Idaho Shooting Spurs $299 EVject Debate as Tesla Once Flagged Breakaway Charger as Fire Risk
Updated
Updated · Electrek · Aug 3
Idaho Shooting Spurs $299 EVject Debate as Tesla Once Flagged Breakaway Charger as Fire Risk
3 articles · Updated · Electrek · Aug 3
Summary
Three people were killed and several injured after an Aug. 1 shooting at a Twin Falls, Idaho, In-N-Out with a Tesla Supercharger, pushing EV owners to debate how drivers can flee while plugged in.
A charging car cannot simply drive away because the connector locks during active charging; Tesla owners on X quickly promoted EVject’s $299 Escape Connector, which is designed to break away if the driver accelerates.
Tesla sued over the accessory in 2024, alleging it could hit 100°C after 30 minutes of high-current charging and lacked over-temperature protection, though EVject later updated the product and Tesla dropped the case.
The report argues the adapter is not a true fix because it still requires drivers to recognize danger and react in time, risking a false sense of security in a sudden attack.
Because NACS, CCS and J1772 all lock plugs during charging, the broader solution would be a built-in emergency disconnect that safely cuts power and releases the latch from the driver’s seat.