While it continues to expand its network of Supercharger DC fast-charging stations, Tesla Motors is looking at ways to improve those stations.
That's led it down a rather unusual path.
The company is testing a prototype charging station with a snake-like cord that automatically plugs into a waiting electric car.
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Tesla posted video of the serpentine device on Twitter earlier this week, showing the charge cord do its somewhat creepy dance.
It starts in an upright position, then bends and wiggles its way into alignment with the charge port in a Model S sedan's taillight.
While technology is impressive, actually watching it in action is a little unsettling.
Tesla automated charging-station prototype video screencap
Musk first discussed the automated charging station on Twitter back in December.
At the time, he said Tesla was working on a charger that "automatically moves out from the wall and connects like a solid metal snake. For realz."
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It turns out he wasn't exaggerating.
Tesla would not say if it has any plans to install the automated charging systems at any of its public Supercharger stations, or discuss any future plans for the device.
But we know it's not the only new piece of charging hardware Tesla has experimented with lately.
Tesla Supercharger site in Newburgh, New York, up and running - June 2015
Liquid cooling could potentially allow more current to flow through a cable of a given size without overheating, eliminating a bottleneck in the transmission of power to a car's battery pack.
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Even if quicker charging doesn't result, liquid cooling could allow for thinner, lighter cables that would be less cumbersome to handle.
And while it works on side projects like automated or liquid-cooled charging equipment, Tesla continues to build more Supercharger sites, giving its customers more flexibility in planning long-distance trips.
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