Tesla's 4680 cells and firmware gains enable faster Supercharging
In-house battery improvements and software updates push peak Supercharging to 500kW and cut 10-80% charge times by minutes.
Tesla has achieved faster Supercharging speeds through iterative improvements to its in-house 4680 battery cells and the firmware that controls them, according to @wmorrill3 on X. The improvements have enabled the network to hit 500kW peak charging rates while significantly reducing charge times in the critical 10 to 80 percent window—cutting that segment by several minutes.
The gains stack on top of each other. Multiple refinements to the cells themselves, combined with firmware enhancements, both contributed to the charging performance leap. Beyond raw speed, the upgrades also deliver efficiency improvements across Tesla's fleet.
Faster charging times, especially in the high-utilization midrange of the battery curve, are a core metric for Supercharger network value and owner experience. The combination of hardware and software optimization underscores Tesla's strategy of controlling both the battery supply and the charging logic in-house.
"In-house 4680 cells got better, several times actually. And the firmware controls improved as well - both enabled faster Supercharging. Hitting 500kW peak and more importantly shrinking the 10% to 80% charge times by several minutes. Not to mention every efficiency improvement"— X · @wmorrill3