Tesla driver stranded in the desert after smartphone app failure

The Telegraph UK ^ | January 17, 2017 | By Cara McGoogan

[Swordmaker]

A Tesla driver was stranded in Red Rock Canyon near Las Vegas after the car's keyless control app suddenly stopped working.

Interested in testing a feature that lets Tesla owners unlock and power their car using their smartphone, Ryan Negri decided to leave his keys at home when he went for a drive around the canyon yesterday.

The keyless smartphone feature, which is available through Tesla's iPhone and Android apps, lets users remotely monitor and control their Tesla Model S without their key. One of the main features of the app is the ability to "unlock and drive Model S without your key".

Negri was able to do just this - but only to begin with. After getting out of the vehicle to adjust something when he was six miles from home he found himself locked out of the car unable to get back in let alone start it.

[Swordmaker]

The driver didn't realize the phone app to control his Tesla requires an INTERNET CONNECTION for both the car and his phone. . . and the boonies does not necessarily have an Internet connection.

[al baby]

Red Rock Canyon is beautiful

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[Professional]

Sue!!!!

[Inyo-Mono]

I’ll stick to keys, thank you very much, especially when driving my Jeep way back in the boondocks, where cell service, let alone internet, connections are spotty at best.

[xp38]

Indeed and canyons aren’t the best for reception one would think.

[Swordmaker]

Tesla driver learns the hard way that smartphones are not the be-all-and-end-all of control devices when he leaves his car's key fob at home to go for a drive in the desert, away from any Internet connection. OOPS! Car no Go once he stopped and got out. . . in fact, car locked him out and wouldn't let him back in with out an internet connection! — PING!

Apple and Android Apps need Internet to Talk to Tesla,
Ignorant Driver Learns the Hard Way.
Ping!

The latest Apple/Mac/iOS Pings can be found by searching Keyword "ApplePingList" on FreeRepublic's Search.

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me

[Red Badger]

Some people are born stupid.
Others have to work at it...........

[ifinnegan]

Another Apple failure.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Just kidding. Get well soon.

[21twelve]

“...lets users remotely monitor and control their Tesla Model S....”

“Hey Billy, I just hacked into the mean neighbor’s Tesla. Let’s wait until he hits 70 on the freeway and then set off the air bags!”

[TexasGator]

No key. Pushbutton with fob hooked to my belt.

[SecondAmendment]

Typical Tesla driver ... more money than brains.

Q. What is the difference between a Tesla and a porcupine ?
A. The pricks are on the outside of a porcupine!

[Blue Jays]

Pull that stunt on a cold night in the desert and you might find yourself uncomfortably shivering for a few hours.

[Sacajaweau]

I didn’t mean to laugh...

[roadcat]

An enterprising tow truck driver could make some money, by building his own local network into his truck. All he would need is a couple devices, and could get these stranded drivers back on the road. He could call his truck “The LAN Cruiser”.

[eyedigress]

In January.

[Gay State Conservative]

Last summer I took a BMW i3 (granted,a different animal) on an overnight test drive.Sorry...not even slightly impressed.

[wastedyears]

[Oztrich Boy]

in fact, car locked him out and wouldn't let him back in with out an internet connection

It's not a bug, it's a feature to stop stupid people driving the car.

[b4its2late]

Liberal no doubt. No common sense.