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This isn't really a new electric car problem. My 1988 Toyota Tercel did the same thing. Transmission broke and left me completely stranded in the middle of the

by issa 5y ago

This isn't really a new electric car problem. My 1988 Toyota Tercel did the same thing. Transmission broke and left me completely stranded in the middle of the highway. No way to shift into neutral, no way to move the car. Super dangerous. Get extremely lucky that no one hit me and a friend nearby had a rolling jack so we could get to the shoulder.

google234123 5y ago
A gas car has nevvveeerrr broken down in the middle of the road before. Truly a unique issue.
- bbarnett 5y ago
  But this is on twitter.
fy20 5y ago
Also happens with German cars that have electric gearboxes. Modern cars do not have a way to force them into neutral, so if you have an electrical issue or the battery dies, you need a tow truck with a crane to get you out of there.
- ohgodplsno 5y ago
  Look a bit more. Most cars have an electronic shift lock override right next to the shift, as well as the keys being able to be popped out to reveal the actual, physical key to control it and go back into neutral.
  - eps 5y ago
    For newer Bimmers with a dead battery the only way to do it is from underneath the car using a screwdriver.
TimTheTinker 5y ago
My dad's 92 Civic had a hood latch malfunction while in the left lane going 75mph. The hood opened up, was caught in the oncoming wind, and slammed into the windshield, violently breaking it and completely obscuring his view. Fortunately he was able to pull over into the median shoulder without getting hurt or causing a collision... but he was pretty shaken.
ohgodplsno 5y ago
Comparing complete failure of a 20+ year old car's transmission with a brand new Tesla's software going "lol no" doesn't exactly sound like a good defense for Tesla. Additionally, as long as you're in gear and your transmission still, well, transmits, even in fourth, you can get your car going forward by playing with the clutch. Yes, you'll destroy your clutch, but then again your transmission is already broken anyways.
rapsey 5y ago
Yep also heard about it happening to other more modern non-electric cars. Electrical failure and the car just died. If you have an electric park brake there is also no way for a driver to bring it to a stop. He can only drift until the car stops. God help you if you are on a hill.
- Toutouxc 5y ago
  > If you have an electric park brake there is also no way for a driver to bring it to a stop. He can only drift until the car stops. What? The regular brakes are still hydraulic, the pedal will always work. Or did you mean that there's no way to KEEP the car stopped without someone standing on the pedal all the time? That's true, but you can always gently rest the car against the curb or road barriers or something.
  - rapsey 5y ago
    Nope it was all completely dead.
    - Toutouxc 5y ago
      Hydraulic car brakes can't be "completely dead". You step on a pedal, pedal pushes piston against hydraulic fluid, this increases pressure in the hydraulic fluid, fluid pushes a piston inside the brake caliper, piston pushes brake pads against rotor. No electricity involved.
williamscales 5y ago
My '01 Honda Accord had its alternator die in the middle of the highway. Fortunately I had enough momentum (and a clear path) to roll to the side of the road. But otherwise I would've been in the same situation, though I could've at least shifted to neutral (hopefully, not sure if my gearbox was electric).

by issa 5y ago

google234123 5y ago

A gas car has nevvveeerrr broken down in the middle of the road before. Truly a unique issue.

bbarnett 5y ago
But this is on twitter.

fy20 5y ago

Also happens with German cars that have electric gearboxes. Modern cars do not have a way to force them into neutral, so if you have an electrical issue or the battery dies, you need a tow truck with a crane to get you out of there.

ohgodplsno 5y ago
Look a bit more. Most cars have an electronic shift lock override right next to the shift, as well as the keys being able to be popped out to reveal the actual, physical key to control it and go back into neutral.
- eps 5y ago
  For newer Bimmers with a dead battery the only way to do it is from underneath the car using a screwdriver.

TimTheTinker 5y ago

My dad's 92 Civic had a hood latch malfunction while in the left lane going 75mph. The hood opened up, was caught in the oncoming wind, and slammed into the windshield, violently breaking it and completely obscuring his view. Fortunately he was able to pull over into the median shoulder without getting hurt or causing a collision... but he was pretty shaken.

ohgodplsno 5y ago

Comparing complete failure of a 20+ year old car's transmission with a brand new Tesla's software going "lol no" doesn't exactly sound like a good defense for Tesla. Additionally, as long as you're in gear and your transmission still, well, transmits, even in fourth, you can get your car going forward by playing with the clutch. Yes, you'll destroy your clutch, but then again your transmission is already broken anyways.

rapsey 5y ago

Yep also heard about it happening to other more modern non-electric cars. Electrical failure and the car just died. If you have an electric park brake there is also no way for a driver to bring it to a stop. He can only drift until the car stops. God help you if you are on a hill.

Toutouxc 5y ago
> If you have an electric park brake there is also no way for a driver to bring it to a stop. He can only drift until the car stops. What? The regular brakes are still hydraulic, the pedal will always work. Or did you mean that there's no way to KEEP the car stopped without someone standing on the pedal all the time? That's true, but you can always gently rest the car against the curb or road barriers or something.
- rapsey 5y ago
  Nope it was all completely dead.
  - Toutouxc 5y ago
    Hydraulic car brakes can't be "completely dead". You step on a pedal, pedal pushes piston against hydraulic fluid, this increases pressure in the hydraulic fluid, fluid pushes a piston inside the brake caliper, piston pushes brake pads against rotor. No electricity involved.

williamscales 5y ago

My '01 Honda Accord had its alternator die in the middle of the highway. Fortunately I had enough momentum (and a clear path) to roll to the side of the road. But otherwise I would've been in the same situation, though I could've at least shifted to neutral (hopefully, not sure if my gearbox was electric).