Review: Tesla x FreePower gen 2 deliver Apple’s AirPower dream for any Qi device
Back in December Tesla announced its Wireless Charging Platform that’s powered by FreePower’s latest “place anywhere” Qi system. Now orders are shipping to the first customers and we’ve been able to test out the premium multi-device charger that delivers on Apple’s free position AirPower dream.
A bit of background. FreePower (which is now the name of the product and the company, the former was previously Aira) first launched its free position Qi wireless charging tech with the Nomad Base Station Pro in 2020.
That was a slick charger, but when Apple launched MagSafe for iPhone 12 just a couple of months later, it ended up interfering with FreePower Qi charging. FreePower released a firmware update almost immediately to improve the wireless charging for iPhones with MagSafe, but customers still had a better experience with Android smartphones.
Fast forward to 2023, Tesla is FreePower’s launch partner for the second generation of its unique and improved free position Qi tech.
I got the chance to chat with FreePower CEO and founder Jake Slatnick and he shared that the second-gen system has solved the previous issues with MagSafe iPhones.
He also noted changes that all devices will benefit from with FreePower gen 2 including coil enhancements for greater efficiency and faster charge times, improved foreign object detection, intelligent power delivery per device, and a more precise power transfer field.
Ok, let’s jump into the review ?.
Tesla Wireless Charger review
Specs
- Wireless power for up to three devices simultaneously
- Position devices anywhere thanks to FreePower gen 2 with 30 wireless coils (up from 18 coils used in the 2020 Nomad Base Station Pro)
- Up to 15W for Android, 7.5W for iPhone
- Matte black aluminum frame inspired by Tesla Cybertruck
- Soft Alcantara finish on the charging surface
- Weight: 981 grams (2.16 pounds) with base and 715 grams (1.58 pounds) without base
- Magnetic detachable base for raised angled or low flat orientation
- USB-C cable integrated with wireless charger
- 65W USB-C power adapter (with Cybertruck design)
- Price: $300
Materials and build
The frame of the charger is made from a weighty, solid aluminum and the same goes for the detachable base. With the Cybertruck aesthetic as the inspiration, the sharp angular lines in matte black offer a super clean and minimalist look and feel.
The integrated USB-C cord is a flat-style cable and Tesla didn’t settle for a boring power brick, it’s like a Hot-Wheels-sized Cybertruck plugged into your wall.
The magnetic base easily detaches and reattaches to shift between the raised angled orientation and the flat one. Both the larger base and magnetic base have rubber feet to give the charger grip.
For charging status, there’s a subtle LED indicator just below the Tesla logo in the center of the charger.
Here are all the signals the LED can give:
- Start of Charge: 5-second illumination then dim
- Charging: Constant dim
- Device Removal: Device 1 – LED off, Multiple Devices – LED off then reilluminate
- Power Supply Error: Rapid blink
- System Error: Rapid 3 bink burst
- Metal Object Detected: Slow pulsating blink
In use
I’ve been loving this charger. From the look and feel of the hardware to the FreePower gen 2 tech, it offers a truly fantastic experience.
The adjustable design with the removable magnetic base is a clever and useful touch to make it more adaptable to different use cases like offices, bedrooms, kitchens, etc. And the attention to detail is on point with features like the super soft Alcantara making up the charger’s entire top surface, cable management built into the magnetic base, and a thoughtful LED that won’t disturb you if this is in your bedroom – but can still indicate status without having to look at your phone.
As far as FreePower’s claim of making it reliable for iPhones with MagSafe, I’ve found that to be the case. Every time I put down my iPhone it quickly registers and begins charging right away.
Ok, for some finer details. I tested the charger out in a mix of ways with iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro, and AirPods Pro gen 1 and 2 (but of course, this works with any Qi-capable devices).
Just for fun, I tried stacking two sets of AirPods Pro in the middle of the two phones just in case it would charge all four devices. But it is indeed limited to three like Tesla/FreePower says.
You can fit two 6-inch smartphones plus AirPods Pro on the pad. Since it has an angled surface, the bottom is a touch more narrow than the top – so the available surface is right about 7.75 inches wide.
Most 6-inch smartphones come in at the 2.8-inch wide mark and 6.8-inch smartphones are right about 3.07 inches wide (without cases). That means it would be tough to fit two large smartphones plus an earbuds case (the shortest side of AirPods Pro is 1.75 inch).
But if you have one 6-inch and one 6.8-inch phone, that should work to fit an earbuds case on there too. Fun fact, three iPhone 12/13 mini should fit side by side on this charger (at least without cases).
Another convenient option is charging multiple pairs of earbuds with one smartphone.
As far as the iPhone’s max charging being 7.5W and 15W for Android devices (when many of those can charge beyond that), it didn’t really feel like a sacrifice. If I’m in a hurry and need to charge as fast as possible, it’s best to reach for a wired cable with a fast-charging brick. But honestly, I can’t remember a time I was in a pinch like that (and if I was I’d probably just grab a portable battery or charge in the car).
To me, the convenience of being able to plop a device down without having to think about placement is worth the trade-off of wireless charging speeds.
Constructive thoughts
I do have a couple of constructive ideas. First, if the Tesla Wireless Charger was just about an inch wider, it would be more flexible for households that have more than one large smartphone (6.8-inch or bigger).
Second, a removable cable would have been valuable. I know the integrated USB-C cord helps with the clean and minimal design. But it would be a tough pill to swallow to buy this premium charger and have the cord go bad. Especially if you have pets, make sure you’ve got the cable out of reach.
Tesla Wireless Charger wrap-up
All-in-all, I think Tesla and FreePower have delivered what Apple dreamed about for AirPower with an even higher-end design.
If free placement for multi-device wireless charging, a premium build, and a slick design are important to you, the Tesla Wireless Charging Platform has you covered.
Pros:
- All-metal frame plus soft Alcantara design
- Unique and minimalist aesthetic
- FreePower gen 2 works consistently and was really “place anywhere” in my testing
- Versatile setup with removable base
Cons:
- Non-removable USB-C cable
- Not as convenient multi-device charging for households with several large smartphones
- Premium price
I give the Tesla Wireless Charger a 4.5/5 rating. I think overall, it is successful in delivering a high-end design and premium experience.
You can pick it up direct from the company for a cool $300. And for those who previously placed an order, they should start arriving as soon as today.
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In a joint statement, French and German economists have called on governments to adopt “a common approach” to decarbonize European trucking fleets – and they’re calling for a focus on fully electric trucks, not hydrogen.
France and Germany are the two largest economies in the EU, and they share similar challenges when it comes to freight decarbonization. The two countries also share a border, and the traffic between the two nations generates major cross-border flows that create common externalities between the two countries.
At the same time, the EU’s transport sector has struggled to reduce emissions at the same rate as other industries – and road freight in particular is a major contributor to harmful carbon emissions issue due to that industry’s heavy reliance on diesel-powered trucks.
And for once, it seems like rail isn’t a viable option:
While rail remains competitive mainly for heavy, homogeneous goods over long distances. Most freight in Europe is indeed transported over distances of less than 200 km and involves consignment weights of up to 30 tonnes (GCEE, 2024) In most such cases, transportation by rail instead of truck is not possible or not competitive. Moreover, taking into account the goods currently transported in intermodal transport units over distances of more than 300 km, the modal shift potential from road to rail would be only 6% in Germany and less than 2% in France.
That leaves trucks – and, while numerous government incentives currently exist to promote the parallel development of both hydrogen and battery electric vehicle infrastructures, the study is clear in picking a winner.
“Policies should focus on battery-electric trucks (BET) as these represent the most mature and market-ready technology for road freight transport,” reads the the FGCEE statement. “Hence, to ramp-up usage of BET public funding should be used to accelerate the roll-out of fast-charging networks along major corridors and in private depots.”
The appeal was signed by the co-chair of the advisory body on the German side is the chairwoman of the German Council of Economic Experts, Monika Schnitzer. Camille Landais co-chairs the French side. On the German side, the appeal was signed by four of the five experts; Nuremberg-based energy economist Veronika Grimm (who also sits on the National Hydrogen Council, which is committed to promoting H2 trucks and filling stations) did not sign.
You can read an English version of the CAE FGCEE joint statement here.
Electrek’s Take
MAN Trucks’ CEO famously said that it was “impossible” for hydrogen to compete with BEVs, and even committed to building 200 hydrogen-powered semi truck to prove out that hypothesis.
He’s not alone. MAN’s board member for research and development, Frederik Zohm, said that the company is the one saying hydrogen still has years to go. “(MAN) continues to research fuel cell technology based on battery electrics,” he said, in a statement quoted by Hydrogen Insight, before another board member added that, “we (MAN) expect that, in the future, we will be able to best serve the vast majority of our customers’ transport applications with battery-electric trucks.”
With companies like Volvo and Renault and now Mercedes racking up millions of miles on their respective battery electric semi truck fleets, it’s no longer even close. EV is the way.
SOURCE | IMAGES: CAE FGCEE; via Electrive.
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GE Vernova has produced over half the turbines needed for SunZia Wind, which will be the largest wind farm in the Western Hemisphere when it comes online in 2026.
GE Vernova has manufactured enough turbines at its Pensacola, Florida, factory to supply over 1.2 gigawatts (GW) of the turbines needed for the $5 billion, 2.4 GW SunZia Wind, a project milestone. The wind farm will be sited in Lincoln, Torrance, and San Miguel counties in New Mexico.
At a ribbon-cutting event for Pensacola’s new customer experience center, GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik noted that since 2023, the company has invested around $70 million in the Pensacola factory.
The Pensacola investments are part of the announcement GE Vernova made in January that it will invest nearly $600 million in its US factories and facilities over the next two years to help meet the surging electricity demands globally. GE Vernova says it’s expecting its investments to create more than 1,500 new US jobs.
Vic Abate, CEO of GE Vernova Wind, said, “Our dedicated employees in Pensacola are working to address increasing energy demands for the US. The workhorse turbines manufactured at this world-class factory are engineered for reliability and scalability, ensuring our customers can meet growing energy demand.”
SunZia Wind and Transmission will create US history’s largest clean energy infrastructure project.
Read more: The largest clean energy project in US history closes $11B, starts full construction
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