Tesla's recently launched "Emergency Drive Away" feature provides owners with a safe option to evacuate an area when facing reasonable danger. The feature was used for the first time in the real world, but it appears to have resulted in an accident. A video shared by user u/Joshalander on Reddit's r/Tesla Lounge documents the incident, which reportedly occurred in Austin during the city's F1 event. He mentioned, "I was charging at a station in Austin around 6 AM and was getting ready to head to the F1 event when I heard a loud bang."
Turning around, he noticed the new Emergency Drive Away feature was in operation. When he got out of the car and realized what had happened, I really felt uneasy for him, as he looked exhausted and seemed to be half-heartedly reading the prompts."
According to the video, the driver appeared to have accidentally activated the feature and drove forward, with the supercharger being pulled along with the vehicle. Tesla previously stated that improper use of this feature could result in repair costs of up to US$25,000 (approximately HK$195,000).
Tesla's "Emergency Drive Away" Feature Could Lead to High Repair Costs
The "Emergency Drive Away" feature disconnects the supercharger connector from the vehicle, but it can still cause damage to both the vehicle and the charger. Tesla indicated that the cost to repair everything back to normal could reach up to US$25,000 (approximately HK$195,000). Additionally, the company stated that if the feature is not used in an emergency situation, the driver activating the Emergency Drive Away feature will be responsible for all repair costs. Tesla considers the following situations as reasonable justifications for activating the feature: you face a direct threat to life or personal safety; you must leave the area immediately; it is unsafe to exit the vehicle; unplugging the charging connector would unreasonably delay your departure or put you at risk to personal safety.
After using the feature, Tesla requires drivers to arrange for service to inspect the vehicle.