Tesla appears to be preparing another hardware upgrade that should make wireless phone charging in its vehicles both faster and more reliable.
According to a report from Not a Tesla App, Tesla plans to expand the actively cooled wireless charging pad first introduced in the six-seat Model Y L to both the Model 3 and Model Y. If accurate, the upgrade would address one of the biggest frustrations owners have had with Tesla’s existing wireless chargers – slow charging caused by excessive heat.
Current Tesla wireless chargers are rated at up to 15W, but many owners have found their phones quickly become warm, especially on sunny days. As temperatures rise, smartphones automatically reduce charging speeds to protect their batteries, often leaving drivers with little additional charge after a longer trip.
This has led to Tesla phone chargers being fondly referred to as phone warmers as opposed to phone chargers.
The new charging assembly is designed to tackle that problem. Cooling fans beneath each charging pad direct airflow toward the back of the phone, helping keep temperatures under control so charging can continue at higher speeds.
Beyond the cooling improvements, the new hardware is also expected to deliver a substantial increase in charging performance. Phones that support faster non-Qi2 wireless charging standards could reportedly charge at up to 50W, more than tripling the output of Tesla’s current system.
One feature owners hoping for may still have to wait. While the upgraded charger is expected to offer faster speeds and active cooling, it reportedly will not support the Qi2 wireless charging standard.
The Cybertruck is less likely to receive the same hardware immediately. Its unique center console design differs significantly from the Model 3 and Model Y, meaning Tesla would likely need to engineer a dedicated version rather than simply swap in the existing assembly.
Tesla first introduced the redesigned charger in the Model Y L in China, making it a logical candidate for wider deployment. Reusing the same component across the Model 3 and Model Y would also simplify manufacturing while bringing a meaningful quality-of-life improvement to a much larger number of vehicles.
It is also unclear whether Tesla will make the upgraded charging pad available as a retrofit for existing Model 3 and Model Y owners. Given the similar design of the current and new charging assemblies, it appears technically possible, but there has been no indication yet whether the company will offer an official retrofit kit.
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