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IT Home reported on October 28 that Tesla’s driverless Robotaxi vehicles can already drive themselves into Supercharger stations, but staff still have to plug in the charging connector manually. In the future, that job may be done by Tesla’s humanoid robot Optimus.
In a recent interview with Munro Live, Tesla Vice President of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy and Cybercab project lead Eric Earley said Tesla plans to use the Optimus humanoid robot to plug and unplug Robotaxis while continuing to develop a more highly automated wireless charging system. The two said, “Hopefully Optimus can help us do this very soon.”
Driverless taxis are still charged by people
For now, Tesla still relies on staff to charge its driverless Robotaxis manually. A recent video filmed at a Supercharger station in Austin, United States, shows Tesla employees plugging in Cybercab and Model Y driverless taxis after they arrive. If a vehicle does not stop close enough to the charger, staff also move it into a suitable position.
At this stage, Supercharger stations are the only charging option available to Cybercab because the model does not support AC charging. Cybercab therefore still has a North American Charging Standard (NACS) charging port hidden in its rear bumper.
Moravy and Earley explained in the interview that the charging port was retained because, at least for now, Cybercab still needs to use existing charging infrastructure.
Wireless charging remains the ultimate goal
Optimus’s role in this plan is more of an interim solution. Tesla says that, as new infrastructure is gradually built, it is developing a more highly automated way to charge vehicles, and Cybercab was designed from the outset to support such technology.
IT Home noted that earlier this year Tesla received approval from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its Cybercab wireless charging system. The company also plans to build a Robotaxi charging hub in Austin with 80 wireless chargers.
Once this system is in use, vehicles will no longer need people or Optimus robots to plug in or unplug charging connectors.
However, that goal is unlikely to be achieved in the near term. Tesla has only recently started early production of the Optimus humanoid robot at its Fremont factory, with the first deliveries to business customers planned for 2027.
Even if Optimus begins working at Robotaxi charging stations before then, Cybercab wireless charging technology is also unlikely to be deployed next year, judging by current progress. Tesla may need even more time to bring the system to the maturity and reliability required for actual operations.
Robots have long been part of Tesla’s plans
Tesla’s plan to use robots in its Robotaxi service is not a recent idea.
The company has previously demonstrated robots used to clean cars and begun installing related equipment at Robotaxi operations hubs. These hubs will serve as central stops for the driverless taxi fleet, where vehicles can charge between trips and receive routine maintenance.
However, this is the first time Tesla has explicitly mentioned incorporating Optimus into Robotaxi operations.
The robots may be used for more than charging. Asked whether Optimus would also help maintain the fleet, Moravy and Earley said it “might be responsible for vehicle maintenance and might also be involved in deliveries.”
The two also described Cybercab, Optimus and Robovan as important examples of the development of physical AI, saying, “The combination of these three will be outstanding.”
For now, Tesla employees will continue charging Robotaxis manually. As Optimus gradually begins working at Supercharger stations, Tesla will also need to roll out wireless charging technology across its Robotaxi operating markets to ultimately automate the entire process, from vehicles driving themselves into charging areas to completing a charge.