Tesla has said that its wireless charging system for the Cybercab has a charging efficiency of “well over 90 percent,” in response to questions about whether the system would be inefficient compared to wired charging.
Tesla made the claim on Saturday after tech reviewer Marques Brownlee, better known as MKBHD, highlighted the “massive heat waste” in wireless charging systems in a post on X, claiming that a “noble goal” in wireless charging for electric vehicles (EVs) would only reach “maybe 75 percent efficiency.”
In response, Tesla plainly stated that the system’s “efficiency is well above 90 percent,” eliciting an eyes emoji from Brownlee.
“I stand corrected. Can’t wait for it to ship,” Brownlee wrote, after being encouraged to say more by another user.
Efficiency is well above 90%
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 19, 2024
Tesla teases Cybercab inductive charging and robot cleaning system
The news comes after Tesla’s “We, Robot” event earlier this month, during which Elon Musk said that the newly unveiled Cybercab would be charged wirelessly with inductive charging, instead of including an NACS port.
Although wireless charging was expected to play a role in the company’s future robotaxi plans, it wasn’t until the “We, Robot” event that such a system was actually teased. During the presentation, Tesla also showed a Cybercab charging at 19kW at 35 state-of-charge (SoC), outpacing the roughly 11.5kW offered by the company’s Wall Connector.
Before the event, some expected wireless charging to play an important role in the robotaxi system, given that the company also patented a wireless charging pad in September. In July, Tesla also patented the automatic cleaning system that would later go on to be teased alongside the inductive charger.
Then, in a video shared by Tesla on Thursday (the one that sparked the discussion between Brownlee and others), the automaker shows a vehicle with 25kW of charging power. The video also highlights Tesla’s focus on autonomy, including driving, cleaning, and charging, with the Cybercab now expected to be able to be operated with “no hands required,” as the company says in the post.
Robotaxi wireless charging
No hands required pic.twitter.com/XL746DkGhb
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 18, 2024
Tesla was also thought to be getting into wireless charging as early as last year, when the company acquired wireless charging company Wiferion, which had been rumored leading up to the news. The company would later go on to sell Wiferion, though it has kept some of the company’s engineers who came onboard with the acquisition.
Teslarati was also in attendance at the “We, Robot” event, at which Tesla unveiled both its two-seater Cybercab and its larger autonomous “Robovan,” set to be a 12- to 14-seat self-driving bus. You can check out our first ride in the Cybercab below.
?: Our FULL first ride in the @Tesla Cybercab pic.twitter.com/6gR7OgKRCz
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) October 11, 2024
RELATED:
Tesla Robotaxi Cybercab: Seats, price, special features, release date, and more
What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.
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.
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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
