Review: Tesla x FreePower gen 2 deliver Apple’s AirPower dream for any Qi device

Published

3 years ago

March 22, 2023

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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.

Tesla Wireless Charging Platform LED indicator

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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Environment

Here it is: the first-ever electric Type D school bus from Thomas Built

Published

4 hours ago

October 28, 2025

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Here it is: the first-ever electric Type D school bus from Thomas Built

Thomas Built Buses introduces Wattson, the company’s first electric Type D school bus

The school bus experts at Thomas Built have just released the first all-electric, square-bodied Type D school bus in the company’s storied history – and they’ve given their new bus a friendly, pun-tastic name. Kids, meet Wattson!

Properly called the Saf-T-Liner eHDX2 Wattson, this latest transit-style Type D bus from North Carolina-based Thomas Built combines a flat front, high seating capacity, and superior driver visibility with clean, quiet, electric power from Cummins Accelera.

“Wattson represents our next step in electrification,” said TJ Reed, president and CEO of Daimler Truck Specialty Vehicles. “(Wattson) reflects our belief that the best electric solutions are the ones that feel familiar, fit within your fleet and are built to last. That’s what we’ve heard from our customers, and that’s what we’re delivering.”

The bus offers 150 miles of estimated range thanks to a huge 246 kWh li-ion battery pack. That battery funnels electrons to the same, ultra-efficient 295 hp 14Xe eAxle with 750 lb-ft of peak tq as the recently-revealed Jouley, offering more than enough “get up and go” to get kids safely across multilane highways and up even the gnarliest rural mountain inclines. And, of course, without the freezing concerns that can stop a diesel fleet cold during extreme temperature drops.

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And, because Wattson is based heavily on Thomas Built’s existing Type D body, schools’ preferred upfitting solutions should bolt right in. “We know electrification can feel like a big step,” continued Reed. “With Wattson, we’re making that step easier by giving districts a familiar Type D solution they already trust – now in electric.”

Wattson is available for order now, with first deliveries scheduled for early 2026. The bus is capable of 120 kW DC fast charging, and is V2G capable.

Electrek’s Take

2026 Saf-T-Liner eHDX2 Wattson; by Thomas Built.

It’s almost universally accepted that school buses are prime candidates for electrification. They tend to operate on short, local routes, in stop-and-go traffic, and in close proximity with some of the most vulnerable populations in the country, in terms of respiratory illness and physical safety (just imagine a kid trying to yell “STOP!” at a bus driver and being heard over the din of noisy kids and a revving diesel). The fact that electric school buses can reduce a district’s operating costs and serve the public as a portable power center in an emergency are just icing on the electric cake.

Here’s hoping all our kids’ schools have a chance to trade in their gross diesel school bus for something like Thomas Built’s Wattson sooner than later.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Thomas Built.

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Environment

Bako Motors builds solar-powered tiny electric cars that sip sunshine

Published

5 hours ago

October 28, 2025

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Bako Motors builds solar-powered tiny electric cars that sip sunshine

Electric vehicles are known for plugging in – but one startup wants them to simply soak up the sun instead. Bako Motors is building compact electric cars and cargo vans with solar panels on the roof, letting them charge directly from sunlight and cut their dependence on wall sockets altogether.

It’s not an entirely novel idea. But unlike flashy startups like Aptera, Bako is approaching it with an actually commercially viable solution. And now the company is joining several other African-based EV makers hoping to help the continent leapfrog its way towards more sustainable transportation.

While most EVs still rely on grid charging – often from a fossil-fuel-heavy mix in Africa – Bako’s small vehicles can harvest free energy straight from the sky. According to founder and CEO Boubaker Siala, the roof-mounted solar cells can provide more than half of a vehicle’s daily energy needs. For its commercial model, the B-Van, that translates to about 50 km (31 mi) of solar-assisted driving per day, or roughly 17,000 km (10,500 mi) per year without ever plugging in.

Of course, drivers do still have the option of plugging into an EV charger to top up the battery more quickly, but soaking up extra sun all day may mean that many owners can get away with infrequent grid-charging stops.

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The B-Van can haul up to 400 kg (882 lb) of cargo and offers 100–300 km (62–186 mi) of total range, starting at around US $8,500. Its smaller sibling, the Bee, is a two-seat urban runabout with 70–120 km (44–75 mi) of range and a 44 km/h (27 mph) top speed, priced from US $6,200. A third model, the X-Van, is now on the drawing board with space for two passengers and extra cargo.

More than 40% of Bako’s parts are sourced locally – including the steel for the frame and lithium-iron-phosphate batteries – creating jobs while reducing import costs. A second, larger factory is set to open in 2026, boosting capacity to 8,000 vehicles per year for Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.

By combining affordability, local manufacturing, and solar charging, Bako Motors is carving out a niche that fits Africa’s climate and infrastructure realities. In a market where range anxiety and unreliable grids still hold many buyers back, these sun-sipping EVs might just be the independence-promoting solution that drivers need.

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Environment

Mining execs embrace ‘phenomenal’ rare earths interest from the Middle East

Published

8 hours ago

October 28, 2025

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Mining execs embrace 'phenomenal' rare earths interest from the Middle East

Guests enjoy the Fortune Global Forum 2025 Gala Dinner on October 26, 2025 at Diriyah Gate, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Cedric Ribeiro | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images

Mining executives have welcomed a sharp upswing in investor interest from the Middle East, as Gulf states seek to expand their critical mineral ambitions and take on established global players.

Critical minerals refer to a subset of materials considered essential to the energy transition. These resources, which tend to have a high risk of supply chain disruption, include metals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements.

“The interest in rare earths in this part of the world is phenomenal,” Tony Sage, CEO of U.S.-listed rare earths miner Critical Metals, said during a business trip through the Middle East.

“I didn’t expect it because, you know, they can’t mine it. There [are] really no discoveries in this area, but they want to be able to participate somehow in the downstream,” Sage told CNBC by telephone.

His comments come as policymakers and business leaders flock to Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, an event nicknamed as the “Davos in the Desert.”

The annual event, which got underway on Monday, is being held under the theme: “The Key to Prosperity: Unlocking New Frontiers of Growth.” It is expected this year’s FII will lean into areas such as artificial intelligence, particularly as the oil-rich kingdom continues with its mission to diversify its economy.

A wheel loader takes ore to a crusher at the MP Materials rare earth mine in Mountain Pass, California, U.S. January 30, 2020.

Steve Marcus | Reuters

Analysts say Gulf states, led by the likes of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are increasingly seeking to leverage their financial capital and geographic location to capture critical minerals market share.

A series of targeted acquisitions and international partnerships forms a key part of this regional strategy, according to an analysis by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), with Gulf states seeking to present themselves as alternative partners to Western nations.

Critical Metals, for its part, has partnered with Saudi Arabia’s Obeikan Group to build a large-scale lithium hydroxide processing plant in the kingdom.

A strategic push

Kevin Das, senior technical consultant at New Frontier Minerals, an Australian-based rare earths explorer, linked investor interest in rare earths from the Middle East to exponential growth in the field of AI.

“It’s no surprise that you’re seeing interest, not just in the Western world, but spreading into the Gulf States because I think people are realizing that we’re probably on the cusp of an AI boom,” Das told CNBC by telephone.

“If you start to see the emergence of robotics, every robot is going to need these rare earths. And I think the supply is only going to get tighter,” he added.

Rare earth elements have emerged as a key bargaining chip in the ongoing U.S.-China trade war, although global stocks rallied on Monday amid investor hopes of thawing tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

U.S. officials have touted the prospect of China delaying strict rare earth export controls as part of a high-stakes summit between President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping on Thursday.

Rare earths refer to 17 elements on the periodic table whose atomic structure gives them special magnetic properties. These elements are widely used in the automotive, robotics and defense sectors.

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a “coffee ceremony” at the Saudi Royal Court on May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Win Mcnamee | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Shaun Bunn, managing director at London-listed Empire Metals, said his company had also received considerable investor interest from the Middle East.

“I think that it is very much part of the kingdom’s strategic push to diversify away from its oil. I mean, they are always going to make the most money out of oil at the moment at least, but they are trying to diversify,” Bunn told CNBC by telephone.

Critical mineral ambitions

Analysts have flagged a number of barriers facing the Gulf states’ push for critical minerals, however, noting that regional players remain marginal producers at present.

“Many of Saudi Arabia’s mining ventures remain in early or even conceptual stages, and the country still depends on foreign partners for expertise, such that it may take years for Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf states more generally, to scale up enough to dent Chinese dominance or to fully meet Western demand,” Asna Wajid, research analyst at IISS, said in an analysis published in late July.

“Many in the West, moreover, may be wary of replacing their dependence on China with dependence on the Gulf states, which already exercise considerable strategic leverage due to their oil and gas supplies,” Wajid said.

China is the undisputed leader of the critical minerals supply chain, producing roughly 70% of the world’s supply of rare earths and processing almost 90%, which means it is importing these materials from other countries and processing them.