Tesla adds emergency feature to drive away mid-charge
Tesla added Emergency Drive Away, letting drivers shift into Drive while charging.
Tesla introduced Emergency Drive Away, a new feature that lets drivers shift into Drive while still plugged into a Supercharger. The cable drops and disconnects automatically, letting the car drive away.
The feature needs driver confirmation. It works on Superchargers in the United States only for now.
It uses Tesla's latest software update (2026.38.3). Tesla warns the feature will damage both the car and the charger.
The company says deliberate misuse will cause extra penalties. This came shortly after a deadly shooting at a Tesla Supercharger in Idaho in August, when a 66-year-old driver was killed.
Tesla's charging director said the company thought about this decision for years. They decided it was the right safety call.
There is no confirmation yet on whether the feature will come to Australia.
- 2026.38.3
- Software version
- Dale Schultz, 66 years old
- Victim in Idaho
- US Superchargers only
- Geographic scope
- Driver confirmation needed
- Activation requirement
Why it mattersIn rare emergencies, drivers can now flee dangerous situations without stopping to unplug. Tesla added this safety measure following a deadly attack at a Supercharger.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect yet. Tesla has not confirmed when or if the feature will reach Australian Supercharger sites.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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