Tesla’s ‘one-time’ FSD transfer scheme is back for the fourth time

Published

1 year ago

October 11, 2024

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Tesla will once again allow current owners to transfer Full Self-Driving to a new vehicle purchase, even though it previously said that this program would never return after it ended for the third time 11 days ago.

Tesla has been selling its FSD system for many years now, to the point where many early owners have been through multiple vehicles without the software actually being delivered in its full working state.

Those owners are able to use Tesla’s Supervised FSD system, but no Tesla owner has yet been able to use an actual full self-driving system that lets the car drive itself with no human intervention.

And so, there has been a constant drumbeat from many of those owners, wondering why they should have to purchase the same software again, when they get a new car, if the software was never delivered from the previous vehicle.

This is particularly tough given that the price of buying FSD now is higher than it was for many of those early owners – though it has gone back down in price recently.

And so, last year Tesla started allowing FSD transfers – but only for two months, and then it would happen never again.

It was seen at the time as a way to stoke demand, rather than an example of Tesla “doing the right thing” and letting owners retain eventual access to the software they paid for but were never delivered.

Then, after that period lapsed, Tesla eventually brought back the FSD transfer this year, allowing it for new orders until the end of Q1. And then, once again, that “one-time offer” was brought back. After which Tesla was asked whether FSD transfer could be made permanent, and the answer was a flat “No.”

Then, at Tesla’s last shareholder meeting, a questioner asked if we could have FSD transfer for “one more quarter,” rather than permanent. Musk responded after some hesitation, and said “okay, one more quarter.”

Tesla later said that this scheme would only last until August 31, rather than the actual end of the quarter, but then extended it until September 30th, which does match the end of Q3. So, the program ended 11 days ago.

But now the scheme is back, once again, after being cancelled for the last time three times already.

The specifics of the program are available over on Tesla’s website, and we’ve also seen reference to the program in the Tesla app. It technically began yesterday – meaning that if you got a car between October 1 and October 9, I guess you’re out of luck.

The scheme is supposed to remain active until December 31, the last day of the fiscal quarter and year. Just in case anybody wondered whether this is nothing but another ploy to boost end-of-quarter sales (just kidding, nobody wondered about that).

Electrek’s Take

I’ve written almost this exact same article before, and I’m going to say all the same things again, because nothing has changed.

As I’ve said before: we should not have to have this discussion every quarter.

Until FSD is able to follow through on its promise, transfers should be free for anyone who has bought the software.

Any other company that pre-sold software and then refused to deliver it would not be looked kindly upon, particularly if that software was thousands of dollars and many years late, and if customers were required to re-buy it for every piece of hardware they purchase to run it on.

Yes, people can use something that Tesla calls “FSD” right now, and the system is gradually getting better.

But it does not fully drive the car, doesn’t work without intervention, can’t be summoned across country, and can’t be used as a revenue-generating robotaxi. In fact, Tesla just announced a whole new robotaxi product, leaving some to think that past vehicles would never gain autonomous capability – but at that event, Musk reiterated that current Teslas would eventually gain “unsupervised” FSD capability. And that capability will come within about a year, as he’s been saying for roughly a decade now.

It’s time to stop stringing owners along. If the problem is difficult, and more difficult than you thought, that’s one thing. But making people buy additional licenses to software you already sold them and did not yet deliver is not acceptable.

The right thing would be to make transfers permanent until level 5 autonomy is delivered. Even “effective permanence” of continually-rolling offers like this are more about stoking demand. Tesla is acting like a rug store that is perpetually going out of business.

But if Tesla won’t do the right thing, maybe the law will finally force them to follow through on the promises they’ve made. There are currently several cases in court relating to Tesla’s FSD false advertising that could have sweeping effects on how Tesla sells this software and what rights its owners might have. Stay tuned for the results of those.

If you’re looking to take advantage of this “limited time offer” (lol), feel free to use our Tesla referral code for $1000 off a new Tesla.

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Environment

Fortescue Infinity Train gets 14.5 MWh battery that never needs charging [update]

Published

2 hours ago

December 15, 2025

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Fortescue Infinity Train gets 14.5 MWh battery that never needs charging [update]

Fortescue Infinity Train in Pilbara - world's largest EV

Fortescue has taken the wraps off a prototype of its proposed “Infinity Train” electric locomotive, making the 1,100 km (about 685 miles) trip from Perth to the Pilbara and marking a major milestone in the decarbonization of the company’s heavy haul operations.

UPDATE 15DEC2025: now there are two!

This week, two of Fortescue battery-electric locomotives began operating at the company’s Pilbara mines in Australia, where the so-called Infinity Trains (co-developed with Caterpillar’s Progress Rail division) began regular duty.

“It’s not every day you welcome not just one, but two of the world’s largest battery-electric locomotives into your operations,” said Fortescue Metals CEO, Dino Otranto, on LinkedIn. “[I] can’t wait to see these in motion soon!”

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The two new trains are now fully operational assets, packing almost unimaginably massive 14.5 MWh battery packs that were charged once with grid power upon deployment, and which will (in theory) remain at a usable state of charge indefinitely thanks to a cleverly applied combination of gravity, regenerative braking, and human intelligence.

You can read the original article about the Infinity Train prototype completing its first 1,100 km (~685 miles) trip across the Pilbara, below, then let us know what you think of Fortescue’s latest fuel-saving efforts in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Our prototype battery electric locomotive has made the 1,100 kilometre journey from Perth to the Pilbara – a major milestone in the decarbonisation of our heavy haul operations. — Infinity Train prototype; by Fortescue Rail.

Co-developed with the locomotive experts at Downer Group, Fortescue revealed its concept for a battery electric “Infinity Train” back in March of 2022. At the time, the company promised a “world’s first” iron ore train capable of fully charging its batteries through regenerative braking. The two companies claimed the clever technology would create a self-sustaining, zero-emission rail system powered entirely by the force of gravity during the train’s loaded downhill travels.

This week, the concept went from the drawing board to the real world, completing an 1,100 km trip across Australia and proving itself to be up to the task of handling the grueling demands of Fortescue’s massive mining operations.

“We’re thrilled to see our battery electric locomotive prototype arrive in the Pilbara,” said Ellie Coates, CEO of Fortescue Zero. She added that the achievement, using zero fossil fuels, “represent(s) a major step in Fortescue’s journey to Real Zero.”

The Fortescue Infinity Train uses the energy produced by slowing the loaded train on downhill sections of the company’s 385 mile private, heavy-haul rail network to recharge its battery systems. That energy is enough to bring the unloaded train back to the mine, eliminating the need for external charging infrastructure or additional renewable energy sources, making the train almost entirely self-sufficient.

Fortescue says the deployment of the Infinity Train concept at its mines will eliminate more than 82 million liters of diesel fuel consumption (about 21 million gallons, which ChatGPT tells me amounts to about 235,200 tons of CO₂ emissions).

That change alone would eliminate about 11% of Scope 1 emissions annually for Fortescue all on its own, putting it well on its way to its stated goal of achieving “Real Zero” emissions-free operations.

Electrek’s Take

Infinity Train on the rails; via Fortescue.

Using gravity to charge up heavily-laden mining vehicles on downhill runs is an idea that’s been put into practice for years, with great success wherever the topography allows (since 2017, at least). Combining that clever use of gravity, traction braking, and battery storage for use on a rail system like this just seems smart, and it makes me think we’re just scratching the surface of all the clever ways electrification and battery storage will eventually get put to use.

I wonder what would happen if you threw some battery electric rail cars into the mix, as well!? You guys are smart, head down to the comments and let me know (and, while you’re there, help me check ChatGPT’s math on those carbon emissions).

SOURCE | IMAGES: Fortescue, via LinkedIn.

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Environment

E-quipment highlight: Develon DX250LCE-7 electric crawler excavator

Published

2 hours ago

December 15, 2025

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E-quipment highlight: Develon DX250LCE-7 electric crawler excavator

Develon launches new range of electric excavators

Develon is kicking off the holidays with seven new or updated electric excavators, led by its seriously impressive flagship offering: the new 25‑ton DX250LCE-7 battery-electric crawler excavator developed by HD Hyundai.

When Hyundai acquired the Doosan Infracore equipment division back in 2023, it rebranded the orange machines as “Develon” in a move that signaled a new era of forward-looking thinking for the Korean company — and, last week, we got some of the first tangible results of that new thinking debuted with the launch of seven new or updated electric excavators, including the flagship DX250LCE-7 25-ton model shown here.

Develon says its new electric machines offer identical performance to their diesel counterparts, while delivering significant reductions in emissions, noise, and vibration — and that the breadth and scope of the brand’s new, zero-emission lineup underscores its continued commitment to sustainable innovation in the heavy equipment space.

“Moving forward, Hyundai Infracore is focusing on innovation and smart technology, as well as productivity and fuel efficiency. I think the timing very good for us, with exciting new technologies on the market,” Young-cheul Cho, President and CEO of Develon parent company HD Hyundai Infracore, told Construction Europe at last summer’s Intermat construction show. “Our next generation machines will use AI and have sensors that will be reliable in all environments and all weathers, which will improve safety.”

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The new Develon DX250LCE-7 brings Cho’s Intermat vision to life with specs that meet or beat the diesel-powered DX255LC-7’s capabilities in a quiet, zero-emission package.

Starting with horsepower, the DX250LCE-7’s electric motors pot out about 200 hp (comparable to the diesel) while tipping the scales at a ~26 metric ton operating weight. Bucket capacity matches the diesel at 1.4 cubic meters, too — but the Develon’s standout feature is its oversized battery pack, offering up to 12 hours of continuous runtime on a single charge under typical conditions (kWh capacity hasn’t been released), with DC fast-charging options that can get it back in action at full capacity in under two hours — making it ideal for a full-day of moving dirt.

North American pricing and availability should be released in Q1.

Electrek’s Take

As demand for low-emission solutions rises throughout Europe and SE Asia, the latest electric excavators from Develon and parent company Hyundai provide an ideal balance between eco-friendly operation and real-world job site requirements – especially when fitted with articulating buckets and other versatile implements.

Regardless of who is in power in the US, the fact is that these electric machines deliver quiet, efficient performance in challenging environments, cutting both emissions and noise while maintaining productivity and improving both operators’ safety and working conditions. They’re winners all the way.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Develon; via ELM Group.

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Environment

BYD increases EV battery warranty to 8 years/250,000 km, surpassing Tesla’s

Published

2 hours ago

December 15, 2025

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BYD increases EV battery warranty to 8 years/250,000 km, surpassing Tesla's

BYD is making a significant move to boost confidence in its electric vehicles in Europe. The Chinese automaker has announced a major update to its warranty terms, extending the battery coverage to 8 years or 250,000 km (approx. 155,000 miles), whichever comes first.

This new policy significantly outpaces the industry standard and puts pressure on competitors like Tesla and Volkswagen to follow suit.

The announcement was made via BYD Europe’s official channels today, confirming that the new warranty terms apply to its lineup of “New Energy Vehicles” (NEVs) in the region: