Tesla Adds Emergency Drive Away Feature for Superchargers

Tesla has introduced a new software feature called Emergency Drive Away, allowing drivers to pull away from a Supercharger stall while the charging cable remains connected. The update aims to provide an escape route in urgent situations, though the company cautions that using it will cause physical damage to both the vehicle and the charging infrastructure.

What Happened

Tesla’s charging team announced the feature on X, stating that Emergency Drive Away removes the previous lockout that prevented a Tesla from leaving Park mode while a charge cable was plugged in. Previously, drivers were required to release the latch via the touchscreen, the Tesla app, or the button on the charge handle before the port would disengage. With the new feature, drivers can simply shift into Drive and move the car. Tesla explicitly noted that "Use of this feature will damage your vehicle and the Supercharger," adding that deliberate misuse could result in additional penalties, though the specific nature of those penalties was not detailed.

The feature requires software update 2026.38.3 and is currently available at all Supercharger stations in the United States without the need for new stall hardware. However, coverage is not universal; Model S and Model X vehicles built before 2021 are not supported. Tesla indicated that the feature applies to U.S. Superchargers "for now," excluding Canada and other international markets at launch.

Why It Matters

The introduction of Emergency Drive Away arrives amid growing attention to safety and security at charging stations. The announcement comes two months after a shooting incident at an In-N-Out in Twin Falls, Idaho, where a gunman targeted individuals at a neighboring Supercharger, resulting in one fatality. This event, along with prior violent incidents at charging sites, such as a fatal shooting near Denver in 2023, has heightened owner concerns about being trapped in a vehicle while connected to a charger.

The feature also intersects with ongoing industry discussions about charging infrastructure safety. In the weeks following the Twin Falls incident, owners pressured Tesla for a native escape mechanism, with many referencing EVject, an aftermarket breakaway connector company. Tesla and EVject had previously been involved in a legal dispute regarding thermal protection, which was later settled with an agreement leading EVject to recall earlier connectors for a version with thermal sensors. EVject publicly acknowledged Tesla’s rollout, stating their mission was to eliminate "sitting duck scenarios."

The Bottom Line

Tesla’s new Emergency Drive Away feature provides a last-resort option for drivers to leave a Supercharger stall quickly in emergencies, prioritizing immediate egress over equipment preservation. While the software update 2026.38.3 enables this capability across most U.S. Superchargers, drivers face potential vehicle and charger damage, and the feature remains limited by specific vehicle model years and geographic availability.