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- 🔋 Elon Says FSD Version 12 Won't Be Beta
🔋 Elon Says FSD Version 12 Won't Be Beta
PLUS: The Battery Pack That Fell Off While Driving
Sup. This is Plugged In. The newsletter taking you through the world of EVs like a turbo boost in Mario Kart, and rest assured, there are no slippery bananas to trip you up.
Here’s what we’ve got for you today:
Elon states “Version 12 won’t be beta”
Tesla’s New Gift: The Reacher
NACS Continues the Takeover
Chinese EV Drops Battery Pack While Driving
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ELON: “VERSION 12 WON’T BE BETA”
Version 12 won’t be beta
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk)
6:50 AM • Jun 27, 2023
Earlier this week, @WholeMarsBlog cheerfully projected that FSD Beta 12 will likely be hitting the roads later this year. Or 2025. Because, well, it's Tesla and timeframes are more of a suggestion. Not to be outdone, Elon Musk found time in his busy schedule of meme pilfering and dogecoin promotion to clarify that FSD Version 12 won’t carry the 'beta' label.
So, ladies and gentlemen, it's time to buckle up because we're on the precipice of the robotaxi revolution! By next year, our roads will be teeming with truly self-driving cars that don’t need any pesky human intervention. Or... FSD will just remain as misnamed as ever and still won't quite master the art of self-driving.
In less inspiring news, earlier this month, NHTSA found Tesla's 'Autopilot' feature had a starring role in 736 crashes, leading to 17 fatalities since its rollout in 2014. A rather grim statistic of 11 of those deaths have occurred since May 2022. The NHTSA also unearthed a disheartening nugget that Teslas appear to be in "more severe—and fatal—crashes than people in a normal data set." Yikes.
As impatient as we are for FSD to arrive, considering the NHTSA's report and the numerous videos capturing Teslas performing interpretative dance moves on the roads under FSD's control, we're hoping that Version 12 delivers a significant step above the current version. In the meantime, let's keep our fingers crossed and our seatbelts buckled, shall we?


TESLA’S NEW GIFT: THE REACHER

Alright, UK Tesla boys, here's a good one for you. Tesla seems to have a little present for its Model S and Model X buyers - a fetching new accessory: a grabbing stick. Why, you ask? Well, let's say it's a left-hand-drive world, and we're just living in it.
In an unexpected plot twist last month, Tesla stopped rolling out new Model S and Model X cars in right-hand-drive configurations. To put it lightly, they've decided to flip things around. Notably, they've pulled the plug on sales in smaller right-hand-drive markets, including Australia, Singapore, and Thailand, and are now driving on the “right” side of the road in more substantial markets like the UK.
Unsurprisingly, this move ruffled a few feathers. Quite a few customers had their orders unceremoniously canceled, some of whom had been on tenterhooks since the Model S and Model X refresh was announced, eagerly anticipating their shiny new speed demons.
But here's the cherry on top - the UK buyers who decided to grit their teeth and stick with their purchases, despite this left-hand-drive change, found a shiny new "Reacher" accompanying their vehicles. And no, it's not a special edition of the Lee Child thriller.
The Reacher, my friends, is a grabbing stick intended for drivers to be able to reach the passenger window. It's purpose? To help you grab everything from parking receipts to your beloved McMuffin from the drive-thru window.

Source: Twitter @Tonywootts
You've got to admit, there's a touch of slapstick humor to it all. Tesla cancels your order, nudges you into a left-hand-drive vehicle if you're still keen on a Model S or Model X, and then, with a wink and a nudge, hands you a grabbing stick. It's practically the same experience, right? Just with a bit of a stretch.

NACS CONTINUES THE TAKEOVER

It appears that Volkswagen is engaging in cozy chats with Tesla about adopting the snazzy NACS connector for its EVs in North America. Now, that's some solid cross-brand camaraderie, isn't it?
This lightning bolt of news strikes after Electrify America (founded by none other than Volkswagen) declared its own commitment to the NACS standard. It seems like Tesla, with its persuasive charm, has been able to coax almost every major American automaker into swapping over to its freshly-minted NACS connector standard. Smooth move, Tesla!
Ford was the first to leap onto the NACS bandwagon, with GM and Rivian swiftly following suit. Not to be left in the dust, Volvo and Polestar, both under the Geely umbrella, also joined the NACS fan club this week.
However, the European (looking at you, Germany) and Asian automakers are still playing hard to get with NACS. Today, though, Electrify America dropped a hint that things may be changing. The charging station operator, born out of Volkswagen's Dieselgate scandal penance, confirmed it's going to produce stations equipped with NACS connectors.
This little nugget of information hinted that the Volkswagen Group could be the first German automaker to get down with the NACS standard in North America. And sure enough, the prophecy came true. Today, the Volkswagen Group confirmed it's locked in active discussion with Tesla about adopting NACS. A spokesperson disclosed in an email:
"Volkswagen Group and its brands are currently evaluating the implementation of the Tesla North American Charging Standard (NACS) for its North American customers."
Note the keyword here: brands. This could imply that all VW, Audi, and Porsche brands might simultaneously get aboard the NACS train. Now wouldn't that be a sight for sore EV eyes?

CHINESE EV DROPS BATTERY PACK WHILE DRIVING

Ejecto Batteryo Cuz!
Buckle up folks! We don’t want you dropping off onto the road randomly like the battery pack above.
A video from CarNewsChina captured the unthinkable – an EV's battery pack making a sudden and dramatic exit mid-drive. The star of this unexpected episode? The Cao Cao 60, an electric vehicle dedicated to the hustle and bustle of ride-hailing and cab service.
Cao Cao 60 was launched in March this year and, apparently, was just as surprised to lose its battery pack as we were to witness it. Our battery-shedding friend continued its journey for a few more seconds before realizing something essential was missing, leaving the runaway battery approximately 20 meters behind. The incident, thankfully, didn't result in a fire. No dramatic explosion, just a humble "I think I dropped something” moment.

Geely’s Cao Cao 60
Launched as the flagship car under the Cao Cao Auto brand, the Cao Cao 60 primarily serves ride-hailing drivers. And with a price tag of 119,800 yuan (about $17,500), a 415 km CLTC range, and a swappable battery, it's got the goods - just perhaps not the grip.
The company prides itself on having an ultra-long and tested 600,000 km service durability, but they might want to add a "batteries might fall off" disclaimer to the sales pitch. After reaching out to Ruilan Auto, the manufacturer, they confirmed they're aware of the 'dropping' issue and that feedback will be provided post-investigation.

THE JUICE 🔋
[Video] Chinese EV dropped the whole battery pack while driving. Ejecto Battery!
China accelerating on autonomous vehicles. With the tech, policies, and infrastructure accelerating - will China beat the US to full autonomous vehicles?
The Future of Mobility. A great essay on how self-driving and flying cars could transform transportation.
Kia EV9 Review. Setting a new standard for Luxury SUV EV’s.

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That's a wrap for today. Charge your batteries & see ya next time! If you want more, be sure to follow our Twitter (@PluggedInEmail)
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