Electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular as people are trying to reduce their carbon footprint. While saving money on fuel, electric car owners are turning to charging stations to keep their vehicles moving. So with that being said, what happens if your electric vehicle breaks down? Many owners are finding that several articles suggest that electric cars can’t be towed. So, why can’t electric cars be towed? Here, New Image Towing discusses all the information you need to know when it comes to towing an electric vehicle.
In most cases, you should not tow your electric car when it breaks down. They do not have transmissions, so putting it in neutral and towing it can cause a lot of damage. Using a flatbed truck or trailer is the most highly recommended mode of transportation during a breakdown.
Reasons Why You Would Tow An Electric Car
- A flat tire. This can be particularly troublesome because many modern car manufacturers are ditching the spare tire in the vehicle to allow for more room. Therefore, if you get a flat tire, you’re going to need a tow.
- Runs out of battery. If your electric car’s battery runs out of charge, it will stop running. You get plenty of warning from the car’s safety system, but once the juice has gone from the battery, your car is not going anywhere until you charge it up.
- Brake issues. If you find you’ve got issues with the brakes, the sensible thing to do is pull over and call a tow to bring your car to the nearest place it can be repaired.
- Moving. In such a situation, you can save time and the vehicle’s wear and tear by using an auto transport service. Auto-shipping companies can safely and affordably move your electric vehicle to the new location.
Can You Jumpstart An Electric Car?
First off, there is no such thing as “jump-starting” an electric car. It is important to understand that electric cars have two different type of batteries. First, you have the 200+ volt battery that is used to power the engine and drive the car. Next, you have a 12-volt battery that is very similar to the battery in conventional gas-powered cars. If the larger 200+ volt battery is dead, then you simply need to charge it. On the other hand, if your 12-volt battery dies, you can jump-start it with another car. To jump-start an electric car you connect jumper cables to the 12-volt battery like you would any other car battery.
If you are going to jump-start your electric vehicle, make sure that it is unplugged and not charging. Jump starting an electric car while it is plugged in could short circuit and ruin your car. Make sure to read the owner’s manual before trying to jump-start your vehicle.
Towing an electric car
Towing any kind of vehicle has its risks. With that being said, when it comes to towing an electric vehicle, many things can go wrong. If you try to tow an electric car using an electric car tow dolly, a hook and chain truck, or a wheel lift tow truck, two of the wheels will be spinning. With that, the spin continuously generates power to the battery, but that power isn’t being used. The ONLY time you can tow an electric car with dollies is if all four wheels are off the ground completely.
When it comes to towing an electric car, a flatbed tow truck is your best option. Flatbed trucks have no wheel movement which means any potential hazards are eliminated. All-electric car manufacturers recommend that electric vehicles should only be moved on a flatbed truck as this avoids potential damage.
Prevention STeps To Avoid Breaking Down
There are a number of things you can do to help assure that you don’t have to flatbed tow your electric vehicle or have it jump-started. The number one thing is to just keep your car charged. Charging your vehicle and paying attention to the range of your car is the best thing you can do to avoid getting stranded. Make sure you do standard maintenance to your electric vehicle. Paying attention to any warning lights or sensors can help you avoid a breakdown or more.
Electric cars only have three main fluids you have to worry about checking: coolant, windshield wiper fluid, and brake fluid. Coolant and brake fluid are especially important in maintaining your car. Make sure to periodically check on them. The majority of other fluids that electric cars used are enclosed in the engine and other parts of the car and aren’t accessible. This means you will need to take it into a shop to check the fluid levels. Other than that, electric cars are actually fairly simple to manage and other than occasional maintenance from time to time, they will continue to run smoothly.
Call Us Today
New Image Towing is available to provide you with roadside assistance in any situation or vehicle emergency. We offer a wide array of services to all of our motorist customers, including car towing and emergency roadside service. New Image Towing provides emergency towing to the metro Atlanta area, and our “on-call” fleet of tow trucks and service vehicles guarantee a prompt response. When wintery roadside conditions or physical impairment prevent you from changing your own tire or doing what is needed to fix your vehicle, our emergency roadside assistance gets you back on the road quickly.
