Tesla has launched Emergency Drive Away at U.S. Superchargers, allowing drivers running Tesla’s latest software update to shift into Drive while their vehicle is still connected to a charging stall.
The new feature is designed strictly for emergencies where a driver believes leaving immediately is safer than getting out of the vehicle to disconnect the charging cable. Under normal operation, a Tesla cannot simply be driven away while plugged into a Supercharger.
The feature follows a mass shooting at the In-N-Out restaurant in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Saturday, August 1, 2026, when gunfire erupted in the parking lot shared with the adjoining Supercharger location. Salt Lake City resident Dale Schultz, 66, was shot and killed while charging his Tesla there, and his wife Reinette Schultz was also shot and injured.
Tesla Charging announced the feature on October 1, saying, “Emergency Drive Away lets you shift into Drive while still plugged into a Supercharger.”
The company stressed that using it comes with consequences. “Intended for emergency use only. Use of this feature will damage your vehicle and the Supercharger. Deliberate misuse will invoke additional penalties,” Tesla Charging said in a follow-up.
Tesla Charging added Thursday that, depending on the Supercharger, the electrical and civil costs of the resulting damage can reach up to $25,000, and that a service visit for the charge port is mandatory afterward.
Drivers need the latest Tesla software update (version 2026.38.3). Pre-2021 Model S and Model X vehicles are not supported, and Tesla says Emergency Drive Away currently applies only to U.S. Superchargers.
The addition comes as Tesla continues building software around the charging experience, including recently launched Supercharger Site Maps in its mobile app, while its charging network continues to expand in markets including Canada, where Tesla recently opened its 3,000th Supercharger.
Max de Zegher, Tesla’s Director of Charging for North America, called Emergency Drive Away “a feature we hope you never need” and said the company had debated introducing it for years.
“We select Supercharger locations with safety in mind and relocate sites deemed unsafe. Our goal is that you always feel safe getting out to unplug,” de Zegher said.
“We went back and forth on this for years, but believe offering it is the right call. Don’t abuse it, so we don’t have to restrict it.”
De Zegher said multiple Tesla teams worked on the launch and that the company plans to “improve it quickly based on feedback.” For now, Emergency Drive Away gives supported Tesla owners at U.S. Superchargers an option intended for situations where getting away immediately takes priority over avoiding damage to the car or charging equipment.
Want to see more of our stories on Google?
P.S. — Buying a new Tesla? Click here to save $1,000 USD, while supporting independent news.
Help support us by shopping on Amazon here.
Links in this post are affiliate links, so we earn a tiny commission at no charge to you. Thanks for supporting independent media!
