Tesla offers free Supercharging, kWh upgrades for hurricane

Buyers who own a vehicle with software-locked 60-kWh capacity will be able to use all 75-kWh to flee Hurricane Florence.

Tesla has launched another free Supercharging program and unlocked battery capacity for owners fleeing Hurricane Florence.

Some owners bought a Model S and X with a 75-kWh battery pack that had been software locked to 60-kWh for the cheaper base model. During Hurricane Irma, the company rolled out a software update to give owners in affected regions access to the full battery capacity.

The company is now repeating the same program for owners in North Carolina and South Carolina regions that face evacuation orders as Florence approaches the coast.

"We are temporarily enabling your car to access additional battery capacity, as well as free Supercharging, in preparation for Hurrican Florence," Tesla wrote in a notification to owners, as quoted by Electrek. "We hope this gives you the peace of mind to get to a safe location, and will notify you before returning your car to its original configuration in mid-October."

Florence is forecast to create a storm surge of up to 13 feet in some areas. Further inland, the storm is expected to dump 20-30 inches of rain with 40 inches possible in isolated areas.

Officials have ordered evacuations for more than a million residents living along the coast.