Tag Archives: starlink

Tesla quietly launched a new trailer with solar panels (and Starlink) to boost your EV’s overall range

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It isn’t quite like Tesla to do anything without fanfare, yet at the IdeenExpo in Hannover Germany, the EV giant unveiled a prototype of yet another product they’re working on – a trailer that attaches to the back of your EV, with fold-out solar panels and battery packs that help expand your EV’s range. Designed presumably for the Cybertruck (given that it’s more purpose-built for the outdoors), the trailer also comes with a SpaceX Starlink internet terminal, helping extend internet connectivity along with your Tesla’s overall range capacity.

Designer: Tesla

These images come from Twitter user Tesla Adri, who broke the story of sorts, given that it occurred at a lesser-known expo in Germany. There’s no official name to this contraption, although calling it the Tesla Solar Range Extending Trailer seems to encompass exactly what the device does. Looking at just the image above, it’s pretty clear that this automotive accessory is straight-up massive. It’s sized like a pretty large trailer, and the kind you’d feel more comfortable hooking to the back of a Cybertruck rather than a slim, lean Model 3. The trailer sports a set of fold-out panels solar panels that charge a massive battery pack below it. This can, in turn, be used as a supplementary power source for your EV, extending its overall range. Visitors were also quick to note that the trailer also had a built-in SpaceX Starlink satellite internet receiver, giving you a seamless internet connection no matter where you are on the globe. Sounds like the ultimate off-road camping accessory if you ask me. Or something a prepper would buy.

“It’s not clear why Tesla built the trailer and unveiled it at the show, but the automaker is not expected to sell it to the public any time soon. If those are all 300W panels (and they look a little small for that), then the optimum output would be 2.7kW. That means it would generate less than 50 miles of range a day extended or a third of that folded up”, reported Electrek in their coverage. It’s presumed that this prototype was designed more of an easter egg designed to attract visitors, rather than actually project the company’s intent. However, only time will tell. I’m still waiting on the Roadster that Elon announced almost 5 years ago…

Images via Tesla Adri

The post Tesla quietly launched a new trailer with solar panels (and Starlink) to boost your EV’s overall range first appeared on Yanko Design.

The new Apple iPhone 13 may ‘connect directly to satellites’, allowing you to get cellular coverage even in remote areas

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Steve Jobs was famous for disrupting industries. He started with computers, then music, then cellphones, and finally revolutionized the digital marketplace with the app store… Cook continued that legacy by further disrupting watches, and then conveniently reimagining payments, through the newly launched Apple Card. Seems like the iPhone 13 is set to disrupt connectivity as we know it, being one of the first consumer-grade phones to have direct satellite connectivity.

The news comes as a rumor from renowned analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo. While it’s common to make predictions only to have them fall slightly short, Kuo’s analyses and ‘leaks’ have an incredibly high success rate… and the veteran analyst just dropped a big bomb-shell a few hours ago – that the latest iPhone might have the ability to make satellite calls.

In a note to investors, Kuo made claims that the new iPhone would be able to connect directly with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites thanks to a customized Qualcomm X60 baseband chip. Low Earth Orbit satellites recently gained popularity, thanks to Elon Musk’s efforts with his Starlink project – an initiative to flood the lower atmosphere with satellites that would provide internet to all corners of the globe. Operating at a level much closer to earth than traditional satellites, LEOs tend to avoid some of the more common pitfalls of satellite internet, like high latency, and frequent blackouts. Starlink is one of many companies launching these LEO satellites into space, and Kuo hints that the Qualcomm X60 chip in the iPhone 13 may just support some form of satellite connectivity. In layman’s terms, this would translate to better 5G coverage in areas that may not have the 5G towers or infrastructure… or even 3G or 4G connectivity for that matter. Sounds interesting, although my doubt remains… how much more expensive would this connectivity-feature be?

Featured Image via MacRumors

SpaceX wins contract to make US missile tracking satellites

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SpaceX continues to get cozier with the US military. The private spaceflight outfit has won a Space Development Agency contract (via Space News and The Verge) to build missile warning and tracking satellites for the Defense Department. The roughly $1...