Can you Jumpstart an Electric Car?

Being able to jumpstart a car is a great skill to have in your arsenal – should you ever find yourself stuck mid-journey, it will prove invaluable!

Even if you’ve already mastered the art of jumpstarting a regular car, you may not know how to apply this technique to an electric car. However, in reality, the process is relatively straightforward. In fact, in many ways it mirrors the method required to jumpstart a standard, petrol engine car.

To help you get back on the road faster, we’ve created a comprehensive guide to jumpstart an electric car. Keep reading to find out how to jumpstart an electric car, the tools you will need, and some handy troubleshooting if it doesn’t work the first time.

What you will need to jumpstart an electric car

– Long, high-quality jumper cables

– A secondary power source – this could either be an assistive vehicle (with a charged battery), or a portable power pack that is designed to jumpstart vehicles.

How to jumpstart an electric car

Electric cars can experience the same starting problems that petrol engine cars experience. But, just as you can with a petrol engine vehicle, electric cars can likewise be jumpstarted.

This is because EVs have two batteries – a large battery, and a standard 12V battery. Interestingly, the 12V battery is the same across all cars, including both petrol and diesel engines.

While the large lithium-ion battery is the battery that powers an EV’s motor, this normal battery works in the same way as it does in any other car.

The 12V battery powers the electric car’s radio, headlights and wipers, and turns on the car’s starter motor, which then gets the engine running. So, if this battery goes flat, then the car’s engine won’t be able to start.

As a result, that means that you can jumpstart an EV in the same way that you can a petrol engine car. In fact, the process is largely the same.

Take note, however, that if you incorrectly jumpstart your car, then you may risk voiding your vehicle’s warranty. So, if you do decide to jumpstart your car, then first refer to your owner’s manual or manufacturer’s website. Check whether there are any specific instructions available for jumpstarting your vehicle, and if they are provided, be sure to follow them carefully.

The best way to jumpstart an electric car is as follows:

– Park the assisting vehicle close to the EV, so that the two vehicles’ batteries are as close together as possible.

– Turn off both the electric car and the other, assisting vehicle.

– Locate the batteries, and identify the 12V battery. This can usually be found in the car’s boot, or in the ‘trunk’ under the hood.

When jumpstarting an EV, it’s the 12V battery that you will be boosting. If you are struggling to find the 12V battery, consult your vehicle’s manual.

– Connect the jumper cables by connecting the positive (+) red cable to the positive terminal of the 12V battery in the EV. Then, connect the other end of the positive cable to the positive terminal in the assisting vehicle.

– Connect the negative (-) black cable to the negative terminal of the assisting vehicle. Then, connect the other end of the negative cable to a metal surface in the EV. This should be a solid, unpainted surface, which is located away from the battery.

– Start the assisting vehicle. Allow it to run for a few minutes (during this time, the 12V battery in the electric car will be charging).

– Try starting the electric car.

– If the car successfully starts, then you can disconnect all of the jumper cables in the reverse order to that which you attached them in. Do this by removing the negative cable attached to the EV, then the negative end in the assisting vehicle, followed by the positive cable in the assisting vehicle, and finally the positive cable in the EV’s battery.

– Keep your EV running for around 20-30 minutes. This will allow the battery to gain charge.

What to do if jumpstarting an electric car doesn’t work first time

If jumpstarting your EV isn’t successful on the first go, here are some troubleshooting tips to try:

– Check that all the cable connections are correct and secure. If the connections are loose, then this may mean the jumpstart is unsuccessful.

– Turn the EV off, wait for a few extra minutes, then try to turn it on again. Sometimes, the battery needs more time to charge.

– Check that there are no other warning lights or messages on the dash, which may prevent it from starting.

If you need new tyres for your electric car, contact the team at Watling Tyres.