Following up on this week’s promise, Tesla has announced a series of updates – one of which is aimed at eliminating range anxiety.
No, Tesla’s cure for range anxiety isn’t adding a gasoline engine on board. Instead, it’s an over-the-air software update that adds an application known as Trip Planner.
In a nutshell, the app runs in the background of the Model S’ infotainment system, enabling the car to communicate with the closest Supercharger and third-party charging networks if the driver goes out of range. It maps out the most convenient locations and gives drivers a more accurate range estimation based on wind speed.
Along with Trip Planner, the new update adds another application called Range Assurance. This app plots out the optimal route between the driver’s location and destination based on available charging networks. When you’re stopped to charge, Range Assurance will even ping the driver’s phone and notify them when the car is good to go.
With both Trip Planner and Range Assurance, Tesla CEO Elon Musk says “it will be impossible to run out of charge unless you do so intentionally.”
