Can an electric car be towed?

Generally no. Almost all EVs must be transported with all four wheels off the ground, because turning the driven wheels spins the motor and can damage the drivetrain.

A reduced power state near empty where the car limits speed and climate control to conserve the last of the charge. Treat it as an instruction to stop somewhere safe.

Can a recovery service charge my car at the roadside?

Some operators carry mobile charging units, but it is not universal. Ask when you call, otherwise the car will be transported to a charge point.

Why will my EV not start with a full battery?

Most often the twelve volt auxiliary battery has failed. It powers the computers and contactors, and without it the car cannot wake up or connect the main pack.

How far can I go after the range shows zero?

Usually only a very small buffer of a few miles, and it should not be relied on. Plan to charge before reaching zero rather than testing it.

Electric Car Out of Charge? What to Do and How It Is Moved

The warnings before you stop

An electric car does not simply cut out. As the usable battery approaches empty, the car issues escalating warnings, typically routes you to nearby charging points, then restricts climate control and finally reduces available power in what many manufacturers call turtle or reduced power mode. At that stage the car may be limited to a low speed and cannot accelerate normally, which is a clear instruction to stop somewhere safe rather than push on. There is usually a small buffer below zero indicated range, but it is measured in a very few miles and should not be relied on.

What to do when it stops

Get the car as far off the carriageway as possible while you still have any power, because pushing an electric vehicle is heavy work and often impossible alone. Put the hazard lights on, which run from the twelve volt system rather than the main traction battery. Note your exact location, including a road name or a motorway marker post, and call for assistance. On a motorway, leave the vehicle by the nearside and wait behind the barrier as you would with any other breakdown.

Why an EV needs a flatbed

Almost all electric vehicles must be transported with all four wheels off the ground. Because the motor is permanently connected to the driven wheels, towing with those wheels turning spins the motor, which generates current back into a system that is not expecting it and can damage the drivetrain or power electronics. Regenerative braking makes the issue worse. Manufacturers are explicit about this in their handbooks, and a competent operator will arrive with a flatbed and, where necessary, dollies or skates for the wheels that cannot be lifted.

Access, neutral and transport mode

A flat electric vehicle can be difficult to move even a few feet, because with no charge the car may not release the electric parking brake or allow neutral to be selected. Many models have a mechanical release or a specific transport or tow mode, sometimes requiring the twelve volt auxiliary battery to be jumped so the systems come alive long enough to select it. This is why the recovery operator will ask for the make and model: the procedure varies, and knowing it in advance saves considerable time at the roadside.

Where the car goes

Unlike a petrol car, which can be given five litres and sent on its way, a flat electric vehicle needs a charger. That means transport to a rapid charging point, to your home charger, or to a dealer. Some operators carry mobile charging units capable of adding enough range to reach a charge point, but they are not universal, so ask when you call. Choosing a destination with a working, available rapid charger is worth two minutes of checking on an app before the truck sets off.

The twelve volt battery catches people out

Every electric car still has a conventional twelve volt battery that runs the computers, locks, lights and the contactors that connect the main pack. If it fails, the car is immobile even with a full traction battery, and it produces exactly the symptoms of a flat conventional car: no dashboard, no unlocking, no start. It is one of the most common EV recovery calls. The twelve volt battery can usually be jumped or replaced at the roadside, so mention the symptoms precisely when you ring, because it is often a much quicker fix than a full transport.

Avoiding it

Plan longer journeys around charging rather than range, and always have a second charger option, because a single broken rapid unit is the most common cause of an EV running low. Remember that cold weather, motorway speeds, a full car and a roof box all reduce range significantly, and that indicated range is based on recent driving rather than the conditions ahead. Precondition the battery while still plugged in during winter, arrive at rapid chargers with enough charge to reach an alternative, and treat 10 per cent as your working minimum rather than a target.

Frequently asked questions

Can an electric car be towed?: Generally no. Almost all EVs must be transported with all four wheels off the ground, because turning the driven wheels spins the motor and can damage the drivetrain.
What is turtle mode?: A reduced power state near empty where the car limits speed and climate control to conserve the last of the charge. Treat it as an instruction to stop somewhere safe.
Can a recovery service charge my car at the roadside?: Some operators carry mobile charging units, but it is not universal. Ask when you call, otherwise the car will be transported to a charge point.
Why will my EV not start with a full battery?: Most often the twelve volt auxiliary battery has failed. It powers the computers and contactors, and without it the car cannot wake up or connect the main pack.
How far can I go after the range shows zero?: Usually only a very small buffer of a few miles, and it should not be relied on. Plan to charge before reaching zero rather than testing it.

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Call 07402 666 687

Electric car out of charge: what happens next