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Arthur T Knackerbracket has processed the following story:
Tesla is warning users about a popular "charging hack" that can allegedly result in shorter wait times at select Supercharger stations. The trick, which has been circulating within the Tesla community for at least a few years now, involves wrapping a damp towel around a Supercharger handle when charging. The idea is that the wet rag acts as a cooling agent, tricking temperature sensors inside the handle into thinking the system is running cooler than it actually is.
Some claim the hack can increase the charging rate, especially on hot summer days, resulting in a faster charge and less waiting around. Now, Tesla has issued official guidance on the matter.
According to the official Tesla Charging account on X, placing a wet cloth on a Supercharger handle does not increase its charging rate. In does, however, interfere with the system's temperature monitors and could lead to overheating or damage. Tesla advises against the towel trick to help ensure their systems can operate correctly.
[...] Inside EVs points to several instances that seem to refute Tesla's claim that the trick does not work, at least with older V2 Supercharging systems. One Tesla user put a damp cloth over the charging handle on a V2 Supercharger, which increased the charging rate from 60 kilowatts to 95 kW on a hot day. Another user plugged in at two percent stage of charge and reached 147 kW before thermal throttling kicked in at 34 percent and slowed the rate down to 58 kW. Applying a wet rag reportedly drove the charging rate up to 119 kW.
V3 and newer Superchargers utilize active cooling. According to Inside EV, the towel trick does not really help at all on these systems unless you are charging a Cybertruck.
Tesla owners would probably be best served to take the company's advice and not fool with the trick. Saving an extra few minutes simply is not worth the risk of damaging your vehicle or Tesla's equipment.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 30 2024, @10:22PM (2 children)
Evap cooling does work on hot dry days, but around here (steamy in NE USA this week) not so much--the wet towel will warm up and at 80%+ relative humidity, it's going to stay wet.
This whole idea of fast charging is kind of dumb anyway--it shortens the life of the currently available batteries. Just accept that long trips with multiple charging stops are either a bad idea at this stage of BEV development, or plan on a leisurely trip with extended charging stops.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by darkfeline on Wednesday July 31 2024, @08:15AM (1 child)
But EV is going to get even less appealing if we can't maintain the agenda that it is superior to ICE in every way.
46% of EV owners in the US (and 29% globally) want to go back to ICE.
https://executivedigest.sapo.pt/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mobility-Consumer-Pulse-2024_Overview.pdf [executivedigest.sapo.pt]
If we lose fast charging, those stats are only going in one direction.
Join the SDF Public Access UNIX System today!
(Score: 4, Insightful) by mcgrew on Wednesday July 31 2024, @01:36PM
That's an incredibly bad website.
"Of electric vehicle owners consider to
switch back to a traditional..."
Note the propagandistic key words. Like the coffee cup my daughter bought me says, "nice story, now show me the data." Were the questions asked in the same way the "data" were presented?
It's propaganda, not a study. [mcgrew.info]
Impeach Donald Saruman and his sidekick Elon Sauron