Tesla Computer Freezes Throttle at 80mph.

[PimTac]

This is not good. Hopefully Tesla figured out what happened.


https://thenationaldesk.com/news/am...model-three-model3-elon-musk-javier-rodriguez

 

[Gokhan]

This is not good. Hopefully Tesla figured out what happened.


https://thenationaldesk.com/news/am...model-three-model3-elon-musk-javier-rodriguez

I thought the speed limit was 65 mph in California.

 

[ecotourist]

Not a very good explanation of how he got slowed down and off the freeway. But he says the brakes still worked.

If someone writes a story like that ("you should be afraid of your Tesla running away") they should at last say what he did.

This sounds a bit like the policeman who was killed while driving the runaway Lexus. At least we now know what to do if that happens - (1) hold the start button down until the engine turns off, or (2) step on the brakes once and bring the car to a halt, or (3) put the car in neutral and let it rev.

 

[mk378]

Better watch what you post on Twitter.

 

[Cujet]

I don't dispute the drivers story. Complex electronics can and do "glitch". Most of us think that our PC's, Mac's or Phones are complex, but in reality, these consumer items fall very short of true complex systems with a great many inputs and outputs. In aviation, this is where 5 discreet channels and error correcting software come in.

It's odd that (they believe) the charge port door communication issue is a single point of failure that can cause this. However, I've seen some really wild failures with complex systems.

 

[ecotourist]

I don't dispute the drivers story. Complex electronics can and do "glitch". Most of us think that our PC's, Mac's or Phones are complex, but in reality, these consumer items fall very short of true complex systems with a great many inputs and outputs. In aviation, this is where 5 discreet channels and error correcting software come in.

It's odd that (they believe) the charge port door communication issue is a single point of failure that can cause this. However, I've seen some really wild failures with complex systems.

So what to do? If the accelerator doesn't control the forward movement of a Tesla, seems there are only 2 possibilities: (1) stand on the brakes as hard as possible, once only and don't let up, or (2) put the shifter into neutral and steer to the side of the road (which seems like the better option).

 

[K-Man]

Not a surprise. Remember the glitches with Tesla "semi"-autonomous driving software?

Now consider this. This would be a great way to bump off someone: hack their vehicle software and send them slamming into a wall at high speed. Authorities would probably rule it driver error. Remember Tesla sends automated updates to its cars, and such a hack could be delivered that way. Maybe this "frozen throttle" incident is actually a hacker test for future attacks. Don't laugh.

 

[Kiwi_ME]

The driver seemed legit in the video interview. Talk about a "corner case," software wise. I'm sure Tesla will figure it out.

.. This sounds a bit like the policeman who was killed while driving the runaway Lexus. At least we now know what to do if that happens - (1) hold the start button down until the engine turns off, or (2) step on the brakes once and bring the car to a halt, or (3) put the car in neutral and let it rev.

Exactly what came to my mind since I once lived near the I-52 in San Diego. The driver had held the brakes down and they were found to be completely burnt out.

 

[Kiwi_ME]

Not a very good explanation of how he got slowed down and off the freeway. But he says the brakes still worked.

I understand Tesla brakes are relatively simple, just an electrically-powered booster as a substitute for vacuum. Not at all like the complex blended regen/hydraulic systems that every other EV has, as best as I'm aware. The latter allows the EV to be driven like a normal car (with a normal coast-down rate) without giving up anything in economy because regen is engaged whenever possible.

 

[ecotourist]

Exactly what came to my mind since I once lived near the I-52 in San Diego. The driver had held the brakes down and they were found to be completely burnt out.

What I gathered was that he "burned the brakes out" himself by repeatedly stabbing at them. And the emergency brake as well.

My understanding is that there is a requirement that the brakes of a modern car must be able to overcome the engine and stop the car. But they can't do it over and over again and if you use the brakes repeatedly to slow down you'll simply overheat them and "take them out".

Applying that logic to a Tesla, its brakes should be able to bring the car to a stop at least once, no matter what the motor is doing. If someone knows something different please say so.

 

[ecotourist]

I understand Tesla brakes are relatively simple, just an electrically-powered booster as a substitute for vacuum. Not at all like the complex blended regen/hydraulic systems that every other EV has, as best as I'm aware. The latter allows the EV to be driven like a normal car (with a normal coast-down rate) without giving up anything in economy because regen is engaged whenever possible.

When you drive a Tesla you almost never touch the brakes. It's true one pedal driving. Taking your foot off the accelerator engages pretty vigorous regeneration and you come to a complete stop quite fast. You decelerate vigorously enough that brake lights are shown whenever you take your foot off the accelerator. You could stop faster by using the brakes too but you just hardly ever need to do that.

Through experience I've learned to come to a complete stop at a stop sign by letting off on the accelerator at an appropriate distance. It will even comes to a complete stop when coasting down a pretty steep hill.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I bet 1/2 of Tesla owners, or more, do not know, or at least did not know, how to put the car in neutral.
The first time you go to the car warsh you look pretty dumb.
Don't ask me how I know...

 

[denwood]

If there was a software issue, shifting to neutral may not have been possible. Same thing with trying to power it off. Everything in EVs these days is pretty much drive by wire. The steering and brakes are mechanically linked, but if the electronic boost is not working, would be a bear to actuate. From that article:

"While it seemed at the time almost nothing was working in his Tesla, Rodriguez was relieved to find his brakes worked. He admitted it didn't really make him feel any more comfortable while in peril, but it did enable him to get off the road."

 

[ecotourist]

If there was a software issue, shifting to neutral may not have been possible. Same thing with trying to power it off. Everything in EVs these days is pretty much drive by wire. The steering and brakes are mechanically linked, but if the electronic boost is not working, would be a bear to actuate. From that article:

I agree with you. It might not have been possible to shift to neutral. But he did get it stopped. Too bad neither the article nor the video tells us how.

All we know for sure is that he got it stopped and he says the brakes worked.

 

[Schandyman]

That's scary and yes the owner deserves a better explanation.

 

[Kiwi_ME]

... but if the electronic boost is not working, would be a bear to actuate. From that article:

Yes, the gist of what I was trying to imply is that the brake booster may be a completely self-contained system running off 12V. It sounds like other CAN-based controls were frozen. The screen seen in the video doesn't seem to be updating with traffic.

When you drive a Tesla you almost never touch the brakes. It's true one pedal driving. Taking your foot off the accelerator engages pretty vigorous regeneration and you come to a complete stop quite fast. You decelerate vigorously enough that brake lights are shown whenever you take your foot off the accelerator. You could stop faster by using the brakes too but you just hardly ever need to do that.
Through experience I've learned to come to a complete stop at a stop sign by letting off on the accelerator at an appropriate distance. It will even comes to a complete stop when coasting down a pretty steep hill.

Right, my Kona EV can do much the same but does not reach a complete stop with just the accelerator pedal, a strange omission. But in practice I don't use this mode, I drive it like an ICE so that I don't lose my traditional ICE braking reflexes. No economy is lost because the blended brakes fake pedal resistance and substitute regen whenever it's beneficial, meaning only when the speed is high enough to avoid using battery power.

 

[Jetronic]

a guy in a Tesla model X hit my bus. Well, his mirror hit my mirror. Just a scratch on the bus mirror but the Tesla one came off. It made his computer crash aswell, he couldn't even get into the glove compartment to get his insurance details until it rebooted.

 

[PimTac]

There should be some kind of safety either programmed or mechanically on the car that gives the driver manual control in emergency situations. As a example, turn on the hazard lights and you have full throttle control. Something like a deadman switch.

 

[ecotourist]

... my Kona EV .... does not reach a complete stop with just the accelerator pedal, a strange omission. But in practice I don't use this mode, I drive it like an ICE so that I don't lose my traditional ICE braking reflexes.

I have an ICE car as well, which I drive very occasionally. So far at least, I've had no problem dealing with its 3 pedals.

 

[ecotourist]

a guy in a Tesla model X hit my bus. Well, his mirror hit my mirror. Just a scratch on the bus mirror but the Tesla one came off. It made his computer crash aswell, he couldn't even get into the glove compartment to get his insurance details until it rebooted.

Did the computer reboot take very long? Did it reboot spontaneously?