The popularity of vehicles with fully electric drives is rapidly increasing, with production and registration figures on the rise. However, many drivers are still not familiar with the concept of alternative drives. Unlike traditional cars, an emergency reserve of petrol is not useful for electric vehicles when there is no nearby charging facility, leading to potential problems and bottlenecks.
Running out of battery on the side of the road is a nightmare for any electric vehicle driver. However, there are solutions to this problem. If the battery is running low, the onboard computer in the car will give a warning. It is important to carry an emergency number from the car manufacturer, especially if the new car warranty is still valid, as the car manufacturers will often provide help in such cases.
Several car manufacturers offer different forms of assistance in case of an emergency. BMW, for example, has a “BMW i-Mobile Care” mobility package that is free for the first three years, which includes a fleet of service mobiles with powerful batteries on board that can be used to charge the car’s battery on-site. Kia offers a seven-year mobility guarantee that will take you to the nearest charging station free of charge in case of an emergency. Mercedes-Benz also offers a mobile service that can be used for up to 30 years, provided annual maintenance is carried out by an authorized Mercedes-Benz partner.
However, there may be other costs that arise from carelessness. If a driver stops on the hard shoulder of a motorway or freeway because of an empty battery and is caught by the police, it will be expensive. Therefore, it is important to plan ahead and research suitable charging stations in advance.
If an electric car breaks down because of a lack of a charging station or an unexpected traffic jam, there are two ways to seek help: calling the manufacturer’s service hotline or the breakdown service. If the new car warranty has expired, Renault’s “Renault Assistance” offers help with breakdowns and similar problems, including assistance when stranded with an empty battery. However, the charging station must not be more than 80 kilometers away.
To increase the life of an electric car’s battery, it is important to avoid permanently fully charging the battery. Only fully charge the battery when planning a long journey, and otherwise maintain a state of charge of around 50 percent. The battery should not fall below 20 percent and usually not be charged over 80 percent. It is also recommended to occasionally let the battery level drop to just under 20 percent before recharging, use regular “snore charges,” and keep the battery level at around 50 percent if the electric car is not driven for a while. The battery does not handle extreme temperatures well, so it is important to avoid exposing it to extreme heat or cold. If a battery has a defect, some car manufacturers offer a battery repair service instead of immediate disposal.
