The Pulse Newsletter-June 2024

Tesla 'Spring Update' Update Adds Ability to View Cabin Filter Health

May 31, 2024 by Karan Singh
www.notateslaapp.com

Tesla’s Service Mode, a feature that allows both users and technicians to diagnose and view vehicle information, has had several features added to it recently. Chief among them for everyday Tesla owners is a health meter for your vehicle’s Cabin Filter.

Cabin Filter Health

The update displays a “Cabin Filter Health” UI in the HVAC section of Service Mode. This health readout is shown as a percentage of health, with a lower number indicating that the cabin filter needs to be replaced. However, we’ve also seen some users report they had a value over 100%. The health meter is intended to provide an approximation of the useful life of your Cabin Air filter.

Tesla likely approximates the health of the cabin filter based on the filter's age and how many hours the HVAC system has been used. It may also consider the fan speed of the HVAC system to account for higher airflow through the filter.

When to Replace

In general, Tesla recommends replacing the Cabin Air Filter every 2 years, and that the HEPA filter, for vehicles with access to Bio-Weapon Defence Mode, be replaced every 3 years, but this can vary depending on usage and the amount of debris going into the cabin.

Tesla is one of the few manufacturers, if not the only one, that runs air continuously through the cabin filter, regardless if it’s coming in from the outside or inside the vehicle when the recirculating air option is on. This helps the air inside the vehicle to become cleaner as it continues to be filtered.

How to Replace

The Cabin and HEPA Air filter replacement procedure is straightforward and could be a DIY task. Tesla provides instructions on a model-by-model basis on how to replace them, but in general, the basic steps are below.

The filter replacements can differ based on model year as well. High-voltage connections are also passing through the HVAC module, so extra caution is needed. We recommend reading your vehicle’s specific instructions before proceeding. They will advise against touching any electrical connections.
Basic Replacement Instructions

1.      Turn off Climate Control

2.      Remove the passenger-side floor mat and move the seat fully back.

3.      Use a pry tool to release the clips that hold the right-side front footwell cover to the instrument panel, and then disconnect the two electrical connectors inside.

4.      Working from top-to-bottom, use a trim tool to release the right-side panel from the center console.

5.      A single T20 screw secures the cabin filter cover, remove the screw and cover.

6.      Fold the 2 tabs securing the filter away, and then pull the upper and lower filters out.

7.      Ensure that the arrows on the new filters face towards the rear of the vehicle, and install them.

8.      Proceed through steps 6-1 in reverse to reassemble.

Once again, these steps vary by vehicle configuration, model year, and do not apply to legacy vehicles without a heat pump.

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What to consider before getting an electric vehicle

June 9, 2024 by Mark Phelan
Detroit Free Press

I’d lease, not buy, if I were shopping for an electric vehicle today. • Not because I doubt EVs’ benefits, convenience or reliability, but because volatile prices and evolving technology make them likely to improve faster – maybe a lot faster – than we’re used to with the mature technology and economics of internal combustion engines, or ICE. • As appealing as many of today’s EVs are, there’s a good chance one with longer range, better features, a more appealing price – or all of the above – will be available in a time frame closer to the expiration of a 36-month lease than the eight-plus years many buyers keep a new car or truck.

“Everything about EVs is moving very quickly,” said Alex Knizek, Consumer Reports’ chief of EV testing. “What you buy today may be obsolete tomorrow.”

That’s not to say any EV bought today won’t work tomorrow, next year, or probably 10-20 years from now. It does mean you may be able to get a better vehicle soon, for the same price, maybe even less.

On top of that, S&P Global Mobility analyst Stephanie Brinley says owning an EV is in many ways a new lifestyle, from easy charging at home to planning long trips around charger availability along the way.

“Leasing is an opportunity to find out if it works for you,” she said.

Consumers like predictability, but with EVs, everything’s a moving target: Price, capability, residual value.

In recent months:

• Market leader Tesla slashed prices, forcing other automakers to follow suit. Tesla price cuts became almost routine in 2023 as the automaker responded to growing competition.

• Ford announced faster charging and longer range for the 2024 Mustang Mach-E.

• Ford cut F-150 Lightning prices up to $5,500, angering some early buyers.

• Chevrolet dropped prices of its new Blazer EV by as much as $6,520.

“It’s a lot of mental calculus,” said Cox Automotive’s Erin Keating. “Some Tesla owners found themselves unexpectedly under water.”

Beyond pricing volatility, Keating added that leasing makes some EVs eligible for tax credits not available with an outright purchase.

The number of EVs eligible for those credits will increase every year as automakers scramble to source batteries in countries the U.S. considers reliable, strategic and business partners.

That will make more EVs affordable, increasing the number of models shoppers can consider.

Battery technology – a key to EV range and convenience – is also evolving rapidly, according to auto writer and EV expert John Voelcker.

Ford, for instance, just added a battery with a new, less expensive chemistry to the Mach-E.

“Charging, batteries and range are the big topics,” Knizek said. “Battery technology is changing rapidly, from chemicals to physical packages and electronic controls. The 2020 model of a vehicle may go 190 miles on a charge, while the 2022 can go 225.

“Consider the switch to Tesla’s charging system,” he added. “That’s a fundamental change in powertrain technology. We haven’t even decided which plug to use yet.”

Beyond that, EV makers regularly add new features. Some come as over-the-air software updates, but others will be rolled out to increase the appeal of next year’s model. That’s true of ICE vehicles, too, but the range of improvement to EVs may be wider.

Battery performance and longevity are also open questions. California, which sets the pace for nearly all EV policy in the U.S., requires a 10-year/150,000-mile warranty, but there’s no generally accepted way to measure a used EV battery’s efficiency and future performance.

That’ll be a determining factor in the value of a used EV, a major concern if you own an EV, somebody else’s problem if you leased.

“I think some delay in EV uptake is people waiting for improvements in batteries, range and charging,” Keating said. “Customers still need to see battery-lifecycle and repair-cost trends.”

On the other hand, it’s hard to beat not having a car payment. EVs are so tech-laden it’s easy to think of them like a mobile phone, where new features trained many owners to trade up every couple of years.

“We’ve so conditioned people to behave on the evolutionary timetable of cellphones that it’s hard to wrap your head around the idea of buying something and using it for seven to 10 years, ” Keating said, “but that’s what a vehicle is for most people.”

And a lot of those people will probably consider missing out on a few new features, a fair trade-off for not writing a big check every month.

Maybe EVs aren’t that different from ICE vehicles after all.

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Drive Electric Earth Month Event in Rochester

Penfield’s annual EV car show brings community together for Earth day

April 24, 2024 by Jeff Bellenger
Rochester Beacon

On April 20th, the Penfield Community Center hosted the largest Drive Electric Earth Month event in the state. The event was also a combination Arbor Day and Earth Day celebration, with organizations on site to give away native plants and seed packets. Drive Electric Month is a national campaign to share information about electric vehicles. Over 200 events have been scheduled nationwide throughout the month of April, with a dozen taking place in New York State.

Penfield’s annual event began back in 2012, where the first EV charging station in Monroe County was unveiled. Since its humble beginnings with just a handful of cars, Penfield’s EV car show has grown into a significant display of all things electric, even including school buses and the occasional police cruiser.

There was something for everyone at the event. In total, 65 EV owners registered to showcase their vehicles, which ranged from a vintage Volkswagen Beetle with a converted electric engine, to a variety of models from well-known brands like Tesla, Chevy, and Ford, to the new Fisker Ocean SUV. With almost 2 million vehicle miles driven by registered EV owners at the time of registration, and representatives from groups like the Tesla Owners Club of New York, visitors had access to some of the most knowledgeable members of the local EV community.

In addition, a handful of auto dealers were on-hand to highlight the various EV models available for purchase in the Rochester area. Dealers noted that public sentiment has changed over the years, whereas visitors to past shows were more likely to express concerns or skepticism, now they are more likely to answer questions about selecting the make and model that best suits a customer’s needs.

More than just cars

Adding to the lineup were electric engines large and small. Industries like landscaping and construction also have a role to play in reducing emissions from the equipment they rely on for daily tasks. Brodner Equipment, which stocks zero emission lawn mowers, leaf blowers and other devices had two autonomous mowers on display (and for test drives!). Brodner currently supplies several public school districts in the County as well as the Rochester Institute of Technology with these lawn robots, which they explain aren’t just for courtyards. Newer models are equipped with GPS for easy setup, and larger models can even handle up to a 9 acre plot.

If you’re looking for construction equipment that doesn’t require fossil fuels, local supplier ADMAR has a wide selection of equipment on hand ranging all the way from hand tools to excavators. ADMAR was part of Penfield’s EV Show, but if you missed the show you can always find them at their main location off E. Henrietta Rd. near Monroe Community College.

Rounding out the wide range of organizations and exhibitors were GreenSpark Solar, Fairport’s RV&E Bike Shop with a selection of climate-friendly e-bikes, the Southeast Area Coalition’s Tool Shed where members can borrow hand and electric-powered tools to get home projects done, and RS Motorsports out of Canandaigua with their fleet of zero emission golf carts. They’re not just for golf courses, owner Roberto Silva explained that the majority of sales actually come from residential buyers wanting to get around on their properties or in their neighborhoods.

EV enthusiasts and eco-minded members of the community can reach out to the event’s organizers at www.penfieldevshow.org for any additional details or questions, and be sure to look ahead to the National Drive Electric Week in the fall, where the Rochester Institute of Technology will host its annual EV event on Saturday, September 28, 2024.