Questions about a drained battery

Atlantic Dawn

Sorry if this has been asked already but if you drain the battery completely from an EV while out on a drive is there any solution that can be done roadside for a temporary charge by roadside recovery services or would the car need to be lifted/towed to a charge point?

GreyDad

In the UK some of the RAC recovery vehicles have an emergency recharge pack to pump enough electrons into the battery to get you to nearby charger. I don't know if these or an equivalent are available in Ireland but they do exist.

If you're not far from electricity and have some willing helpers then put the car into N and push it if you can. Remember you don't need to go as far as a charging station! You just need a 13A outside plug somewhere so you can plug your 'granny cable' in for a basic charge. A nearby house or business may well help you out if asked nicely.

If you;re in the middle of nowhere then you'll need a tow/recovery, but then again that's no different to any other vehicle

cros13

GreyDad wrote: »

In the UK some of the RAC recovery vehicles have an emergency recharge pack to pump enough electrons into the battery to get you to nearby charger. I don't know if these or an equivalent are available in Ireland but they do exist.

Yup AA Ireland has one. But since all EVs have free recovery included to the nearest charger mostly you'd just get towed there.

However I've never run out of juice and don't know anyone who has since the rapid chargers were built. It would be a less common occurrence than someone running out of petrol, mainly 'cause in an EV there are plenty of warnings before you get anywhere close.

homer911

cros13 wrote: »

But since all EVs have free recovery included to the nearest charger mostly you'd just get towed there.

Who provides this service? Who you gonna call....? (Not the ghostbusters..)

cros13

homer911 wrote: »

Who provides this service? Who you gonna call....? (Not the ghostbusters..)

Nissan, BMW and Renault include free EU recovery for the duration of the warranty on their EVs. The number is usually on the manual, a sticker or in the Nav system.

Leaf:
http://www.windsor.ie/new_cars_warranty.aspx

Renault includes recovery with the battery:
https://www.renault.ie/vehicles/new-vehicles/zoe/battery-and-charging.html

I had a faulty winter tire (the tire had been improperly stored), the tire's inner sidewall cracked within the first 24 hours. The car automatically called BMW's 24/7 emergency line and transferred my GPS location and the car's diagnostic report on the problem, local flatbed truck was there within 15 minutes at 2AM in the morning.

DrPhilG

So even though I bought my Leaf second hand and in the UK, I can still get recovered?

cros13

DrPhilG wrote: »

So even though I bought my Leaf second hand and in the UK, I can still get recovered?

I believe so... it covers recovery across the whole EU. Keep a record of it's original reg number in the car to be safe as it's probably registered under that.

cros13

Had a chat with a guy from JTM Power today.

Turns out those portable charge units the AA is trialing are an Irish invention after all!

http://www.jtmpower.ie/index.php?target=news&news_id=28&page=1#28

http://www.jtmpower.ie/electric-vehicle-support-products/ev-rescue-electric-vehicle-charging-systems.html