Tesla is rolling out a new Emergency Drive Away feature following the fatal shooting at an Idaho Supercharger station in August, allowing drivers to move their vehicles while they remain connected to a charging cable during an emergency.
New Tesla Feature Overrides Charging Safety Lock
Teslas currently use a safety interlock that detects when a charging cable is connected and prevents the vehicle from shifting into drive or reverse. The new software update allows drivers to override that system through Emergency Drive Away.
The feature comes after a shooter entered a Supercharger station in Idaho and began firing at EVs while they were charging. The incident fatally wounded 66-year-old Dale Schultz of Salt Lake City, Utah, while he was in his Tesla.
The shooting highlighted the fact that Teslas and many other EVs cannot normally be driven while a charging cable remains connected.
Emergency Drive Away Comes With Restrictions
Tesla has added safeguards intended to limit Emergency Drive Away to genuine emergencies. In a Tesla Charging X post last week, the company said using the feature will cause damage to both the vehicle and the Supercharger.
Tesla also warned that camera recordings are automatically sent to the company when the feature is used. Deliberate misuse can result in penalties.
How Tesla Emergency Drive Away Works
Drivers who need to leave quickly while their Tesla is charging can shift the vehicle into drive. A warning prompt then appears on the screen, requiring the driver to hold the brake pedal and tap “Activate” to confirm.
The vehicle can then be driven away, with the charging cable breaking away in the process. A demonstration on the Tesla Charging X page shows limited damage resulting from the maneuver, primarily involving the cable.
Which Teslas Can Use the Feature?
Emergency Drive Away requires software version 2026.38.3. The feature does not work with Tesla Model S sedans or Tesla Model X SUVs built before the 2021 model year.
For now, the feature is also limited to Tesla Supercharger stations. It does not work at third-party charging stations or Level 2 chargers, including typical home wallbox solutions.
Tesla has currently limited Emergency Drive Away to the United States.
