Tesla patented its rotating screen in the Model S.

Tesla’s Pivot Display patent has been granted in the Model S and Model X.

The patent, called the “Dual-Axis Gyro Mechanism,” is for the display in Tesla’s luxury Model S and Model X cars. The device allows users to tilt the screen slightly so it’s easier to read, see, and use for the driver or passenger.

Automotive engineer Sandy Munro and his team took apart the Model S Plaid earlier in 2022. During this teardown, Munro’s team revealed the hidden mechanism that will eventually be used to rotate the screen.

However, the device the Monroe S Plaid was installed on was lacking some features to be fully functional. The team took a deeper dive into what the mechanism is and tweaked it to show how it will work in the Model S and Model X in the future.

Missing parts in the Monroe Model S Plaid mechanism mean Tesla will eventually get better at the part in the future.

The US Patent Office published Tesla’s “dual axis rotation mechanism” on November 24, 2022. The patent was originally filed six months ago on May 16, 2022, in addition to an earlier version of the patent from 2021.

“The projector is mounted on a swivel mechanism that facilitates biaxial rotation using a single actuator, dual swivel joints, and associated connections,” the patent reads. “The rotation element also includes at least one additional floating joint that provides additional tension forces relative to the third axis. Furthermore, depending on other embodiments, a control component may be used to generate control signals related to the rotation of individual actuators, such as setting control modes and duty cycles.”

Since Monroe’s initial unbundling, Tesla has since implemented the tilt-screen on newer versions of the Model S and Model X. With all the “cool” tech Elon Musk talked about getting into the Cybertruck, we wouldn’t be surprised if this feature appears in that car, too.

A Cybertruck tire was recently found at Tesla’s facility and Tesla still aims to start production in just six months.

Apple Music may be available in Tesla’s new holiday update, but don’t expect the uncompromising audio quality that Apple Music subscribers enjoy…at least not yet.

Tesla owner and software developer Dan Burkland It recently ran some tests on the sound quality offered by Tesla TIDAL, Spotify, and now Apple Music in-car streaming services.

Burkland TIDAL previously tested on a different version of Tesla’s software, but with Tesla’s ever-changing software and Holiday Update rolling out, it chose to run the tests again.

The setting and songs used for the test

He connected his Model Y to his home WiFi and used DHCP reservation, which allowed him to use a specific IP address for the vehicle. Then he installed ntopng on his OPNsense firewall to monitor vehicle traffic stats. After excluding host stats for Model Y, he sampled a total of nine songs, including “Purple Rain” by Prince, “Foreplay” by Boston, and “Kashmir” by Led Zeppelin.

consequences

Burkland test results conclude that TIDAL still delivers the best listening experience. The average bit rate for TIDAL was around 1165 kbps. This isn’t entirely shocking, as TIDAL has always stood for the highest quality streaming audio experience.

Surprisingly, Spotify’s sound quality came in second place ahead of Apple Music. Burkland tests showed Spotify Live streaming at an average transfer rate of 157kbps, while Apple Music came in at just under 118kbps.

Burkland added that he believes Apple Music is bitrate-limiting the in-car app, but hopefully a future update to Tesla’s software will resolve this. If Tesla can enable lossless streaming of Apple Music, it will give TIDAL a run for its money in HD streaming via the in-car app.

Check out some of Dan’s test scores below, or for a full list, view his Reddit thread.

Other Tesla owners run similar tests

Reddit user u/OverlyOptimisticNerd ran similar tests with a slightly different configuration. They used an iPhone 14 as a mobile hotspot, Hotspot Monitor data usage from the Apple App Store, and a 2019 Model 3 running build 2022.44.25.1.

During their tests, they noticed the same pattern across all songs, indicating that a raft of data entered at the start of the tests and then slowly trickled in. Apple Music’s lower data rate appears to match the company’s 64kbps HE-AAC codec.

“It seems to buffer most or even all of the song, then pause between tracks to do it again,” u/OverlyOptimisticNerd wrote. “On average, I saw about 2MB per track, with ~1.7MB during the initial burst and ~0.3MB along the track. This is in line with the HE-AAC standard, as most of these songs were just over 3 minutes long.”

While Apple Music may come with the lowest average bit rate of all the three services tested, it is important to note that it does not necessarily mean that it has the lowest quality. Audio quality is due to a variety of factors, some of which are the bit rate used, whether it is variable and the efficiency of the codec.

Apple Music’s HE-ACC codec is optimized for low-bandwidth applications which means it can outperform ACC-encoded files in low-bandwidth situations. In the real world of Apple Music in your Tesla, it should sound very similar to streaming music from Spotify, but not as good as TIDAL’s offerings.

Teslas are among the most efficient cold-weather electric vehicles, according to a repeat study.

Cold weather often affects the range of electric vehicles for two reasons. Colder weather changes the chemical of the battery slightly; Therefore, the range is reduced. The reduced range may mean that some owners may have to adjust their rides in the winter months compared to the warmer seasons.

electric vehicle heaters

However, the largest contributor to the low range of electric vehicles is due to heat production. Because electric vehicles are more efficient than their internal combustion counterparts, they produce very little excess heat. While heat is a byproduct of gasoline engines and can be directed into the cabin to warm occupants, electric vehicles need to produce additional heat to keep their occupants comfortable.

resistance heaters

This is usually done in two ways, either through electrical resistance heating or through a heat pump. A resistive heater is like a space heater you might use at home. Electric current runs through the wires causing them to heat up and then the heat is forced into the room.

heat pumps

Heat pumps are more complex and work much differently than resistance heaters, however, they are also more efficient in most cases. They work by using outside air to heat the refrigerant which is then pressurized to increase the temperature of the refrigerant. The coolant then flows into the cabin as the vehicle’s air passes through it, causing it to heat up and flow into the cabin. While heat pumps are more efficient when compared to electric heaters, this efficiency decreases the colder it gets outside.

which have Tesla heat pumps

All newer Teslas use heat pumps instead of resistance heaters because of their increased efficiency. All redesigned Model S and Model X cars use heat pumps, as do all Model Ys. However, some 2017-2020 Model 3 cars use resistive heaters to heat the cabin, making them less efficient in the colder months.

Find out your type of heater

If you don’t know if your Tesla has a heat pump or resistive heater, you can find out just by looking at your car’s software. Your car’s heater type will be listed if you go to Controls > Program and then click Additional Vehicle Info.

Because of Tesla’s unique heating system and its efficiency, Recurrent has found that Tesla cars have some of the best range among electric cars. Therefore, Tesla owners may not have to make many modifications to their commute. They are able to manage this because of their modern battery technology, as well as the use of local heating through heated seats, steering wheel and cabin, as well as their advanced heat pumps.

A new study published by Recurrent pulled data from 7,000 electric vehicles from 14 popular brands, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, and Tesla. Data for each vehicle was collected via on-board telemetry and real-time usage. Vehicles have been used in freezing temperatures (20-30°F) and warm 70°F, with temperatures dropping below 50°F, heat pumps begin to become less efficient.

Recurrent results concluded that Tesla’s Long Range AWD Model Y and Model X 75D lost 15%, while the Long Range Model 3 with the 75kWh battery lost 17%, and the Model S P100D lost 19%. Compared to the Chevy Bolt, which lost 32%, and Ford’s Mustang Mach-E, which lost 30%, Tesla’s cars seem better equipped for cold weather. Unfortunately, Recurrent has tested older Teslas that don’t have heat pumps, which means the Teslas’ numbers would have been better if Recurrent had used newer models. However, Tesla has had some of the best performing cars out there.

Comparing heat pumps vs resistance heaters in Tesla

As Tesla continues to make improvements to its cars, battery supplier, CATL, recently announced production of a battery that will provide up to 430 miles of range.