Elon Musk tweeted about a 'dog mode' for Teslas and it's not a terrible idea

When a Twitter user asked Elon Musk if future Teslas would include a "dog mode" to keep car-bound pets safe and cool while their owner was away, he responded with a simple "yes."

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The idea behind dog mode, a pitch that in this case also included the Tesla displaying a readout of the car's interior temperature to assure passersby that the pet inside is safe, is definitely within the realm of possibility when it comes to future Tesla features. But it also highlights the fact that electric vehicles like Teslas typically come with a system that regulates internal car temperatures.

The idea that cars overheat dangerously when left standing is a holdover from standards that started with gas-powered vehicles. Stories of dogs left in hot cars permeate the public consciousness and prime people to expect that seeing pets in cars is a bad thing, but as Engadget pointed out, electric vehicles can idle and stay cool with no problem.

Dog mode might be a ways off in Tesla's production line -- this is just a Musk tweet, not a formal feature announcement -- but the fact that electric cars are capable of keeping pets safe in hot weather is something that will become more well-known as more of them come to the market.

In the meantime, keep an eye out for hot dogs.