Beatrice Lang
Running out of battery power is a common fear among drivers of electric vehicles (EVs). However, modern EVs are designed to provide multiple warnings to alert the driver when the vehicle is nearly out of charge, making it difficult to accidentally run out of energy. When the battery reaches a critical level, the vehicle will enter a low-power mode, allowing the driver to travel a short distance to reach a charging station. While it is possible to completely drain the battery, this is not recommended as it can marginally reduce the long-term efficiency and lifespan of the battery. If an EV runs out of charge, the vehicle will eventually come to a stop, and the driver will need to call a tow truck or roadside assistance for help.
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What You'll Learn
- Warning indicators and alerts will notify the driver of a low battery
- The vehicle will slow down and eventually come to a complete stop
- The driver will need to call for roadside assistance or a tow truck
- The car can be towed on a flatbed truck to a charging station or home
- The battery will take a long time to recharge from 0% to 100%
Warning indicators and alerts will notify the driver of a low battery
Electric vehicles are designed to keep drivers aware of their battery levels to prevent them from running out of power. When the battery level is low, warning indicators and alerts will notify the driver. The way each EV notifies the driver varies from model to model, but here is what to expect:
Warning Lights
The high-voltage battery level warning light will turn on when the remaining power is low. This is an indicator to charge the battery immediately. Another warning light is the power down warning light, which illuminates when the remaining power of the driving battery is very low. When this light is on, the vehicle may struggle going uphill or may even roll backward.
Display Warnings
The display will warn the driver when the battery is low. When the battery level falls below 5%, the sat-nav will locate and recommend the nearest charging point. It will also show how far the vehicle can travel with the current power.
Turtle Power Mode
When the battery reaches 0%, the vehicle does not stop running and can drive on reserve power for around eight kilometres. After this, the car enters "turtle power mode", where the speed is limited to 30 km/h and only basic features are available. After travelling under a kilometre in this mode, the car will finally stop.
It is important to note that EVs can go several months without being recharged. However, it is recommended to keep the battery charge between 20% and 80% and to avoid charging to 100% daily.
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The vehicle will slow down and eventually come to a complete stop
Your EV will provide multiple visual and audio warnings as the battery charge decreases. The display will warn you when the battery is low, and when it gets below 5%, the sat-nav will locate and recommend the nearest charging point. It will also show how far you can travel on the current power.
Once the battery reaches 0%, your car will be able to drive on reserve power, usually for around eight kilometres. After this, your car will go into "turtle power mode", where you will only be able to go 30 km/h, and only the car's basic features will be available. After driving less than a kilometre in this mode, your car will slow down and come to a complete stop.
To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to keep your EV's battery charge between 20% and 80%. If your battery charge falls below 10-20%, recharge as soon as possible. You can also use regenerative braking to increase your car's range.
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The driver will need to call for roadside assistance or a tow truck
If an electric vehicle runs out of charge, the driver will need to call for roadside assistance or a tow truck. This is because, unlike a conventional gasoline engine, you cannot jumpstart an electric vehicle using the battery of another car.
While it is uncommon for an electric car to be stranded with no charge, it is still important for EV owners to know what to do in this situation. Rescue services are equipped to deal with this, and the number of "out-of-charge" callouts has decreased as charging infrastructure improves.
If the electric vehicle has to be towed, it must be towed on a flatbed truck where all four wheels are off the ground. This is because EVs don't have a neutral gear, so towing them in drive or reverse will create a build-up of kinetic energy that will damage the battery.
Once the tow truck arrives, the driver will need to keep the wheels from spinning during the tow. When the driver arrives at a charging station, they can plug in and wait for their vehicle to charge. If charging doesn't start, the next step is to contact the emergency assistance services listed in the owner's manual.
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The car can be towed on a flatbed truck to a charging station or home
If your electric car runs out of charge and you're unable to locate a charging station, you may need to call for roadside assistance to have your car towed to a charging station or your home.
Electric cars can be towed, but it's not as simple as towing a traditional ICE-powered vehicle. Electric cars do not have a neutral gear, so if you try to tow them in drive or reverse, it will create a build-up of kinetic energy that can damage the battery. Therefore, electric cars must be towed on flatbed trucks, where they sit on the body of the truck instead of being dragged behind it. This ensures that all four wheels are off the ground during the tow.
If you are in an electric car that has run out of charge, pull over to the side of the road as soon as it is safe to do so. Turn on your hazard lights, turn off the vehicle, and call for roadside assistance. Depending on where the tow truck takes you and your next destination, the wait time for charging can vary from a few minutes to a few hours. Once you arrive at the charging station, simply plug in, confirm that energy is flowing into the battery pack, and wait for your vehicle to charge. If charging does not start, you may need to contact the emergency assistance services listed in your owner's manual.
It's important to note that while electric cars can provide multiple visual and audio warnings as the battery runs down, fully draining your EV to 0% charge is not recommended. It can impact the 12-volt battery, which starts the vehicle and powers electronic accessories, and it takes a very long time to charge an EV from 0%.
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The battery will take a long time to recharge from 0% to 100%
Electric vehicles are designed to keep drivers safe on the road, providing numerous warnings before running out of battery power. The display will warn the driver when the car's battery is low, and when it gets below 5%, the sat-nav will locate and recommend the nearest charging point. The car will also show how far the driver will be able to travel on the current power.
However, if the battery is completely drained, it will take a long time to recharge from 0% to 100%. This is because the battery will be deep discharged, which can lead to the battery deteriorating and reducing its performance and ability to hold a charge. Therefore, it is best to avoid letting the battery drop below 20% and recharge when possible.
To prevent the battery from dropping to 0%, it is crucial for drivers to properly plan their journeys and be aware of the range of their vehicle. This can be done by locating charging stations along the trip using GPS or mobile apps and allowing enough time to recharge the car if necessary.
If the battery does run out, the car will come to a complete halt and lose its ability to move. The driver will then need to call for roadside assistance, have the car towed to a nearby charging station, or charge the car using a portable battery charger.
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Frequently asked questions
When an EV runs out of battery, it will slow down and eventually come to a complete stop. Modern EVs will give the driver multiple warnings when their car is running out of energy, and it is more difficult to accidentally run out of energy in an EV than in a fossil-fuel vehicle. However, if you do run out of charge, you can contact your breakdown provider, who may be able to give you enough charge to get to a charging station.
If you run out of battery, you can call a tow truck to take you to a charging station. However, electric vehicles shouldn't be towed with a rope or lift, as this can damage the traction motors. It is best to use a flatbed truck. Once you're at a charging station, simply plug in and wait for your vehicle to charge.
To preserve EV battery health, it is best to avoid letting the battery drop below a 20% charge. When travelling long distances, it is a good idea to plan ahead and identify places where you can charge your car. There are now many places to recharge, including at supermarkets, motorway service stations and some tourist destinations.
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