Tesla owners are known for experimenting with various hacks and shortcuts, and one of the latest has caught Tesla’s attention. The company has issued a public warning against a popular charging myth where users wrap a wet towel around a Supercharger handle in an attempt to speed up charging.
This hack involves using a cold, damp towel to alter the temperature sensors on the Supercharger handle, with the belief that it might induce faster charging by misleading the sensors. Tesla’s Superchargers are equipped with a heater check feature to prevent excessive heat, and some owners mistakenly think that cooling the handle could trick the system into allowing quicker charging.
However, Tesla has cautioned that this method is unsafe and could lead to serious issues. The company warns that tampering with temperature readings can cause overheating or damage to the charging equipment.
Though it may seem like a minor issue, Tesla’s response has been notably delayed, taking over two months to address the problem after the “wet towel” trick went viral on auto news sites and forums like Reddit. Tesla issued its official warning through the social media platform X, referencing an article from InsideEVs.
This delay highlights a broader issue with Tesla’s communication strategy. The company eliminated its PR department in 2020, and CEO Elon Musk has expressed his aversion to traditional advertising and PR, preferring to communicate through direct channels like social media.
