Tesla and Walmart settle lawsuit over issues concerning solar panel installations

Joey Klender

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Posted on November 5, 2019

Tesla’s lawsuit with American multinational retail giant Walmart has come to a close according to a joint statement made by the two companies. Walmart filed a complaint with the New York County Supreme Court in August 2019, alledging the electric car maker’s solar panels were the cause of roof fires at “no fewer than” seven locations within the United States.

On November 4, Walmart requested a discontinuance in the case, voluntarily ending the lawsuit with Tesla. The following day, the companies jointly announced the case had been thrown out, and they would resume working toward a future involving sustainable energy together. “Walmart and Tesla are pleased to have resolved the issues raised by Walmart concerning the Tesla solar installations at Walmart stores. Safety is a top priority for each company and with the concerns being addressed, we both look forward to a safe re-energization of our sustainable energy systems,” the statement said.

Walmart’s request for discontinuance in the lawsuit against Tesla. (Credit: Plainsite.org)

The exact details of the agreement between the two companies are unknown as it was settled out of court. However, the court approval and final dismissal of the case are expected to take place soon.

Shortly after the lawsuit was filed, Walmart and Tesla jointly announced they would be working together to resolve the issues with the solar panels. “Walmart and Tesla look forward to addressing all issues and re-energizing Tesla solar installations at Walmart stores, once all parties are certain that all concerns have been addressed,” the two companies stated. Walmart filed the lawsuit claiming Tesla had committed “widespread, systematic negligence” by not following industry practices. They claim Tesla utilized untrained and unsupervised personnel to install the panels. Walmart believes this led to the fires and claims they incurred millions of dollars in losses and significant amounts of destroyed merchandise as a result.

Six years before Tesla’s acquisition of the SolarCity in 2016, Walmart became a customer 2010 of the company by purchasing and installing solar systems on eight of its store’s rooftops. According to the initial summons and complain report filed in August 2019, 248 of Walmart’s retail locations utilize solar panels for clean, sustainable energy. The company halted the operation of all systems when the lawsuit was filed. However, these systems will resume operation soon as a part of the agreement between the two companies.

Tesla and Walmart being able to come to a conclusion in the lawsuit without a long and drawn-out legal process is advantageous to both companies. Not only does it save time and money, but it shows the two companies were able to fix their issues with each other in a civil manner by working together toward a resolution. Walmart has committed to a future involving sustainable energy and wants Tesla’s solar panels to supply their company with clean energy.

You can read Walmart’s Approach to Renewable Energy here.

Tesla and Walmart settle lawsuit over issues concerning solar panel installations

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Tesla boosts Model 3 Standard Range+ Supercharging power to 170 kW

Simon Alvarez

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Posted on November 4, 2019

Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus is getting an increase in Supercharging peak power to 170 kW in the latest over-the-air software update. The boost in Supercharger charging rate for the entry-level Model 3 variant represents a nearly 50-70% increase from its 100 kW to 120 kW charge rate, prior to the version 2019.36.1 update.

Tesla’s release notes for the update were brief and direct. “Your Model 3 is now able to charge with increased peak rate power up to 170 kW,” Tesla wrote. The update will enable Model 3 Standard Range Plus owners with more convenience to conduct long trips, thanks to faster Supercharging sessions. Additionally, by increasing peak power at Supercharger stalls, Tesla is able to improve throughout at each station by supporting more vehicles per day.

It should be noted that the Tesla Model 3 is capable of supporting Tesla’s V3 Supercharger Network, which features a peak output of 250 kW. This was true for Long Range vehicles like the Model 3 Dual Motor AWD and the Performance variant, both of which can charge at 250 kW, but cars with smaller batteries such as the Standard Range Plus Model 3 charged at a lower rate. 

A screenshot of Tesla’s release notes for the recent update was shared online by Model 3 Standard Range Plus owner and r/TeslaLounge subreddit member u/toddzman, who noted that prior to the update, his car would usually top out during Supercharging sessions at 456 mph at 100 kW. With the boost to a 170 kW peak supercharging rate, the Tesla owner noted that his Standard Range Plus Model 3 could potentially hit charging speeds of about 775 miles per hour of charge, provided that it is connected to a V3 Supercharger. 

Apart from Supercharger Improvements, Tesla has also rolled out a Power Increase to its fleet of Standard Range Plus Model 3. Similar to the Supercharger peak rate boost, the release notes for the power increase were notably brief and understated. “Your car’s power has been increased by approximately 5%, improving acceleration and performance,” the electric car maker wrote.  

These recent upgrades would likely be appreciated by Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus owners. The vehicle, after all, is Tesla’s most affordable Autopilot-equipped all-electric car available today. With more power and faster Supercharging speeds, Tesla has only made one of its most affordable vehicles even more of a bang-for-your-buck car. A car buyer would be quite challenged to find a comparable vehicle with such range, supercharging speed, standard Autopilot, and power at the same price point as the Model 3 Standard Range Plus, after all. 

Tesla boosts Model 3 Standard Range+ Supercharging power to 170 kW

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Tesla Model Y spotted road testing with elusive Model 3 wheels from unveiling event

Simon Alvarez

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Posted on November 4, 2019

It appears that Tesla’s 13-spoke “Wind” Turbine Wheels that were featured during the Model 3’s unveiling event may have a second lease on life (or is it first lease?), with a Model Y release candidate recently being spotted with the elusive wheels while it was being tested on public roads. 

An image of the Model Y with the rare Turbine Wheels was shared online by Trevor Page of Tesla Owners Online. Based on the image, the wheels were fitted on a white release candidate with the same chrome delete package featured in the static model displayed by the electric car maker during the Model Y’s debut earlier this year. 

Tesla’s “Wind” Turbine Wheels caught the attention of the electric car community during the Model 3’s unveiling event back in 2016. Painted in gunmetal gray and with a design that twisted into the center hub, the 13-spoke wheels looked stunning with a red Model 3 prototype. Unfortunately, the wheels have not been offered by Tesla as an option for the Model 3 to date. 

This has not stopped the Tesla community from asking Elon Musk about the elusive Model 3 wheels, and the CEO has stated that the wheels will eventually be offered as an upgrade from service. So far, such an upgrade has not been offered by the electric car maker, though the company has debuted a new type of wheel for the Model 3 Performance in China: the “Power Sports” Aero Wheels. 

Seeing the elusive Wind Turbine Wheels on a Model Y release candidate bodes well for Tesla community members who are interested in acquiring them as an aftermarket purchase. Considering that the Model Y in the recent sighting was an engineering prototype whose every bit of performance is likely being evaluated, having the vehicle running on wheels that will not be released to consumers makes very little sense. With this in mind, there seems to be a good chance that it would only be a matter of time before the Model 3’s elusive 13-spoke Turbine Wheels are released. 

The past few weeks have been rife with Model Y sightings across the United States, from the roads of CA to faraway states like MI, suggesting that Tesla is in full swing in its efforts to release the all-electric crossover to the market. With numerous release candidates operating across the United States, it would not be surprising at all if Tesla actually ends up delivering the Model Y earlier than expected.

Tesla Model Y spotted road testing with elusive Model 3 wheels from unveiling event

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