Can You Jumpstart an Electric Vehicle A Comprehensive Guide

Can you jump-start an electric car?

One thing you might not know about electric cars is that they actually still have a normal 12-volt battery, just like every petrol or diesel-powered car. If it goes flat, it will prevent the electric car from starting.

There might be a huge lithium-ion battery pack somewhere in your electric car that drives the electric motor, but ancilliaries such as the radio, headlights and wipers are all driven from the 12v battery. If theres a power draw from one of these, usually because of a fault somewhere, the battery can run out.

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While the 12v battery in a diesel or petrol car is used to turn the starter motor and get the engine running, its not used to run the electric motor in an EV. Instead, an EVs computer systems that run the charging system cant initialise with a low battery, so the car wont come on.

The solution for a normal car is to jump-start it when the battery is flat and yes, you can do the same for an electric car, with a few caveats. Read on to find out more.

Can you jump-start an electric car?

Even if your cars lithium-ion battery is in good health, the smaller 12-volt battery may not be. An old, worn-out battery can cause issues and may need to be replaced, or there could be a fault with the charging system within the car, letting the 12v unit run down too much. If your car wont start after a while of sitting, there might be a battery draw from the electronics, or you might simply have left the lights on, for example.

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Since the EVs computers run on this battery, in many cases it cant even take on a charge from the normal plug, because the system wont start up properly. Or, there may be life in the main battery for the motor, but not enough to get it to boot up. In this case you can jump-start it using crocodile cables or jump leads. You need to locate the battery first - its usually under the bonnet, but check your cars manual.

Once you've located the battery, use a battery starter or another vehicle to boost it with appropriate jump leads, ensuring theyre firmly attached to the batterys terminals in the correct order. If you're receiving a boost from another vehicle, this must be a petrol or diesel vehicle. An electric vehicle shouldn't be plugged in to charge when you jump-start it, either, as this may fry some of the on-board electronics and cause expensive damage.

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The dead electric car must not be plugged into a charger when you attempt a jump-start. Only plug it in once youve completed the procedure, the car has fired into life, and the jump leads have been disconnected.

Its also worth remembering that you cant push-start an electric car. The way a push-start works is to get the engine (with a manual gearbox) running without using the starter motor, but the way electric cars work means that trying to push-start one wont work and is potentially dangerous so dont try it.

Can you jump-start a hybrid?

Like electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids can also be jump-started. The process should, in fact, be slightly easier because the battery will probably be located next to the engine as it is in a conventional car. If it isnt, consult your cars handbook.

Can you use an electric car as a booster vehicle to jump-start other cars?

It's not recommended to use an electric or plug-in hybrid car to jump-start another vehicle. Doing so can put the on-board electronics at risk and potentially cause serious damage. Nissan advises owners of the Leaf not to use it as a booster vehicle, as its battery can't supply enough power to jump-start another car. Meanwhile, the handbook for BMW plug-in hybrids states they shouldn't be used for jump-starting. These are two specific examples, but its best to simply not use any electric or hybrid car to boost another vehicle.

If you cant find a petrol or diesel car, or a battery booster, to restart your car, its time to make use of your breakdown cover all the major providers will be able to resurrect an electric car unless the problems run much deeper. Should the problem be more severe, its recommended that your electric car is taken away on a flatbed truck, rather than by being towed behind another vehicle, as this can also cause damage.

Can Electric Cars Give Jumps?

Jump-starting another car is a generous act of kindness to your fellow beings. However, that was when everyone drove the same kind of car, an internal combustion engine, otherwise known as a gas-powered car. Now that youve got an electric vehicle, youre probably wondering if you should carry jumper leads still so that you can give another car a jump if needed.

You should not use your electric car to give a jump to another vehicle. The 12V battery in an EV is not strong enough, and it will likely permanently damage the battery. It is also likely to void the warranty of your car. You definitely should not use the main battery that drives the car as this could cause injury to you.

Lets read on to go through the ins and outs of using an electric car to give a jump.

Can You Use an Electric Car to Jump-Start a Gas-Powered One?

Jump-starting a gas-powered car with an EV is generally not possible, and its not recommended to attempt it. Due to the way the battery of an electric car works, compared to that of a regular gas-powered one, this can lead to a disaster quickly.

An electric car has a 12-volt battery like a regular one, but it exists for different purposes. While the battery in a regular car is supposed to power up the starter, the 12V battery in an electric car merely activates the various electronic components of the system.

Because of this, an electric cars battery is significantly weaker than that of a gas-powered model. You may be able to connect the two batteries and attempt a jump-start, but it will likely result in damage to your battery. On top of that, the attempt will be unsuccessful.

Thats why the manuals for most electric cars include a disclaimer advising against this. You may even void your warranty by attempting this.

What Risks Are Involved in Using an Electric Car for a Jump-Start?

As we mentioned above, an electric cars battery is not powerful enough to jump-start a regular gas-powered model. Attempting this could cause irreversible damage to your battery, preventing you from starting your electric car.

In addition, this type of damage will not be covered by your warranty. You may even find yourself voiding the entire warranty of the car by attempting to jump-start a gas-powered model with it. Therefore, we strongly advise against this.

In case youre wondering if there are any models on the EV market with a battery powerful enough to work in this situation, the answer is a firm no. The 12V battery of an electric car is always used for the same purposes between different marques and models, so you wont be able to find one that fits the bill for jump-starting a gas-powered model.

This applies no matter how powerful your electric car is. Remember, the 12V battery is not the one that powers the vehicle itself, so its not tied to driving performance at all. Its only used for starting the main and auxiliary electronic systems, which doesnt require a lot of power.

If you attempt this, you might notice that your car behaves oddly afterward. Its battery monitoring could be compromised, and even if the results arent immediately apparent, you will likely encounter problems.

Can You Jump-Start an Electric Car from a Gas-Powered Car?

Jump-starting the 12V battery of your electric car is a different story. Since a gas-powered cars battery is stronger, it should be able to provide the necessary boost to get your battery up and running in case its dead.

However, this only applies to the 12V battery, not the main one that powers the engine! If your main battery is out of power, theres little you can do to jump-start it with the help of another car. Your best bet, in this case, is to find a way to recharge your vehicle correctly.

The process is the same as when jump-starting a regular car. Connect the jumper cables in the same pattern and perform the process as you usually would. Again, keep in mind that this will only provide you with power for the 12V battery and wont do anything to recharge the main battery of your electric car.

This can be useful when your car still has power in the main battery but the 12V battery has died for whatever reason. Sadly, its not possible to use the main battery to recharge the 12V one, as you cannot start the cars electronics at all in this state.

Ive expanded upon this question of how you can jump-start an electric car from a gas-powered vehicle in this article here. There are different steps you need to take depending on whether you have a lithium-ion 12V batter or a lead acid 12V battery and whether it is so dead you cant even pop the front trunk.

Can A Hybrid Car Jump A Gas-Powered Car?

Hybrids have a more powerful battery, sharing some functionality with regular cars. This makes it possible to jump-start a gas-powered vehicle with a hybrid. However, its still not advised to do it too often.

There is still some difference between the battery of a hybrid and that of a fully gas-powered car. A hybrids battery is weaker overall, even if its stronger than the 12V battery of an electric car.

Using it for a jump-start once or twice is okay. But you should give your car enough resting time between attempts and avoid doing it too often within a short window.

There is no issue with the inverse configuration. You can easily use a regular car to jump-start a hybrid. This can work better than with an electric vehicle, as the battery in a hybrid is responsible for more than just the electronic systems.

However, you still cant rely on this method to increase the range of a hybrid, or get it to start once its run out of power.

What Can I Do if My Electric Car Runs Out of Power?

If youre looking to get your electric car back on the road after its run out of power, your only options are to call for assistance or a tow truck. Mobile chargers are starting to make their way through the market nowadays, and you can expect high-end towing companies to have one available.

Other than that, you cannot do much to get your electric car up and running again. As we mentioned above, the batteries of an electric car do not work like those of a regular car. Jumping the 12V battery wont do you any good if the main one is empty. And you cant jump-start the main battery used to power the drive train of the car. It requires too much power, which can only be provided by proper charging equipment.

The same goes for increasing the range of your electric car, even by a little bit. This is not possible through jump-starting. The only way to do that is to recharge the battery through a proper charging method. Being adequately prepared and planning for long trips is key to avoiding problems in this regard.

In Summary

Its not possible to use an electric car to jump a gas-powered car as the battery isnt strong enough. Trying to give another car a jump start is the right thing to do. However, it is likely to damage your EV permanently, and could void your warranty.

If you are curious about electric vehicle charging in general, we have a comprehensive guide to how electric vehicles charge here.

How to jump start your car

Weve all been there. You open up your car, climb inside, turn the key in the ignition and ... nothing. Your car wont start because the battery has died, yet you have places to be. What now?

Thankfully, a dead battery is one of the easiest car problems to deal with and can be fixed with a simple jump-start. Using another car to revive yours sounds like a complicated process, but once you get going youll find that its very simple, if a little time-intensive.

So heres how to jump-start a car and get yourself back on the road.

If your car seats have seen better days, read how to clean a car seat like a pro.

What to do before youjump-start your car

What you'll need

A car with a dead batteryA gasoline-powered car with a functional batteryJumper cablesPatience

The most important thing about playing with electricity is to make sure its safe to do so. That way, your car shouldnt suffer any significant damage when you attempt to refill the battery.

Your first step is to make sure the battery is in good working condition. That means ensuring it isnt damaged and theres no leakage of any kind.

If it is leaking, you should stop what youre doing and call roadside assistance. The same goes for jumper cables, because damaged cables can do more harm than good.

Its also worth making sure you arent wearing any baggy or hanging clothes, such as scarves or ties, because theres a risk they could get stuck in the moving parts of the engine. The same goes for long hair tie it back before you lean over a running engine.

You should also check to make sure theres no stray metal touching the battery, because this can cause sparks.

How to jump-start your car

1. Position both cars so that both batteries are within reach of the jumper cables.
2. Turn off both engines and pop the hoods, then ensure the hand or parking brakes are on.
3. Connect your red jumper cable to the positive terminal on the working battery.
4. Connect the other end of the red jumper cable on the positive terminal on the dead battery.
5. Connect the black jumper cable to the negative terminal on the working battery.
6. Connect the other end of the black jumper cable to a grounding point on the car with a dead battery. This can be any piece of unpainted metal in the engine block provided its well away from the battery and fuel system.
7. Switch on the working cars ignition and let the engine run for a couple of minutes.
8. Switch on the ignition on the car with the dead battery and try to get the engine to turn over. You may have to pump the gas pedal a few times before the engine starts. If two or three start tries don't do it, wait a couple of minutes and then try again.
9. Once both cars are running, leave them both idling for around 10 minutes. This will recharge the dead battery enough to give it an independent start.
10. Switch off both engines.
11. Remove the jumper cables in reverse order, and be sure the leads dont touch each other.
12. Turn on your cars engine.

At this point your cars engine should be able to start even without being connected to the second car. If it still wont start, try repeating steps 1-8. After that, you will probably need to call a roadside assistance company for help.

How to jump-start a car with a battery booster pack

If you planned for this eventuality already and have a charged-up battery-booster pack in your car, then the jump-start process is much the same, albeit without having to find a second car willing to wait around to give you a jump. Heres what you do:

1. Make sure the booster pack is fully charged otherwise every other step is futile.
2. Connect the red jump lead to your car batterys positive terminal.
3. Connect the black jump lead to a grounding point.
4. Start the engine.
5. Let the car run for five to ten minutes.
6. Turn off the engine and disconnect the battery pack in reverse order: black then red.
7. Restart your engine.

What to do after your car has been jump-started

Your car likely needed a jump because something drained the battery to the point where it wasnt able to power the starter motor. Once your car is up and running, you need to make sure that the battery is recharged so you dont need another jump next time you want to use the car.

The good news is that the battery recharges by itself as you drive. Fifteen to 30 minutes of uninterrupted driving with the headlights off will usually do the trick. If you're driving at night, it could take longer.

Can you jump-start an EV?

Yes, you can indeed jump-start an electric vehicle, although the circumstances in which youd need to give an EV a jump are rare.

Electric cars have two batteries. The larger main battery powers the wheels; a smaller 12-volt battery, similar to a regular car battery, powers everything else. The 12V battery recharges using power from the main battery.

That means the only times you would need a jump are if you let the main battery level drop to zero, or you left the car plugged in for too long. In either case, it would still take about two weeks for the 12V battery to lose its charge.

However, most EVs can be jump-started in exactly the same way as a regular gasoline-powered car. I should mention that a jump can only provide power for the 12V battery and will not offer any additional range.

Its also worth emphasizing that EV 12V batteries dont have the cranking power necessary to jump-start a gasoline-powered car, so attempting to do that can cause significant damage to the EV's electrical system.

For other car tips and tricks, check out our guide on how to drive in the snow and how to defrost a windshield without damaging it.