Tesla’s Emergency Drive Away: How It Works and What Drivers Should Know

Tesla’s Emergency Drive Away lets an eligible Tesla shift into Drive while its Supercharger cable is still connected. The feature is intended for situations where leaving immediately feels safer than getting out to unplug; it is not a routine way to end a charging session. Tesla warns that driving away this way will damage both the vehicle and the Supercharger. 1015

Rollout and vehicle compatibility

Tesla announced the feature on October 1, 2026, as part of the free over-the-air software update 2026.38.3. It currently applies at U.S. Superchargers. Tesla says Model S and Model X vehicles built before 2021 are not supported; the feature also requires a compatible vehicle with the update installed. 115

How to activate Emergency Drive Away

While the car is still plugged in, shift into Drive to bring up the Emergency Drive Away prompt. Keep your foot on the brake and tap Activate on the touchscreen to confirm, then leave. 14

Use the override only if you need to get away from an immediate threat. Under normal operation, the charging connection prevents the car from shifting out of Park until the connector is released. 29

Damage, service and possible penalties

Tesla warns that activating the feature will damage both the vehicle and the Supercharger. A report citing Tesla’s estimate says electrical and civil repairs at a Supercharger could cost up to $25,000, depending on the site, and that the car will need a service visit. That figure describes possible damage; it is not evidence of an automatic $25,000 charge to a driver every time the feature is used. 7

Tesla also warns that deliberate misuse will bring “additional penalties,” but the cited announcement does not specify what those penalties are. 1015

Why Tesla added an emergency escape option

The feature’s launch came about two months after a shooting near a Supercharger in Twin Falls, Idaho. Reporting on the attack described a Tesla driver caught in a charging session, drawing attention to the fact that a driver normally has to disconnect a locked cable before leaving. 1219

Tesla has said it selects Supercharger locations with safety in mind and relocates sites it considers unsafe. It also said the company had debated the drive-away feature for years. The timing makes the shooting important context, but the available information does not show that it was the sole reason Tesla developed the feature. 17

A separate product, the EVject Escape Connector, reflects the same concern: it is designed as a breakaway connection so a driver can leave without first unplugging. It is an alternative approach, not the same as Tesla’s software-based override. 1921

The practical trade-off is clear: Emergency Drive Away offers an escape option in a dangerous situation, but using it is expected to break the charging connection and cause damage. Follow the on-screen confirmation only when leaving immediately is more important than avoiding that damage. 1015