 30 day free service option, please follow the steps below:
New customers:
- Go to starlink.com/residential
- Enter your address, and click order now
- Select the “Helene Relief” service plan and check out
- Note – Only service areas impacted by Helene will display the “Helene Relief” service option. if you do not see the $0 option, your area is not eligible. If you believe this is in error, please let us know by contacting support.
Current customers activating additional kits purchased from a retailer:
- Go to starlink.com/activate
- Enter your Starlink kit identifier
- Enter your address, click search
- Select “Residential”
- Select the “Helene Relief” service plan and check out
- Repeat for each kit, if adding more than one
- Note – We have temporarily increased the kit limit to 20 kits per residential account. If you need to add more than 20 kits to your account for large account activation assistance for emergency response groups, please contact support requesting Helene assistance.
Current customers:
If you are in need of assistance due to Hurricane Helene as a current customer, please create a support ticket requesting a Helene relief credit. Our teams will evaluate eligibility based on the same impacted areas as above.
Other information to know
- After 30 days, we will move you to a paid Residential subscription, tied the location you are using it in at that time. We will reevaluate as necessary based on conditions in the area. Starlink will notify you as the 30 day mark approaches to remind you of the change.
- There may be limitations on the ability to transfer these kits or continue free service outside of the disaster region. More details will be added here as necessary.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
News
Tesla tinkering with Speed Profiles on FSD v14.2.1 has gone too far
Tesla recently released Full Self-Driving (FSD) v14.2.1, its latest version, but the tinkering with Speed Profiles has perhaps gone too far.
We try to keep it as real as possible with Full Self-Driving operation, and we are well aware that with the new versions, some things get better, but others get worse. It is all part of the process with FSD, and refinements are usually available within a week or so.
However, the latest v14.2.1 update has brought out some major complaints with Speed Profiles, at least on my end. It seems the adjustments have gone a tad too far, and there is a sizeable gap between Profiles that are next to one another.
Tesla FSD v14.2.1 first impressions:
✅ Smooth, stress-free highway operation
✅ Speed Profiles are refined — Hurry seems to be limited to 10 MPH over on highways. Switching from Mad Max to Hurry results in an abrupt braking pattern. Nothing of concern but do feel as if Speed…— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) November 29, 2025
The gap is so large that changing between them presents a bit of an unwelcome and drastic reduction in speed, which is perhaps a tad too fast for my liking. Additionally, Speed Profiles seem to have a set Speed Limit offset, which makes it less functional in live traffic situations.
Before I go any further, I’d like to remind everyone reading this that what I am about to write is purely my opinion; it is not right or wrong, or how everyone might feel. I am well aware that driving behaviors are widely subjective; what is acceptable to one might be unacceptable to another.
Speed Profiles are ‘Set’ to a Speed
From what I’ve experienced on v14.2.1, Tesla has chosen to go with somewhat of a preset max speed for each Speed Profile. With ‘Hurry,’ it appears to be 10 MPH over the speed limit, and it will not go even a single MPH faster than that. In a 55 MPH zone, it will only travel 65 MPH. Meanwhile, ‘Standard’ seems to be fixed at between 4-5 MPH over.
This is sort of a tough thing to have fixed, in my opinion. The speed at which the car travels should not be fixed; it should be more dependent on how traffic around it is traveling.
It almost seems as if the Speed Profile chosen should be more of a Behavior Profile. Standard should perform passes only to traffic that is slower than the traffic. If traffic is traveling at 75 MPH in a 65 MPH zone, the car should travel at 75 MPH. It should pass traffic that travels slower than this.
Hurry should be more willing to overtake cars, travel more than 10 MPH over the limit, and act as if someone is in a hurry to get somewhere, hence the name. Setting strict limits on how fast it will travel seems to be a real damper on its capabilities. It did much better in previous versions.
Some Speed Profiles are Too Distant from Others
This is specifically about Hurry and Mad Max, which are neighbors in the Speed Profiles menu. Hurry will only go 10 MPH over the limit, but Mad Max will travel similarly to traffic around it. I’ve seen some people say Mad Max is too slow, but I have not had that opinion when using it.
In a 55 MPH zone during Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, it is not unusual for traffic around me to travel in the low to mid-80s. Mad Max was very suitable for some traffic situations yesterday, especially as cars were traveling very fast. However, sometimes it required me to “gear down” into Hurry, especially as, at times, it would try to pass slower traffic in the right lane, a move I’m not super fond of.
We had some readers also mention this to us:
The abrupt speed reduction when switching to a slower speed profile is definitely an issue that should be improved upon.
— David Klem (@daklem) November 29, 2025
After switching from Mad Max to Hurry, there is a very abrupt drop in speed. It is not violent by any means, but it does shift your body forward, and it seems as if it is a tad drastic and could be refined further.
News
Tesla’s most affordable car is coming to the Netherlands
The trim is expected to launch at €36,990, making it the most affordable Model 3 the Dutch market has seen in years.
Tesla is preparing to introduce the Model 3 Standard to the Netherlands this December, as per information obtained by AutoWeek. The trim is expected to launch at €36,990, making it the most affordable Model 3 the Dutch market has seen in years.
While Tesla has not formally confirmed the vehicle’s arrival, pricing reportedly comes from a reliable source, the publication noted.
Model 3 Standard lands in NL
The U.S. version of the Model 3 Standard provides a clear preview of what Dutch buyers can expect, such as a no-frills configuration that maintains the recognizable Model 3 look without stripping the car down to a bare interior. The panoramic glass roof is still there, the exterior design is unchanged, and Tesla’s central touchscreen-driven cabin layout stays intact.
Cost reductions come from targeted equipment cuts. The American variant uses fewer speakers, lacks ventilated front seats and heated rear seats, and swaps premium materials for cloth and textile-heavy surfaces. Performance is modest compared with the Premium models, with a 0–100 km/h sprint of about six seconds and an estimated WLTP range near 550 kilometers.
Despite the smaller battery and simpler suspension, the Standard maintains the long-distance capability drivers have come to expect in a Tesla.
Pricing strategy aligns with Dutch EV demand and taxation shifts
At €36,990, the Model 3 Standard fits neatly into Tesla’s ongoing lineup reshuffle. The current Model 3 RWD has crept toward €42,000, creating space for a more competitive entry-level option, and positioning the new Model 3 Standard comfortably below the €39,990 Model Y Standard.
The timing aligns with rising Dutch demand for affordable EVs as subsidies like SEPP fade and tax advantages for electric cars continue to wind down, EVUpdate noted. Buyers seeking a no-frills EV with solid range are then likely to see the new trim as a compelling alternative.
With the U.S. variant long established and the Model Y Standard already available in the Netherlands, the appearance of an entry-level Model 3 in the Dutch configurator seems like a logical next step.
News
Tesla Model Y is still China’s best-selling premium EV through October
The premium-priced SUV outpaced rivals despite a competitive field, while the Model 3 also secured an impressive position.
The Tesla Model Y led China’s top-selling pure electric vehicles in the 200,000–300,000 RMB segment through October 2025, as per Yiche data compiled from China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) figures.
The premium-priced SUV outpaced rivals despite a competitive field, while the Model 3 also secured an impressive position.
The Model Y is still unrivaled
The Model Y’s dominance shines in Yiche’s October report, topping the chart for vehicles priced between 200,000 and 300,000 RMB. With 312,331 units retailed from January through October, the all-electric crossover was China’s best-selling EV in the 200,000–300,000 RMB segment.
The Xiaomi SU7 is a strong challenger at No. 2 with 234,521 units, followed by the Tesla Model 3, which achieved 146,379 retail sales through October. The Model Y’s potentially biggest rival, the Xiaomi YU7, is currently at No. 4 with 80,855 retail units sold.


Efficiency kings
The Model 3 and Model Y recently claimed the top two spots in Autohome’s latest real-world energy-consumption test, outperforming a broad field of Chinese-market EVs under identical 120 km/h cruising conditions with 375 kg payload and fixed 24 °C cabin temperature. The Model 3 achieved 20.8 kWh/100 km while the Model Y recorded 21.8 kWh/100 km, reaffirming Tesla’s efficiency lead.
The results drew immediate attention from Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun, who publicly recognized Tesla’s advantage while pledging continued refinement for his brand’s lineup.
“The Xiaomi SU7’s energy consumption performance is also very good; you can take a closer look. The fact that its test results are weaker than Tesla’s is partly due to objective reasons: the Xiaomi SU7 is a C-segment car, larger and with higher specifications, making it heavier and naturally increasing energy consumption. Of course, we will continue to learn from Tesla and further optimize its energy consumption performance!” Lei Jun wrote in a post on Weibo.
