Just a month ago, Tesla pushed out an update to improve Autopilot, adding side collision warnings and a few more updates. Now, the electric car maker has started to push out a new update to its electric cars equipped with the second-generation Autopilot hardware suite.
What the new update includes
The previous update increased the speed limitation on the Autosteer feature to 50 mph from 45 mph, while the new update (8.0.2.17.9.3) increases the autosteer speed restriction from 50 mph to 55 mph, according to Electrek. With this new update, the Traffic Aware Cruise Control (TACC) is receiving a 5 mph increase in its speed limit as well. The TACC’s speed limit is being lifted to 85 mph (135 km/h) from 80 mph.
The new update is still not in parity with Tesla’s first-generation Autopilot, but it does increase the speed limit on those two main features. Last month, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he expects parity (Autopilot’s performance with the first system using Mobileye’s technology) to be reached in March. It is already March, and there is no other update on the timeline that what is being pushed out now.
Over the past few years, Tesla has been censured repeatedly after reports of accidents involving its Autopilot started surfacing. In its bid to improve the overall performance of its electric cars, the automaker is continuously adding more features and lifting speed limits to make the system more useful.
In response to the recent Autopilot fails, the EV firm told Tom’s Guide that the new software and hardware are still in beta and drivers should exercise vigilance. Further, the company said that it wants to remind owners that “Autosteer performance may vary during the initial phases of roll-out on the new hardware platform.”
Tesla completes a large solar energy project
At a time when investors and Wall Street are still debating whether the acquisition of SolarCity was a good decision, the U.S.-based company has already completed a large solar project on the island of Kauai.
Previously, during the daytime, the island depended on solar and other renewable energies but had no clue about how to save that solar energy and use it in the dark. Now the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) in Hawaii is drawing energy from about 272 Tesla power packs to offer electricity at night, reports CNBC.
According to the company, the power packs will lower the cost per kilowatt hour to 13.9 cents from 15.5 cents. It has a contract with KIUC to deliver electricity at night time for 20 years at 13.9 cents per kilowatt-hour.
