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]

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”.

One caveat: His truck would have to have a satellite Internet connection due to needing to connect to the Tesla servers to work. . .

[Dalberg-Acton]

That’s a serious design flaw.

[cyclotic]

So liberal and stupid Jammie boy allows his wife to run two miles alone in the desert to his sorry butt and what I assume were his dogs.

Unless the article forgot to mention his wheelchair bound status, What a wuss

[varyouga]

i7 would be more comparable to the Tesla

[Pollster1]

It’s a shame there isn’t an organization that trains children in life’s basic skills. Little lessons like “be prepared” and acclimating to the wilderness (with adults standing by but not interfering unless necessary) might have helped this clueless snowflake turn into a real person who could handle ‘adulting’.

[varyouga]

So liberal and stupid Jammie boy allows his wife to run two miles alone in the desert to his sorry butt and what I assume were his dogs.”

LMAO. Some liberal icing on the cake.

Luckily it wasn’t boiling hot. The idiot would have probably let the dogs die before realizing he could smash a window

[cyclotic]

I’m in Las Vegas for work this week. It’s actually rather cool. Mid 50’s

[Gay State Conservative]

i7 would be more comparable to the Tesla

Yah,I know...but they don't give overnight test drives on them.I've driven Mercedes/BMW for some time now...always diesels.My current diesel (BMW) has a highway range of about 750 miles (53 actual MPG,14.5 gallon tank) and can be "recharged" in about 4 minutes at any one of 30,000 "recharging" stations nationwide.

[Swordmaker]

Unless the article forgot to mention his wheelchair bound status, What a wuss

We already know this guy is handicapped. . . mentally.

[VTenigma]

I thought these things were self driving. Couldn’t he just tell it to go home? /s

[Demanwideplan]

He is the kind of guy who can not wait for a cashless society.

[Grams A]

Liberal no doubt. No common sense.”

And probably a greenie as well. Couldn’t have happened to a better person. Doubt, however, if the experience had any impact on him.

[Chode]

and the RATS, take another one in the.........HA ha!!!

[Figment]

Six miles from home isn’t that bad, even in the desert this time of year. Test it next time with someone following in another vehicle with the keys. Having someone follow in another vehicle is always advisable in a Tesla anyway, you may get too far away to make it back home

[varyouga]

Most people dont drive very far and don’t care about range. Everyone I know starts groaning if they have to even sit in a car for 100 miles. Much less drive it.

I do 1000-2000 mile trips every few months so obviously an electric is not for me and I didn’t even bother testing.

But for short trips I hear they are an absolute blast

[Noamie]

Once had a dog press the lock button on a running car at the farm with us outside and the windows up.

I never leave the windows up if I get out and the keys are inside.

That was 20 years ago. Lesson learned.

[tv_techie]

Good idea, but we learned an interesting lesson last week at work. One of our photogs got back to his vehicle and the remote wouldn’t unlock the doors. No big deal, uses the key to get in.

Then the car won’t start. Called AAA to jump it. Didn’t work, so they towed it to the dealer. Service rep calls me to ask if we have another key. Sent it over and it started right up! They opened the other remote and water poured out. Did I mention it was raining cats and dogs and nobody told me the keys had been dropped in a puddle?

I could understand the fob not opening the doors remotely under these conditions, but when I put the key in and turn it, I expect it work. So, don’t get pushed in the pool with your cell phone OR YOUR KEY FOB!

[TXnMA]

LOL! Anyone who's written as much software as I have would have carried two sets of keys... '-)

[Gay State Conservative]

But for short trips I hear they are an absolute blast

The i3 was interesting for sure.Lots of torque...but a 70 mile range.And the 70 miles goes down if you use A/C...heat...headlights.

[T-Bone Texan]

I recently went deep into the back country near Big Bend on a long mountain bike adventure.

My friend and I both set up direct satellite access for our phones. Just for maps and GPS.

Is that difficult? My friend set it up for me.