During the peak crypto craze early in 2021, owner Siraj Raval used his 2018 Tesla Model 3 to run a free cryptocurrencies mining software on his Apple M1 chip powered Mac mini and was netting as much as $800 per month (roughly Rs.60,000). Raval says he powered the computer by connecting an inverter to the 12-volt power connection in the car’s center console.
Raval used his 2018 Tesla Model 3 to mine cryptocurrencies in a variety of ways, according to CNBC. He attached five interconnected graphics processing units (GPUs) to the frunk of his Tesla and ran them off the electric sedan’s internal battery, in addition to running the M1 Mac mini from the center console power connection.
The action put him at risk of voiding the car’s warranty, but Raval thinks it was worth it. After all, mining with a Tesla was no better than connecting the computer to any other power source.
Mining cryptocurrencies necessitates the establishment of a network for a blockchain ledger, which is time-consuming and energy-intensive. This is far too expensive. The man who mines Bitcoin and Ethereum worked out a way to save money on electricity by charging his Macbook with electricity from his electric car.
The Tesla Model 3 is already designed to deliver more than 100kWh of power, and everything connected to the car that requires power will only need a portion of that. The move is comparable to the concept of electric vehicles (EVs) providing backup power to the grid and other electrical appliances when needed.
Several manufacturers, including Nissan, Hyundai, and Toyota, are developing technologies that will allow their electric vehicles to reverse power to the grid or to electric appliances as needed. However, running a computer for cryptocurrency mining is a one-of-a-kind experience.
