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Will 350 kW fast chargers be the landscape of an electric vehicle future?

(Image: Tesla)

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A couple of weeks ago, IONITY revealed their new “Halo” charger rated at 350 kW that’s supposed to charge EVs 220 miles in ten minutes at some point in the future. It sounds pretty great on the outset, and when claims of “more”, “faster”, and “better” are rewarded with headlines, there’s no wonder that this type of tech is being produced well before any electric cars can actually utilize it. Three cheers for progress, yeah?

I’m not so sure.

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While I understand the push to make EV charging faster so drivers can have a one-to-one trade off with their gasoline fill up experience, is that what’s going to be in demand as battery-powered transportation takes off? There’s also the question of whether battery health is going to take a huge dive with that sort of charging. I’m probably a bit biased towards Elon Musk’s opinion on such things (Tesla is leading the battery revolution, after all), so when he says 350 kW is a battery killer, I believe him. Will the tech catch up? I don’t know. But, I’m more questioning whether it needs to.

There are some considerable differences and advantages that electric cars have over ICE cars, and I don’t just mean in the emissions sense. With an ICE vehicle, it’s not (realistically) possible to have a nozzle attached to your gas tank in your garage overnight while you sleep, enabling you to wake up to a full tank each morning. You can’t do that while you’re at work, either, nor while running errands. Swap “nozzle” for a charging cable and you can with an EV, though. I really think this is going to be the biggest distinction in our ICE-driven world today and the battery-driven one in the future. Fast charging is great while you need it, but someday we won’t need it. Will we ever need “Halo” charging?

There’s still some time yet before EV chargers are as ubiquitous as wall chargers (and I guess technically those can be EV chargers, too), but hey – if airports and coffee bars can finally catch up to laptop and smartphone needs (plugs everywhere!), so can entities with parking lots. Not to mention, all that happened as a team effort by the tech companies and the plug-providing businesses: Better batteries plus better access to electricity equals electronic happiness (and expansion) for the consumer.

I know there was a period of time when longer cables were phone companies’ answer to portable phone conversations before cordless phones came along, which I admittedly only know because I like classic movies and TV shows. To me, this is a bit of a metaphor for what’s going on with EV charging. “Halo” type chargers are kind of the equivalent to longer telephone cords, and history shows that more of one thing isn’t always better.

The cordless phones are kind of a good metaphor, too. I remember (first hand) how long it took before static issues were eliminated. “Hold on, let me switch to the other phone because I’m too far from the base,” was a frequent conversation comment, and then multi-base systems were offered to solve that one, too. I see the static as the issue of long charging times and the phone base in every room as the faster and faster chargers. We’ve kind of foregone home phones altogether now thanks to cell phones, but to me that’s kind of like imagining an EV plug in every parking spot regardless of whether you’re a homeowner or a renter or a parking garage frequenter.

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Once upon a time, cell phone batteries were huge, heavy, and held very little charge. We still complain about them since there are more and more power-hungry features added, but do we opt for a rotary phone over the issue? Nah. We keep chargers in our cars, in the wall at work, in our bags, and so forth. I think ultimately we’ll go in that direction with EVs rather than the hypercharger one, and it will change the landscape. Literally.

Accidental computer geek, fascinated by most history and the multiplanetary future on its way. Quite keen on the democratization of space. | It's pronounced day-sha, but I answer to almost any variation thereof.

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Lifestyle

Tesla Semi futuristic sci-fi acceleration sound will never get old

Videos that capture the Semi moving at speed are most notable due to their sheer cool factor.

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Credit: Tesla Owners Silicon Valley/X

The Tesla Semi is not yet in mass production, but the company has accumulated over 7.9 million miles across its test fleet. With Tesla using the Semi for its operations, it is no surprise that sightings of the Class 8 all-electric truck have been abounding. 

These sightings from Tesla enthusiasts vary, but those that capture the the Class 8 all-electric truck moving at speed are most notable, possibly due to their sheer cool factor.

Tesla Semi’s Roar

There is something that just stands out with the Semi, particularly on the road. While the Semi does not have the Cybertruck’s brutalist, angular design, it is still very striking because it’s such a massive machine that moves far too quietly for its size. This is, of course, one of the reasons why the vehicle also becomes extra noteworthy when it fires up its electric motors and accelerates.

Take this video from Tesla Owners Silicon Valley, for example, which shows the all-electric hauler accelerating while pulling what appears to be a full load. In these situations, the Tesla Semi actually becomes audible, but unlike traditional diesel-powered truck, the Class 8 all-electric truck “roars” with its own, unique futuristic, sci-fi sound. In such situations, one could feel the Semi’s raw power, which comes from its three independent motors on its rear axles.

Tesla Semi Ramp

Tesla has been promoting the Semi quite a bit as of late, and recent reports have suggested that the company is putting in a lot of effort to prepare the vehicle for its production in Nevada. Tesla’s Careers website has gone live with over 80 Semi-related job openings recently as well, and a recent report has suggested that Tesla has ramped the Semi’s factory workers in Nevada to over 1,000 employees.

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The company has even shared an update video of the Semi factory’s progress near Giga Nevada, as well as the design of the vehicle’s new logo. The Semi’s updated logo is quite interesting as it features elements from the Tesla Model 3’s first logo, which was unveiled way back in 2016.

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Elon Musk jokes he will join Mr Beast’s “100 Men vs 1 Gorilla” challenge

It’s a good sign, if any, that the overworked Musk is becoming a bit more lighthearted again.

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Credit: Elon Musk/X

Following the first quarter Tesla earnings call, CEO Elon Musk seems to have become a bit more relaxed—relaxed enough to joke about fighting a gorilla with 99 other people, at least.

It’s a good sign, if any, that the overworked Musk is becoming a bit more lighthearted again and not too busy picking fights with politicians on social media.

The Viral 100 Men vs 1 Gorilla Challenge

Over the weekend, a post on social media platform X went viral. The post itself was quite simple, with user @DreamChasnMike stating that he thinks 100 men could beat one gorilla. “Everybody just gotta be dedicated to the sh*t,” the X user joked. The post exploded on the platform, garnering 284 million impressions as of writing.

The silly question also triggered a massive debate about whether 100 men would really stand a chance against a literal gorilla. Some users even lamented that the premise was a sign of male hubris. Nevertheless, the question proved to be a fun topic on X, with some more dedicated users even posting simulated videos of what the “100 Men vs 1 Gorilla Challenge” could look like. 

Mr. Beast and Elon Musk Join In

The premise is quite similar to other viral videos from noted YouTube creator Mr. Beast, so it was no surprise that edited images of Mr. Beast YouTube thumbnails with “100 Men vs a Gorilla” also started spreading on the social media platform. Mr. Beast, who tends to be game to such silly ideas, actually reposted the edited image, joking “Need 100 men to test this, any volunteers?”

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In true Elon Musk fashion, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO noted that he would join the challenge. “Sure, what’s the worst that could happen” Musk wrote in his post on X. Musk’s reply triggered quite a few laughs on X, with some stating that the world probably still needs the CEO.

While silly, Musk’s comment and his recent, more frequent posts about his companies’ products like Starlink and Grok have been received well by his supporters. Over the past months, after all, Musk has been very political and quite confrontational on social media. With Musk soon taking a step back from the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) daily operations, however, it seems like X will soon get a more tempered and lighthearted Elon Musk once more.

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Possible first glimpse of Tesla “Model 2” affordable car in Fremont Factory

The models that Tesla will release in the coming months will resemble the company’s current lineup.

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Image Credit: @metgodinwilderness7130/YouTube

During the Q1 earnings call, Tesla VP of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy set expectations on the design of the affordable models that the company is expected to launch this 2025. As per the Tesla executive, the models that Tesla will release in the coming months will resemble the company’s current lineup.

Drone footage from the Fremont Factory earlier this month might have provided the EV community its first potential glimpse at Tesla’s affordable cars–fondly dubbed by EV fans and analysts as the “Model 2” or even “Model Q”–or at least their components and overall shape.

The Sighting

Tesla watcher and drone operator Met God in Wilderness, who has been posting aerial videos of the Fremont Factory for years now, recently shared some footage from his drone flyovers this month. While the Fremont Factory was abuzz with activity as usual, a couple of rather strange vehicles were quickly spotted by EV watchers on social media.

During the drone operator’s flyover on the 17th, for example, an unfinished vehicle could be seen parked next to what appeared to be fully-built Model S and Model Y units. What was especially interesting was the vehicle’s roof, which seemed to be slightly narrower than the Model Ys around it. Based on the video, at least, the vehicle seemed to be shaped like a crossover as well.

Footage from the 24th of April also proved quite interesting, with the drone operator capturing footage of another cryptic vehicle. Unlike the mysterious, unfinished, crossover-esque car spotted on the 17th, this particular unit seemed to have a more sloping rear, at least based on the shape of its covering.

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What Lars Moravy Said

In Tesla’s Q1 2025 Update Letter, Tesla noted that “plans for new vehicles, including more affordable models, remain on track for start of production in the first half of 2025.” Tesla also noted that the new vehicles will utilize aspects of its next generation and its current platforms. They will also be produced on the same manufacturing lines as its present vehicle lineup, likely the Model Y and Model 3. 

During the earnings call itself, Moravy specifically stated that the new models that would come out in the next months would resemble the company’s current vehicles. They will, however, be affordable. “Models that come out in next months will be built on our lines and will resemble, in form and shape, the cars we currently make. And the key is that they’ll be affordable, and you’ll be able to buy one,” Moravy stated.

Watch the drone operator’s footage from April 17 below.

The drone operator’s footage from April 24 can be viewed below.

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