More and more people are finding that there are several benefits that come from choosing an electric vehicle (EV) when they need to buy a new car. While the early models showed a short range, the newer models have many upgrades including the battery. With the limited amount of maintenance that you need for an EV, combined with the fact that you don’t have to buy gas, people are making the switch. However, what happens when you are driving and your battery runs out? It isn’t like you can just go to the nearest gas station to get more fuel. Speedway Towing & Roadside Assistance is here to talk about what happens next when your battery runs out while driving.
How to Know If Your EV Battery Needs a Charge
Much like gas powered vehicles need gas every few hundred miles, an EV needs to be charged after a certain amount of miles to continue driving. When your battery is getting low, it isn’t only indicated in the car like when a gas car is low on gas, there are apps that are linked to your vehicle that can also send you alerts. These apps as well as the vehicle can often help you navigate to the nearest charging station to help you out.
How Far Can an Electric Car Go on a Full Charge
How far you can make it on a single charge depends greatly on the vehicle you are driving. Some EVs can only go about 100 miles before they need to be charged again, while others can give you almost 500 miles between charges. The newer EVs are showing much more promise in longer ranges than the first ones that hit the market. It is wise to not let your battery reach an all-time low though. Manufacturers warn that dipping below 10% battery can be hard on the battery. To get optimal usage out of your vehicle’s battery, keep it charged between 20%-80%.
What Happens When Your Vehicle’s Battery Dies?
If you do happen to miscalculate the distance your EV can go without a charge, you need to know what to do next. EVs aren’t the same as gas powered cars as they regenerate their battery as the brakes are used. Because of this, you can tow them using a dolly or tow rope. They need to be towed on a flatbed trailer to avoid damaging that regenerative braking system that is built into them. There may be some makes and models that allow towing with two weeks still on the ground, but the safest option is towing on a flatbed.
Towing & Roadside Assistance Services in Irving, Fort Worth, Arlington, Carrollton & Plano Texas
If you find yourself on the side of the road with a completely dead EV battery, you are going to need the help of Speedway Towing & Roadside Assistance. We have several flatbed tow trucks that will effectively and safely tow your vehicle to the nearest charging station or to your home so that you can continue on to your destination. Call us today!
