Tesla's wireless phone chargers are about to get a major upgrade, and it's a game-changer for drivers. The company is set to introduce an actively cooled wireless phone charger, originally featured in the Model Y L, to the rest of its vehicle lineup, including the Model 3 and Model Y.
This new design uses fans underneath the charging pad to direct air towards the phones resting above it, preventing overheating and throttling or stopping the charging process. It's a significant improvement over the current slow charging speeds and excessive heat generation of the existing wireless phone chargers.
The upgrade will also bring modern speeds to wireless charging in Teslas, with the ability to achieve up to 50W of power for phones that support non-Qi2 fast wireless charging. This is a major step forward, as the current 15W charging speed is far from ideal.
The cooled charging pad was first introduced in the six-seat Model Y L when it launched in China, and Tesla now plans to use the same component in the rest of the Model 3 and Model Y lineup. This shared part will simplify production and bring a requested feature to more owners.
However, the Cybertruck may pose a challenge. The vehicle uses a substantially different center console layout, which could make it difficult to install the same Model Y L charging and cooling assembly without redesigning the surrounding console or developing a Cybertruck-specific version.
Despite this, Tesla's move to upgrade its wireless phone chargers is a welcome one. It addresses some of the overheating and poor charging speeds caused by poor alignment with the phone and the wireless charging. The inclusion of the open Qi2 wireless charging standard, which is Apple MagSafe compatible, would further enhance the charging experience.
In conclusion, Tesla's upcoming wireless phone charger upgrade is a significant step forward, offering faster charging speeds, improved cooling, and better alignment with the phone. It's a much-needed improvement that will benefit drivers and enhance the overall driving experience.
