What is the difference between Tesla EAP and FSD?
3 Answers
Tesla EAP and FSD differ in the following ways: EAP is the Enhanced Autopilot system, while FSD is the Full Self-Driving system. EAP is a system in Tesla vehicles that enables features such as Summon and Autopark. FSD, which stands for Full Self-Driving, is an advanced version of the Autopilot system, allowing Tesla vehicles to achieve full autonomous driving capabilities. Tesla is an American electric vehicle and energy company that manufactures and sells electric cars, solar panels, and energy storage devices. Tesla's vehicle lineup includes the Model 3, Model S, Model Y, and Model X, among others. The FSD chip developed by Tesla for autonomous driving can process up to 2100 frames per second.
I've been driving the Model Y for almost two years, and there's definitely some nuance to the differences between EAP and FSD. EAP is essentially an upgraded version of the basic Autopilot, with the most practical features being automatic lane changes for overtaking on highways and automatic parking. I use the Autopilot feature every day on my commute, and when I signal to change lanes, the car will do it automatically if it's safe. On the other hand, FSD is much more expensive and adds key features like traffic light recognition, automatic turns on city streets, and the ability to find parking spots and summon the car. But honestly, while the traffic light function of FSD works in China, it often requires manual intervention at smaller intersections. And that full self-driving capability that's been talked about for years is still in its early testing phase. If you're after practicality, EAP is really enough—I've seen several owners who bought FSD end up refunding it and switching back to EAP.
Personally, I think cost-effectiveness depends on your daily driving scenarios. The EAP costs 46,000 yuan more, mainly offering highway navigation-assisted driving and summon features. The automatic lane change is particularly suitable for frequent highway driving. For example, I drive intercity highways every week, and the lane change assistance is indeed a great convenience. The FSD is over 60,000 yuan more expensive, with core additions like automatic turning on urban roads and traffic light recognition. But honestly, using it in the city can be nerve-wracking, especially when encountering erratic e-bikes. Plus, the Full Self-Driving Beta hasn’t been released in China yet. If your budget allows, I’d recommend getting the EAP first and subscribing to FSD monthly when the technology matures—it’s more cost-effective since the hardware is already in place.
