You technically can't put EVs like Teslas in neutral without power. Electric cars don't work like traditional vehicles in the sense that they just have a single gear rather than a gearbox. If you want to put a Tesla in neutral without power, you'll have to jump-start the 12-volt battery.
Putting a Tesla in Neutral without Power
Once your car has just enough power to turn on, start the car and then hold the gear shift for 2 seconds. If your car won't start or you aren't able to jump-start it, try disengaging the parking brake to shift it into Neutral.
EVs are difficult to move without any charge in the battery, but you can still push them. EVs don't feature a standard transmission, but you can shift most into "neutral" when the main battery is out of energy because the power for this action comes from a separate 12-volt battery.
See If Vehicle Has No Power. To avoid damage, only pull the vehicle onto a flatbed truck using a properly-installed tow eye. Using the chassis, frame, or suspension components to pull the vehicle can result in damage.
Neutral. Neutral allows Model 3 to roll freely when you are not pressing the brake pedal: When in Park, shift into Neutral by briefly pushing the drive stalk either up or down to the first position.
In the unlikely event your vehicle runs out of range while driving, pull over when safe to do so and contact Tesla Roadside Assistance or your preferred tow provider. If Model 3 runs out of range, the low voltage battery is no longer supported – and when low voltage is not supported, the vehicle cannot charge.
When in Drive, shift into Neutral by briefly pushing the drive stalk up to the first position. If Autosteer or Traffic-Aware Cruise Control (if equipped) is active, you must push the drive stalk up to the first position and hold it there for more than 1 second.
The main danger of flat towing your Tesla is overheating. The power created from your Tesla's wheels can cause a domino effect by overheating its components. The next step from overheating is ignited materials—and that's the last thing you want to happen while cruising the road with other flammable vehicles.
Using a hook and chain, dolly, or wheel lift tow truck leaves two of the EV's wheels spinning. When an EV's wheels spin, they generate power to the battery. If that power is not being used it can damage the battery and motor. In order to safely tow an electric vehicle, you must use a flatbed tow truck.
As it keeps slowing down to around 15mph, your Tesla will notify you that it won't be able to drive soon, and finally, it comes to a stop and puts itself into parking. At this point, you'll need to call roadside assistance or a tow truck to get you to the nearest charging station.
Can you push an electric car if it breaks down? Your EV can only be pushed if it has a neutral gear. Beware that with no power, steering will be an effort (just as with a combustion engine car that has run out of fuel and needs to be pushed).
Electric vehicles are constructed very differently from traditional combustion-engine vehicles. The turning of the wheels on the road helps the vehicle generate electricity. Often, electric vehicles do not have a “neutral” gear, so towing a vehicle in this method can be very unsafe.
When you open a door to enter Model 3, the touchscreen powers on and you can operate all controls. To drive Model 3: Press the brake pedal - Model 3 powers on and is ready to drive. Select a drive mode - move the drive stalk down for Drive or up for Reverse (see Shifting).
Tesla warns you against taking your car to a regular automated car wash that uses brushes and bristles to clean your vehicle. However, if you're taking your Tesla through a drive-thru car wash, make sure you use only touchless car washes.
If you try to flat tow, even a short distance, you could severely damage your vehicle, and the warranty likely won't cover the repairs because you flat towed when the manufacturer told you not to. Tesla states that all of its vehicles must be towed on a flatbed trailer.