Over time, electric vehicles can push cars with classic internal combustion engines off the roads. However, many drivers do not have enough knowledge about what are the features of electric vehicles and even less knowledge of what to do with an electric vehicle in various emergency situations. If you don’t want to look for a company to get cash for your junk car, then you need to learn all the features of electric car care. This will increase the life of your vehicle.
An electric vehicle involved in an accident
Electric vehicles also get into accidents. The design of modern electric cars can withstand extremely high loads and in some ways even exceeds the safety of traditional models with internal combustion engines.
For example, if the battery is located under the floor, then in the event of a side collision, its body additionally protects the interior from deformation. In addition, the heavy battery shifts the vehicle’s center of gravity towards the ground and thereby reduces the risk of a rollover. Finally, all the heavy components of the electric vehicle are located in the base, which allows you to create larger crumple zones in the front and behind, which can more effectively absorb impact energy.
On the other hand, in addition to mechanical damage, in a serious accident, the electronic components of an electric vehicle can be damaged, which creates additional risks for the driver and passengers. First of all, the traction battery and high-voltage electrical wiring are dangerous.
For this reason, the wiring of a modern electric vehicle has several degrees of protection – from mechanical to electronic. It allows you to avoid electric shock in case of partial destruction of the insulation or even a complete break in the current-carrying lines. The protective system will forcibly de-energize them.
The situation with traction batteries is more complicated. To date, the vast majority of electric vehicles are equipped with Li-Ion batteries, and the batteries themselves usually differ only in the layout of the “cells” and the method of cooling them. With all the advantages of this type of battery, there is a significant drawback: they are prone to fire. Most often this can happen for the following reasons:
- The short circuit inside the traction battery.
- Mechanical damage to cells.
- Battery overheating.
Early models of electric cars have a fairly vulnerable battery, and its short circuit during various impacts happens quite often. In more modern models, an impact during an accident most likely will not lead to critical damage to the cells: now, when designing cars, special attention is paid to the battery protective casing.
If after an accident you have a suspicion that the battery or cooling system has been damaged, then immediately turn off the electric vehicle and leave it. After that, it is worth disconnecting the special wire provided in most modern electric cars. It forcibly breaks the electrical circuit of the battery and does not allow it to heat up.
Carry out further transportation of the car after a serious impact on the tow truck.
Electric car flooded with water
Water and electricity are a bad and dangerous combination. However, when designing electric vehicles, all possible operational features are taken into account: rains, high-pressure washing, and even rivers along the way. A working battery is completely sealed, and all connections and contacts are securely isolated. With relatively short exposure to moisture, this eliminates any negative consequences. For example, some manufacturers claim the maximum wading depth is about twice the ground clearance of an electric vehicle.
As for more severe and prolonged floods, the electric motors and the battery are likely to survive them unscathed. But all other parts of an electric car will suffer just like any other. The most dangerous result of such bathing can be corrosion on the control unit boards and inside the connectors.
The risk of electric shock is reduced to almost zero, even if the insulation is broken somewhere. In such a case, protection is provided that breaks the electrical circuit.
An electric car doesn’t start
An electric car may refuse to drive even when the traction battery is fully charged. The design of an electric car does not have a fuel system, spark plugs, or ignition coils, so the problem when the car does not start is usually related to the discharge of a conventional 12-volt battery. It powers the on-board electronics, which is responsible for diagnosing the system before launch, and without it, the launch can be considered unsafe and blocked by electronics.
You can solve the problem with the help of the usual “lighting” from another car. But it is still better to monitor the voltage at the terminals and, if necessary, replenish the charge. This battery is charged in the same way as in a conventional car.
An electric car is completely discharged
Electric cars always warn the driver when the battery level is low in order to avoid the unpleasant situation of a complete discharge. However, getting to the power source, even with all sorts of tricks, is sometimes impossible. In such a situation, there are only two options for solving the problem.
The first and most obvious option is a tow truck to the nearest ECS. The car will simply be delivered to the “socket”, and it can be charged in the normal mode.
The second is towing an electric car by another car. In practice, this method is not so simple and unambiguous. First, you need to carefully study the instructions for the car. Most manufacturers categorically forbid towing electric vehicles. This is due to the fact that, unlike the internal combustion engine, the electric motor is always connected to the wheels. But there are exceptions. For example, a special “towing” mode can be provided, which will allow you to drive a fairly impressive distance on the hitch while keeping the specified speed limit.
Wrapping up
As a rule, owners of electric vehicles rarely face serious problems. However, it is worth knowing that in a serious accident there is a risk of a short circuit inside the battery, broken wiring, or a breakdown in the cooling system. Electric vehicles are resistant to moisture for short-term exposure. If the car drowns, the battery may remain intact, but the contacts and connectors will oxidize. If you have an electric car that has been damaged in an accident or drowned, you can sell it to Junk Cars Us. It is possible to sell your old or broken vehicle anywhere in the USA except for Alaska and Puerto Rico.
