One of the advantages of Tesla’s electric vehicles is that their systems are largely software based. This means that they can be updated remotely – just as your computer can – in order to apply fixes and updates to constantly improve the product. Those who are looking to hire a tesla on rental basis in London should need to know more about this facility.
Emergency range
This technology can also be used in other ways too, as events this week have demonstrated. As Hurricane Irma approached Florida, Tesla sent an update to owners of its Model S saloons and Model X SUVs in the area in order to unlock the full battery potential of the 75 Kwh models.
This update adds between 30 and 40 miles to the range of the cars, so owners can expect to get around 250 miles on a full charge, helping them to flee the path of the approaching hurricane. The update will stay in place until 16th September, after which the vehicles will revert to their normal range.
Regular updates
Just as a dog isn’t only for Christmas, software updates aren’t only for emergencies. Tesla regularly issues updates to keep its vehicles performing at their best and up to date with the latest technologies. This means that if you own or even hire a Tesla you can be assured that it has the most current software version.
This also allows the company to add new features. Earlier this year CEO Elon Musk hinted that the firm would be introducing its own streaming music service to rival the likes of Spotify. The most recent updates sent to Tesla cars have an option tantalisingly labelled ‘Ttunes’ – though it doesn’t do anything as yet. However, the company is rumoured to be in talks with major record labels about streaming rights.
Other forthcoming updates announced by Musk in August of this year include the ability to create cloud-based driver profiles. This would allow driver preferences like the positions of seat, mirrors and steering wheel, along with things like in-car entertainment settings to be saved in the cloud and downloaded to any Tesla. This means you could save the settings from your own car so if you needed to hire a Tesla you could have your own preferences instantly downloaded. It’s also, of course, useful for families or companies where several people drive the vehicle. Other features in future updates include the ability to automatically close the sunroof if rain is detected.
Two-way street
Of course, as is shown by the ability to store driver preferences in the cloud, there’s the potential for the update process to be two-way as well. The latest update to the Autopilot software allows data collected from vehicles to be uploaded to Tesla for analysis. This information – including short captured video clips – is being used to further develop the software with the aim of eventually producing a fully self-driving vehicle. This is in line with Musk’s claim last year that a Tesla using Autopilot would be able to drive from Los Angeles to New York without human input by the end of 2017. Expect to hear more about this, perhaps when Tesla previews its first electric commercial vehicle before the end of September.