Along with high-voltage battery packs that give power to electric vehicles’ motors, every EV also has a 12-volt battery to keep the electrical system and accessories such as lights and power door locks operational when the car is powered down — just like a gas-powered car.
And, as with the battery for an internal combustion engine vehicle, an EV’s 12-volt battery can become discharged and prevent the car from starting. While the task is inconvenient no matter what type of car you drive, jump-starting an electric vehicle with a drained battery is possible.
Follow these instructions to learn how to jump-start an electric car that has a dead battery.
A dead 12-volt battery in an electric vehicle can happen for many reasons, including sitting unused for an extended period or a fault in the car’s charging circuit. No matter the reason for the low charge, the 12-volt battery must have enough power to start the car’s electrical system.
The 12-volt battery in an EV usually charges at the same time the car is charged and also through the electrical current that is transferred from the high-voltage battery when not connected to a charging station.
If the 12-volt battery in your EV has lost its charge, you can use jumper cables to try to start the vehicle.
Never attempt to jump the high-voltage lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles.
The vehicle used to assist in starting your electric vehicle must have a 12-volt battery with a negative ground system. This is typical with gas-powered cars.
Never use an electric vehicle to jump-start another 12-volt battery. The EV’s charging points are for jump-starting the car itself and not for assisting another vehicle with a jump-start.
These instructions for jump-starting an electric vehicle are general guidelines and typical for most models. Refer to your owner’s manual for the location of the car’s battery charging points and the exact procedure for your vehicle.
TIP: A portable jump-start device may be used to jump-start an EV instead of a donor vehicle, if available.
Keep the jump-started electric vehicle running for several minutes while connected to the booster vehicle. Then, disconnect the cables.
Reverse the sequence exactly when removing the clamps of the jumper cables. If the cables are connected or removed in the wrong order, an electrical short may occur and cause damage to the vehicle. Always connect and remove the jumper cables in the correct order and ensure that the clamps do not touch each other or metal surfaces.
After jump-starting your EV, keep it running for at least 20 minutes to help ensure the car’s electrical system charges the dead battery.
To help avoid further inconvenience caused by a dead electric vehicle battery, have the 12-volt battery tested at your dealership or qualified car maintenance and repair professional.
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Always keep safety in mind when performing automobile maintenance. When jump-starting your EV, remember:
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