Tesla is using their in-car notification system to ask owners to help relieve stress on Texas’ electricity grid during the state’s current heat wave.
Over the last few days temperatures in the Lone State state have topped 100°F (37.7°C) in places like Amarillo, where the average temperature at this time of year is a more comfortable 78°F (25°C).
Those high temperatures have translated into extra demand on the states electricity grid as people crank their air conditioning in an attempt to keep cool.
To help alleviate that stress, Tesla sent a message to Texas owners on Friday asking them to only charge their vehicles outside of peak hours, which is noted as being between 3:00pm and 8:00pm. Tesla says this will “help statewide efforts to manage demand.”
“A heat wave is expected to impact the grid in Texas over the next few days. The grid operator recommends to avoid charging during peak hours between 3pm and 8pm, if possible, to help statewide efforts to manage demand,” the message reads.
This isn’t the first time Tesla has sent a message directly to owners to warn them or ask for their assistance. At the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in China Tesla sent a message to owners to notify them of free Supercharging.
It has also been used during natural disasters like hurricanes and floods. Tesla also sent a message to owners in Germany to notify them of a potential quality control issue with their vehicles.
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