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CNBC calls out Tesla Free Supercharging lawsuit over its ridiculous premise
Tesla received a rather interesting if not unusual vote of support from CNBC recently, with Executive Edge host Becky Quick calling out a recent lawsuit against the company over its unreasonable nature. While reporting on a lawsuit recently filed against Tesla over the company’s Free Unlimited Supercharging offer, the host noted that the plaintiff of the lawsuit was a “crank.”
The lawsuit in question was filed by Tesla owner Kevin Shenkman, who bought a vehicle with Free Lifetime Unlimited Supercharging. According to Shenkman, Tesla broke its promise to provide free Supercharging for the lifetime of his vehicle because he incurred idling fees. The fees were generated because he left his car plugged into the public chargers even after his Tesla was done charging.
Shenkman is looking to represent all Tesla adopters to recover their possible idling fee costs. He is also seeking punitive damages as well as an order that would stop Tesla from imposing idling fees on vehicles that were sold with Lifetime Free Unlimited Supercharging.
Shenkman’s lawsuit has gained a lot of attention, though numerous Tesla owners online have argued that Lifetime Free Unlimited Supercharging only pertains to the entire charging session of a vehicle. After the charging session is completed, a Tesla, even if it has free Supercharging, would effectively just be a vehicle that’s blocking access to a charging stall. A penalty is thus justified.
As an Owner who has a vehicle with FLSC, I fully understand that Idle fees are not related to charging and that if I leave my Vehicle past the time in which idle fees are imposed, that I am under obligation to pay those fees, as they are not related to charging the vehicle.
— John Edward Garcia (@JohnEG78) June 27, 2021
Others further noted that it is pretty difficult to incur Supercharging idling fees, as Tesla’s mobile app notifies owners of their vehicles’ state of charge, and charging from 80% to 100% pretty much gives owners an extra 20-30 minutes or so of additional time. The fees are primarily incurred only when Superchargers are busy as well. CNBC‘s Becky Quick seems to agree with this idea.
“Can we back that up for a second? One guy wants to sue them because they are breaking their promise for free charging for life because you get a fine if you leave it there for too long? Talk about a crank. Move you car so somebody else can charge it. I can’t believe we’re doing a headline on this,” the CNBC host said.
Ultimately, Supercharging idling fees are generally avoidable. Amidst all the notifications and reminders that are sent to drivers, one has to be pretty careless to incur Supercharging idling fees. It must also be pointed out that for vehicles with Free Lifetime Unlimited Supercharging, the “charging” part remains free. It’s the “parking” and blocking the charging stall afterward that generates the fee.
Watch CNBC‘s feature on the Tesla lawsuit in the video below.
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Elon Musk
Starlink achieves major milestones in 2025 progress report
Starlink wrapped up 2025 with impressive growth, adding more than 4.6 million new active customers and expanding service to 35 additional countries, territories, and markets.
Starlink wrapped up 2025 with impressive growth, adding more than 4.6 million new active customers and expanding service to 35 additional countries, territories, and markets. The company also completed deployment of its first-generation Direct to Cell constellation, launching over 650 satellites in just 18 months to enable cellular connectivity.
SpaceX highlighted Starlink’s impressive 2025 progress in an extensive report.
Key achievements from Starlink’s 2025 Progress
Starlink connected over 4.6 million new customers with high-speed internet while bringing service to 35 more regions worldwide in 2025. Starlink is now connecting 9.2 million people worldwide. The service achieved this just weeks after hitting its 8 million customer milestone.
Starlink is now available in 155 markets, including areas that are unreachable by traditional ISPs. As per SpaceX, Starlink has also provided over 21 million airline passengers and 20 million cruise passengers with reliable high-speed internet connectivity during their travels.
Starlink Direct to Cell
Starlink’s Direct to Cell constellation, more than 650 satellites strong, has already connected over 12 million people at least once, marking a breakthrough in global mobile coverage.
Starlink Direct to Cell is currently rolled out to 22 countries and 6 continents, with over 6 million monthly customers. Starlink Direct to Cell also has 27 MNO partners to date.
“This year, SpaceX completed deployment of the first generation of the Starlink Direct to Cell constellation, with more than 650 satellites launched to low-Earth orbit in just 18 months. Starlink Direct to Cell has connected more than 12 million people, and counting, at least once, providing life-saving connectivity when people need it most,” SpaceX wrote.
News
Tesla Giga Nevada celebrates production of 6 millionth drive unit
To celebrate the milestone, the Giga Nevada team gathered for a celebratory group photo.
Tesla’s Giga Nevada has reached an impressive milestone, producing its 6 millionth drive unit as 2925 came to a close.
To celebrate the milestone, the Giga Nevada team gathered for a celebratory group photo.
6 million drive units
The achievement was shared by the official Tesla Manufacturing account on social media platform X. “Congratulations to the Giga Nevada team for producing their 6 millionth Drive Unit!” Tesla wrote.
The photo showed numerous factory workers assembled on the production floor, proudly holding golden balloons that spelled out “6000000″ in front of drive unit assembly stations. Elon Musk gave credit to the Giga Nevada team, writing, “Congrats on 6M drive units!” in a post on X.
Giga Nevada’s essential role
Giga Nevada produces drive units, battery packs, and energy products. The facility has been a cornerstone of Tesla’s scaling since opening, and it was the crucial facility that ultimately enabled Tesla to ramp the Model 3 and Model Y. Even today, it serves as Tesla’s core hub for battery and drivetrain components for vehicles that are produced in the United States.
Giga Nevada is expected to support Tesla’s ambitious 2026 targets, including the launch of vehicles like the Tesla Semi and the Cybercab. Tesla will have a very busy 2026, and based on Giga Nevada’s activities so far, it appears that the facility will be equally busy as well.
News
Tesla Supercharger network delivers record 6.7 TWh in 2025
The network now exceeds 75,000 stalls globally, and it supports even non-Tesla vehicles across several key markets.
Tesla’s Supercharger Network had its biggest year ever in 2025, delivering a record 6.7 TWh of electricity to vehicles worldwide.
To celebrate its busy year, the official @TeslaCharging account shared an infographic showing the Supercharger Network’s growth from near-zero in 2012 to this year’s impressive milestone.
Record 6.7 TWh delivered in 2025
The bar chart shows steady Supercharger energy delivery increases since 2012. Based on the graphic, the Supercharger Network started small in the mid-2010s and accelerated sharply after 2019, when the Model 3 was going mainstream.
Each year from 2020 onward showed significantly more energy delivery, with 2025’s four quarters combining for the highest total yet at 6.7 TWh.
This energy powered millions of charging sessions across Tesla’s growing fleet of vehicles worldwide. The network now exceeds 75,000 stalls globally, and it supports even non-Tesla vehicles across several key markets. This makes the Supercharger Network loved not just by Tesla owners but EV drivers as a whole.
Resilience after Supercharger team changes
2025’s record energy delivery comes despite earlier 2024 layoffs on the Supercharger team, which sparked concerns about the system’s expansion pace. Max de Zegher, Tesla Director of Charging North America, also highlighted that “Outside China, Superchargers delivered more energy than all other fast chargers combined.”
Longtime Tesla owner and FSD tester Whole Mars Catalog noted the achievement as proof of continued momentum post-layoffs. At the time of the Supercharger team’s layoffs in 2024, numerous critics were claiming that Elon Musk was halting the network’s expansion altogether, and that the team only remained because the adults in the room convinced the juvenile CEO to relent.
Such a scenario, at least based on the graphic posted by the Tesla Charging team on X, seems highly implausible.
Starlink achieves major milestones in 2025 progress report
Tesla Giga Nevada celebrates production of 6 millionth drive unit
