What to do in the event of a battery breakdown with an electric car?
What are the most common causes and problems of e-car breakdowns?
Various problems can occur with electric vehicles, but the most common ones involve the battery. These are the most common causes of breakdowns:
Battery failure:
The battery is the heart of the electric car. Failure can occur due to normal wear and tear, a manufacturing defect, or poor charge management. According to a study by Recurrent of 20,000 vehicles, only 2.5% of electric vehicles had to replace their battery, showing that failure is rare but possible.
The juice runs out:
This occurs when the battery is completely discharged. The vehicle systems usually warn the driver long before this happens. However, if these warnings are ignored, an e-car breakdown is inevitable. It is extremely important to monitor the charge level regularly and schedule charging accordingly.
Other possible glitches:
Electric vehicles can also suffer from problems related to the electrical systems, lighting, brakes or steering, although these cases are less frequent. These malfunctions, whether electric or brake-related, can also bring an electric car to a standstill.
How can battery breakdowns be prevented?
To avoid battery punctures, be sure to follow some best practices:
1. Knowing your electric car:
We agree with you that this is a simple recommendation, but ignorance is still a source of mishaps today! Knowing well how your vehicle works will help you avoid certain breakdown situations. So read your vehicle's owner's manual before you set off.
2. Scheduling trips:
With the Chargemap app, you can easily check the available Find charging stations along your route. Scheduling stops helps avoid nasty surprises and ensures that you never run out 🔋 of juice along the way. You can view available charging stations, check their actual availability in real time based on user opinions and comments, and schedule regular stops to charge your vehicle before the battery reaches a critical level.
If you drive with foresight,you can save money on the same occasion and benefit from Take advantage of special offers in Chargemap's partner networks! Discover our article: How to avoid long queues at charging stations this summer?
3. Mindfulness and warnings:
As mentioned earlier, electric cars are equipped with sensors that monitor the charge level of the batteries in real time. If the battery level becomes too low, visual and audible warning signals warn the driver of the imminent danger of the electric car's battery failing. It is essential to pay attention to these warnings to avoid being stranded on the road. Even though this is a quality that we appreciate, you should not be too optimistic about your car's 😉 battery. Prevention is better than cure!
4. Battery care:
Take to heart practices that extend the life of your car in general, but especially that of the battery! If possible, avoid a charge below 20% and over 80%. Use fast charging sparingly, as they can accelerate battery wear. So prefer good battery care to keep your battery avoid replacing the battery of your electric car!
5. Eco-Driving:
Drive smoothly and with foresight. Avoid abrupt acceleration and braking. Maintain a constant speed and use the regenerative brake to recover energy when decelerating. Activate the "Eco" mode to optimize 🍃 the energy consumption of your vehicle. Here you will find all our tips for Eco-driving for electric cars.
What do you do if your electric car breaks down?
If, despite all precautions, you have a breakdown, you should consider the following:
- Stay calm and get to safety:
Turn on the hazard lights and move to a safe place. If you are on the motorway, drive onto the hard shoulder and get out of the vehicle on the right-hand side. Wear a high-visibility vest and get behind the crash barrier with your passengers.
- Use the emergency charging cable:
Before calling a roadside assistance, if your geographical location allows it, you can use the 110V cable that is usually present in electric cars! You can then charge at a household socket in a shop or at a private individual's home. Although charging at a household socket only gives you about 10 km of range per hour of charging time, this can be enough to reach a faster charging station or drive home. We would like to point out that this should remain the exception. It is generally not advisable to charge your e-car at a normal socket.
- Call a roadside assistance:
Contact an approved roadside assistance service for electric cars 📞 . Only these experts are authorised to take care of broken down e-vehicles, especially on the motorway. With the right equipment, they can tow your vehicle to a charging station or to your home to have your electric car repaired.
If your contract includes roadside assistance, you can also contact your insurance company. By the way: For better risk prevention and cost coverage, you should use the Choose insurance for your electric car carefully! 🚗🛡️
Battery breakdowns in electric vehicles can be avoided with good planning and proper maintenance practices. In the event of a breakdown, it is crucial to stay calm, get to safety and contact the appropriate services.