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In response to a lethal shooting at a Tesla Supercharger in Idaho this summer, the electric automaker is rolling out an over-the-air update that allows vehicles to shift into Drive and leave the location while still plugged in.
The Tesla Charging account on X announced the new feature, called Emergency Drive Away, earlier this week. It demonstrated how the cable breaks away, ensuring that you don’t take the charger with you. It’s not a perfect solution, but at least it gives drivers the ability to override the shift lock-out.
All you need to do is shift into “Drive,” at which point an alert message will pop up on the car’s touchscreen. Simply confirm and drive away. The charging connector is designed to break away, although the piece falling to the ground in Tesla’s demonstration video indicates this is not done without damage. Indeed, in a reply, Tesla notes that this feature is “intended for emergency use only” and that it “will damage your vehicle and the Supercharger.” The automaker also warns of “additional penalties” from “deliberate misuse.”
Emergency Drive Away is rolling out now as an over-the-air update. It requires software version 2026.38.3 to use and doesn’t work with pre-2021 Model S sedans and Model X crossovers. It’s also limited to U.S. Superchargers.
Tesla Charging via X
Tesla has used its OTA capabilities to launch some niche software features over the years, but this one is in response to a real-life tragedy. Maybe it’ll come up with a practical way to autonomously unplug a charging cable, helping drivers who find themselves in emergency situations so they can calmly but quickly leave the scene without leaving their cars. It could also help disabled drivers who might have difficulty physically wrangling heavy DC fast-charging cables. Tesla knows that’s a need, which is why it developed a robotic charging arm that was too creepy to put into production.
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Stephen has always been passionate about cars, and managed to turn that passion into a career as a freelance automotive journalist. When he’s not handling weekend coverage for The Drive, you can find him looking for a new book to read.
