Electric vehicle giant Tesla plans to launch a software update in the second quarter of the year as it seeks to cut Sentry Mode’s power consumption to solve the battery drain issue.
Plan details
Tesla’s Powertrain and Energy Senior Vice President Drew Baglino announced that the American electric automaker is currently developing a new software update due in Q2 2024.
The announcement is in response to a query from X user @jbella on February 14, asking about Tesla’s plans to address the “vampire drain” while sentry mode is active.
Tesla believes that this imminent software update will reduce Sentry Mode’s power consumption by a whopping 40%, which affects range and battery life.
Sentry mode’s function
Sentry Mode is basically a technology that monitors and records all occurrences near an equipped Tesla car. It works as an advanced security system that employs cameras and sensors to detect suspicious activities surrounding the vehicle.
It autonomously turns on the car’s headlights and alarms when it detects a potential threat, informing people near the area that the system has started recording. It also warns owners by displaying a message on the in-car touchscreen and via the Tesla mobile app. The saved footages instantly go to a USB drive, assuming the owner installed one.
Therefore, it significantly helps people in solving various cases from vandalism to liability in accidents.
Issue and Tesla’s fix
Despite its safety benefits, Sentry Mode is a system that operates even while the car is not technically running. Therefore, it uses battery life that drains the battery life of Tesla cars.
In response, Tesla will improve the Sentry Mode’s power consumption and efficiency. Current and future owners can benefit from the upgrade, enabling them to better protect their cars’ batteries.
The imminent software update can urge owners to finally start activating their cars’ Sentry Mode without thinking about the energy it consumes, as some choose to renounce the feature to protect their batteries.
