Trusting Your Tesla's Navigation System: Secrets Behind Unusual Route Requests and How They Could Benefit You

The Mystery of the Navigation's Request

During a recent road trip from New Mexico to Michigan, a Tesla driver encountered an unexpected request from their car's navigation system. Upon arriving at the Supercharger in Collinsville, located in the St Louis area, the navigation requested that they skip the next two Superchargers and instead charge up enough to reach the Dwight Supercharger, which was approximately 220 miles away. This seemed like a stretch, especially considering it was winter and the driver was on snow tires. Charging times had been relatively short up until this point, with legs between Superchargers being comfortably shorter. The navigation suggested charging for 50 minutes to make the journey possible.

The driver was left wondering why the navigation was suggesting such a long charge time and distance leg. They speculated about potential traffic or Supercharger issues but could not come up with a definitive answer. However, despite their initial skepticism, they decided to trust the navigation and see where it would take them.

Possible Explanations for the Navigation's Request

One theory put forth by another Tesla owner is that the navigation may have been factoring in potentially high demand at other Superchargers along the way. It's possible that there were known issues at those locations that could cause delays or even prevent access altogether. By skipping those Superchargers and charging up fully at Collinsville, the driver would be able to avoid any potential problems down the road.

Another suggestion made by a different Tesla owner is that the navigation may be taking into account how many Superchargers are currently available at each location. In newer versions of the software, pins on the map indicate how many chargers are currently available at each station. If one location has fewer available chargers than others, it may make sense for the navigation to suggest skipping it in favor of a more reliable option further down the road.

It's also worth noting that during Tesla's 2023 Investor Day presentation, they discussed how they now attempt to avoid contention at Superchargers by taking usage into account when making navigation suggestions. This means that if certain stations are experiencing high demand or congestion, the navigation may suggest alternative options to help drivers avoid unnecessary delays.

Trusting Your Car's Navigation System

Despite some initial skepticism, the driver ultimately decided to trust their car's navigation system and follow its instructions. While it can be tempting to second-guess technology or rely solely on personal experience and intuition, there are times when it makes sense to defer to your car's built-in systems.

Tesla owners often tout the accuracy and reliability of their cars' navigational capabilities, citing features like real-time traffic updates and Supercharger availability information as major benefits of owning a Tesla vehicle. By trusting these systems and following their guidance, drivers can ensure a smoother and more efficient driving experience overall.

Of course, there will always be situations where human judgment comes into play - after all, no computer system is perfect. But as technology continues to improve and become more sophisticated, we can expect our cars' navigational capabilities to become even more accurate and helpful in guiding us on our journeys. So next time your car suggests an unusual route or charging strategy, consider giving it a chance - you might just be pleasantly surprised by how well it knows the road ahead.