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First look at Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus’ faster charging speed in action
A Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus owner recently demonstrated the improvements in his vehicle’s Supercharging speed following the release of the 2019.40.2.1 update. The over-the-air speed boost allows even lower-tier variants of the Model 3 to recharge their batteries at a rate that exceeds that of competitors.
In a post on Twitter, Tesla Model 3 owner @TeslaOwnersLV showed how his all-electric sedan was able to hit charging speeds of up to 601 mph. Prior to receiving the 2019.40.2.1 update, the Tesla enthusiast stated that his Model 3’s charging rate usually leveled off at around 100-106 kW.
Particularly interesting in the Model 3 owner’s video was the fact that the vehicle was not connected to Tesla’s fastest charger. It was taken at a V2 station, which has a maximum output of 150 kW. With a 250 kW V3 Supercharger, the Model 3 Standard Range Plus could charge at an even faster rate.
@Tesla @elonmusk
Taking advantage of the increase in charging rate (SR+) since update 2019.40.2.1
Thanks @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/eCKSqiBuan— Oh My Portugal! (@OhMyPortugal) December 16, 2019
-->Tesla has been rolling out improvements to the Supercharging speed of its more affordable vehicles as of late. In early November, Tesla released its version 2019.36.1 update, and one of its key upgrades was an increase in Supercharging peak power by 50-70%. Prior to the update, the Standard Range Plus Model 3 had a maximum 100 kW to 120 kW charge rate, which was ample but not on par with the charging speed of Tesla’s higher-tier vehicles.
The release notes for the Standard Range Plus’ charging speed boost were short and direct. “Your Model 3 is now able to charge with increased peak rate power up to 170 kW,” Tesla wrote. Yet, despite this simple description, the upgrade provided a great improvement to the user experience of the vehicle. Charging stops became shorter and faster, a big advantage for extended trips.
Confirmed! 2019.36.1 increases the peak supercharging power for Model 3 SR+ to 170kW. Source https://t.co/MTX9QHYj6P pic.twitter.com/fadz41eBlE
— Tesletter (@tesletter) November 3, 2019
But it’s not just the Standard Range Plus Model 3 that received a boost in Supercharging speeds. In late November, Tesla also introduced an increase in Supercharging peak power for the rare Mid-Range Model 3, raising its maximum charging speed to 200 kW with the Supercharger V3 Network. This was on top of the vehicle’s 5% performance boost, which reduced the Mid-Range Model 3’s 0-60 mph time to 4.9 seconds.
-->Tesla’s lead in battery tech and charging systems can be seen in how the company improves its vehicles’ specs over time. With its 170 kW peak charging rate, a sub-$40,000 Model 3 Standard Range Plus can replenish around 118 miles of its range in 10 minutes, provided that it is connected to one of Tesla’s 250 kW Supercharger V3 stations. In contrast, the $150,000 Porsche Taycan Turbo, with its 250 kW peak charging rate (at least for now), is able to recharge around 85 miles of its range in 10 minutes.
Along with faster Supercharging rates, the 2019.40.2.1 release notes talk about improvements in the Adjacent Lane Speeds feature, Automatic Wiper Fixes, and Autosteer Stop Sign Warnings.
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Tesla FSD V14.2.1 is earning rave reviews from users in diverse conditions
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software continues its rapid evolution, with the latest V14.2.1 update drawing widespread praise.
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software continues its rapid evolution, with the latest V14.2.1 update drawing widespread praise for its smoother performance and smarter decision-making.
Videos and firsthand accounts from Tesla owners highlight V14.2.1 as an update that improves navigation responsiveness, sign recognition, and overall fluidity, among other things. Some drivers have even described it as “more alive than ever,” hinting at the system eventually feeling “sentient,” as Elon Musk has predicted.
FSD V14.2.1 first impressions
Early adopters are buzzing about how V14.2.1 feels less intrusive while staying vigilant. In a post shared on X, Tesla owner @LactoseLunatic described the update as a “huge leap forward,” adding that the system remains “incredibly assertive but still safe.”
Another Tesla driver, Devin Olsenn, who logged ~600 km on V14.2.1, reported no safety disengagements, with the car feeling “more alive than ever.” The Tesla owner noted that his wife now defaults to using FSD V14, as the system is already very smooth and refined.
Adverse weather and regulatory zones are testing grounds where V14.2.1 shines, at least according to testers in snow areas. Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt shared a video of his first snowy drive on unplowed rural roads in New Hampshire, where FSD did great and erred on the side of caution. As per Merritt, FSD V14.2.1 was “extra cautious” but it performed well overall.
-->Sign recognition and freeway prowess
Sign recognition also seemed to show improvements with FSD V14.2.1. Longtime FSD tester Chuck Cook highlighted a clip from his upcoming first-impressions video, showcasing improved school zone behavior. “I think it read the signs better,” he observed, though in standard mode, it didn’t fully drop to 15 mph within the short timeframe. This nuance points to V14.2.1’s growing awareness of temporal rules, a step toward fewer false positives in dynamic environments.
FSD V14.2.1 also seems to excel in high-stress highway scenarios. Fellow FSD tester @BLKMDL3 posted a video of FSD V14.2.1 managing a multi-lane freeway closure due to a police chase-related accident. “Perfectly handles all lanes of the freeway merging into one,” the Tesla owner noted in his post on X.
FSD V14.2.1 was released on Thanksgiving, much to the pleasant surprise of Tesla owners. The update’s release notes are almost identical to the system’s previous iteration, save for one line item read, “Camera visibility can lead to increased attention monitoring sensitivity.”
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Tesla FSD Supervised ride-alongs in Europe begin in Italy, France, and Germany
The program allows the public to hop in as a non-driving observer to witness FSD navigate urban streets firsthand.
Tesla has kicked off passenger ride-alongs for Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in Italy, France and Germany. The program allows the public to hop in as a non-driving observer to witness FSD navigate urban streets firsthand.
The program, detailed on Tesla’s event pages, arrives ahead of a potential early 2026 Dutch regulatory approval that could unlock a potential EU-wide rollout for FSD.
Hands-Off Demos
Tesla’s ride-along invites participants to “ride along in the passenger seat to experience how it handles real-world traffic & the most stressful parts of daily driving, making the roads safer for all,” as per the company’s announcement on X through its official Tesla Europe & Middle East account.
Sign-ups via localized pages offer free slots through December, with Tesla teams piloting vehicles through city streets, roundabouts and highways.
“Be one of the first to experience Full Self-Driving (Supervised) from the passenger seat. Our team will take you along as a passenger and show you how Full Self-Driving (Supervised) works under real-world road conditions,” Tesla wrote. “Discover how it reacts to live traffic and masters the most stressful parts of driving to make the roads safer for you and others. Come join us to learn how we are moving closer to a fully autonomous future.”
-->Building trust towards an FSD Unsupervised rollout
Tesla’s FSD (Supervised) ride-alongs could be an effective tool to build trust and get regular car buyers and commuters used to the idea of vehicles driving themselves. By seating riders shotgun, Tesla could provide participants with a front row seat to the bleeding edge of consumer-grade driverless systems.
FSD (Supervised) has already been rolled out to several countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and partially in China. So far, FSD (Supervised) has been received positively by drivers, as it really makes driving tasks and long trips significantly easier and more pleasant.
FSD is a key safety feature as well, which became all too evident when a Tesla driving on FSD was hit by what seemed to be a meteorite in Australia. The vehicle moved safely despite the impact, though the same would likely not be true had the car been driven manually.
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Swedish union rep pissed that Tesla is working around a postal blockade they started
Tesla Sweden is now using dozens of private residences as a way to obtain license plates for its vehicles.
Two years into their postal blockade, Swedish unions are outraged that Tesla is still able to provide its customers’ vehicles with valid plates through various clever workarounds.
Seko chairman Gabriella Lavecchia called it “embarrassing” that the world’s largest EV maker, owned by CEO Elon Musk, refuses to simply roll over and accept the unions’ demands.
Unions shocked Tesla won’t just roll over and surrender
The postal unions’ blockade began in November 2023 when Seko and IF Metall-linked unions stopped all mail to Tesla sites to force a collective agreement. License plates for Tesla vehicles instantly became the perfect pressure point, as noted in a Dagens Arbete report.
Tesla responded by implementing initiatives to work around the blockades. A recent investigation from Arbetet revealed that Tesla Sweden is now using dozens of private residences, including one employee’s parents’ house in Trångsund and a customer-relations staffer’s home in Vårby, as a way to obtain license plates for its vehicles.
Seko chairman Gabriella Lavecchia is not pleased that Tesla Sweden is working around the unions’ efforts yet again. “It is embarrassing that one of the world’s largest car companies, owned by one of the world’s richest people, has sunk this low,” she told the outlet. “Unfortunately, it is completely frivolous that such a large company conducts business in this way.”
-->Two years on and plates are still being received
The Swedish Transport Agency has confirmed Tesla is still using several different workarounds to overcome the unions’ blockades.
As noted by DA, Tesla Sweden previously used different addresses to receive its license plates. At one point, the electric vehicle maker used addresses for car care shops. Tesla Sweden reportedly used this strategy in Östermalm in Stockholm, as well as in Norrköping and Gothenburg.
Another strategy that Tesla Sweden reportedly implemented involved replacement plates being ordered by private individuals when vehicles change hands from Tesla to car buyers. There have also been cases where the police have reportedly issued temporary plates to Tesla vehicles.
Tesla FSD V14.2.1 is earning rave reviews from users in diverse conditions
Tesla FSD Supervised ride-alongs in Europe begin in Italy, France, and Germany
