Tesla adds emergency drive-away option at US Superchargers
The feature lets eligible drivers shift into Drive while still connected, with Tesla warning that doing so may damage the vehicle and charger.
Tesla has introduced Emergency Drive Away, allowing drivers to move their vehicle while it remains connected to a Supercharger in an emergency. The feature currently works only at US Superchargers.
Drivers must hold the brake pedal and activate the option on the vehicle’s screen. It requires the latest software and is unavailable on pre-2021 Model S and Model X vehicles.
Tesla warns that driving away with the cable attached may damage both the car and the Supercharger. The company says deliberate misuse may bring additional penalties.
Engadget reported that Tesla said electrical and civil costs could reach $25,000. The report does not clarify how those costs or penalties would be assessed, or whether drivers would be charged for using the feature in a genuine emergency.
The launch follows calls from Tesla owners for a way to leave a charging site quickly in an emergency. Engadget reported that a driver was shot inside a Tesla taxi charging at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, a couple of months earlier.
