Tesla car culture is known for its abundance of hacks and shortcuts, some of which have proven to be effective while others less so. One popular but ill-advised trick among Tesla owners, known as the “wet towel” trick, has recently prompted the Tesla Charging department to issue a public warning.
The trick involves wrapping a damp, cool cloth around the Supercharger cable handle with the belief that it will accelerate the charging process by cooling the handle and deceiving the temperature monitors into increasing the charging speed.
The rationale behind this trick is based on the idea that the Supercharger has temperature sensors designed to prevent overheating during the charging process.
Some Tesla owners speculate that by cooling the charging handle, they can trick these sensors into allowing a higher charging rate. However, this assumption overlooks the potential dangers involved in manipulating such a sophisticated system.
Tesla has clarified that wrapping a wet towel around the Supercharger handle can result in inaccurate temperature readings. If the sensor believes the temperature is lower than it actually is, the system could fail to prevent overheating, leading to a risk of damage or even fire. This warning emphasizes the importance of adhering to the designed safety protocols and not attempting to bypass the built-in safeguards.
Despite the obvious risks, it took Tesla more than two months to address the issue publicly. The warning came in response to a growing number of discussions about the trick on auto news websites and Reddit forums.
The Tesla Charging account on the social media platform X posted a message advising customers to stop using the “wet towel” trick and highlighting the dangers associated with it.
This incident highlights a broader issue within Tesla’s communication strategy. Since dissolving its public relations team in 2020, the company has struggled with timely and effective communication. Elon Musk’s decision to eliminate the PR department was based on his desire to avoid spending money on advertising and public relations.
However, this approach has led to significant communication gaps, such as the delayed response to the “wet towel” trick, which could have been addressed sooner with a dedicated PR team.
