Tesla Heated Wiper Blades: A Scam?

Tesla loves to promote so-called new innovation: heated windshield wipers. But what do they actually involve?

As a brand at the forefront of innovation, or even claiming to be disruptive, Tesla does not want to mechanically reproduce what automotive experts have been doing for a century out of habit. No, everything must be questioned and reinvented. This is an interesting approach that encourages self-reflection.

Some topics, however, do not deserve this level of attention, such as windshield wipers. These are often criticized by Tesla owners, despite their basic technology being quite simple to implement. Nevertheless, customers are often annoyed by ill-timed or illogical activation, as well as bothersome sweeping noises or occasionally insufficient defrosting.

To divert attention, the Californian manufacturer, whose true excellence lies in energy management, highlights heating windshield wipers in their communication. What exactly are they?

Expensive Heated Wipers?

Skepticism is age-old, and here some scammers are taking advantage of it by offering aftermarket heated wipers compatible with existing windshield wiper systems. While a standard model costs around 30 euros (like here on Tesla’s official shop), some offers reach up to 200 euros!

In fact, Tesla’s trick, already used by Ford since 1995 and adopted by many others such as Toyota, Jaguar, Subaru, etc., involves a windshield embedded with filaments through which an electric current flows. This flow generates heat, sometimes up to 40°C, which then diffuses throughout the glass. This windshield has thermal shock-resistant properties and is not damaged by rapid defrosting.

Although energy-consuming, this system is very effective in regions—North America and mountainous parts of Europe—where cold persists for most of the year.

Regarding heated windshield wipers, they are essentially just a zone within the windshield where the wipers rest with a higher density of filaments. They heat the rubber blades to prevent ice from sticking, facilitate melting accumulated snow, and allow snow to slide off more easily. Nothing revolutionary; the rear window has been using this same principle for decades. The same applies to defrosting mirrors.

Watch out for the cost of the windshield?

In the case of Tesla, the mobile app allows you to access climate controls to defrost your car remotely. Ideally, when it’s still plugged into the charger, so as not to deplete the battery’s energy, especially in cold weather.

Every part has its downside; this highly effective heated windshield can be expensive to replace. Its manufacturing and installation complexity cannot be overlooked. But rest assured, windshield wipers are standard components.

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