Tesla introduces Emergency Drive Away feature for Superchargers

Tesla has introduced a new safety feature called ‘Emergency Drive Away’ via software update 2026.38.3, allowing drivers to shift into gear and leave a Supercharger station even while the charging cable is still connected.

Designed as a last resort for life-threatening situations, the feature allows a driver to bypass the standard electronic lockout by confirming a prompt on the vehicle’s touchscreen. This capability follows a deadly shooting incident at a Supercharger station in Twin Falls, Idaho, where drivers were unable to quickly exit while tethered to their vehicles.

Tesla explicitly warns that using this function will cause significant physical damage to both the vehicle’s charge port and the Supercharger hardware. Repair costs for such an incident could reach as high as $25,000, primarily due to damage to the charging infrastructure. The feature is currently limited to Superchargers in the United States and does not support home charging stations. Tesla has noted that deliberate misuse of the function may result in additional penalties.