Electric car battery empty: Can I tow my electric car?

There are now some e-cars with a good range – breaking down because of an empty battery should no longer be a big fear. Nevertheless, there is of course the possibility of not getting any further with the electric car because of a breakdown – just tow it away, right? Unfortunately, this is a bit more complicated - we tell you whether towing is possible and what you have to pay attention to.

You can only break down with the e-car if you have one. If you need one more, you can find the top e-car deals here:

 

What to do if the e-car breaks down?

Electric cars have become an indispensable part of road traffic – the path to the electric age has long since begun. Even though there is currently no government subsidy for e-cars, it makes sense to get one in the future. We understand that you may still be unsure about the battery and range - after all, a classic reserve canister is of no use to you when the battery is empty.

If you have broken down and would have to tow the e-car, you have the following options:

• Call the manufacturer's service hotline or
• Contact roadside assistance

Unfortunately, you can only use a portable battery to a limited extent at the moment. The selection is still small and the devices cost quite a lot of money. When you get out of the car, be sure to wear a high-visibility vest so that you can be seen by other road users.

This means that you have to go the conventional way and that usually means: have it towed. You can find out how this works with an electric car in the next section.

Main cause of e-car breakdowns

In 2023, more cars broke down than in the previous year - including more e-cars. But if you think you know why, you'll be surprised. The main cause of e-car breakdowns were:

• A defective starter battery
• Defective tires

You're probably thinking: How can the starter battery on an electric car be defective if you have a huge battery driving around? This question is justified, but the battery can only charge the 12-volt battery when the car is moving. If your electric car sits around for too long or the winter cold becomes a problem, the starter battery can break down. Manufacturers should work on this in the future.

A flat tire also happens again and again in e-cars. However, this has less to do with the drive than with bad roads. A tire blowout can be dangerous. Combustion engines are also affected by flat tires and therefore have to be towed. Run-flat tires could possibly be a solution here.

 

Can you tow an e-car?

Towing sounds easy, but it's not easy with an electric car. Safe towing only works to a limited extent, because energy is always generated in the electric motor via at least one axle. If the energy flows without the on-board system activated, damage to the control electronics can occur.

In order to tow an e-car, you usually have to load it, but if you indicate this in advance to the breakdown service, this should usually not be a problem.

This is how the technology of the e-car affects towing

Now more precisely: What is the problem with towing an e-car? An electric car generates electricity as soon as the wheels are turned. If this happens uncontrollably during towing, it can damage the car. This also means that the manufacturer's warranty no longer applies.

Because the electric motors in the car act as generators and recuperation – i.e. the recovery of energy – occurs during braking, the risk of uncontrolled power generation is relatively high.

In order for the electric car to be towed away on its own wheels, the transmission selector lever must always be in the neutral position, i.e. at idle. But now we know that the main cause of a breakdown is a defective 12-volt battery – and without a functioning battery, the transmission selector lever cannot be operated either. A tricky situation.

Towing an electric car: Don't do it yourself!

Conversely, this means that it is better never to tow an e-car yourself! Of course, you could temporarily revive the 12-volt battery with a jump starter – but there is still a risk of something breaking during towing. A towing service is familiar with the problem and will take your car to the nearest workshop without any damage.

 

How can I avoid breaking down?

We now know what the main cause of an e-car breakdown is – of course, this can happen from time to time, but there are also other ways to break down. How can this be avoided?

 

Remaining range: Can you rely on it?

In order to rule out a breakdown due to an empty battery as far as possible, car manufacturers have taken some measures. Just as there is a fuel gauge in a conventionally powered car, an electric car also has a range indicator. The remaining range is calculated using various parameters, such as the use of air conditioning or heating, individual driving style, topography and outside temperature have an influence on it.

The more evenly you ride, the more accurate the display of the remaining kilometers will be.

If you come into a critical area, you should visit a charging station as soon as possible and drive as slowly and evenly as possible. In many cases, the integrated navigation system also shows you the nearest charging stations that can still be reached with the remaining battery.

Overall, you should make sure that your battery is charged and that there are enough charging points available on the route before a longer journey. Then it is hardly possible that you need the breakdown service because of an empty battery.

 

How to extend the life of your battery

You know this from the battery of your own smartphone, at the beginning you can get by for a week with one battery charge, a few years later the battery only lasts one day. It's similar with the electric car, the battery loses capacity over time. However, there are a few tricks that you can use to keep your battery fit for longer. We have summarized these in detail in our article on battery life.

The fear of stopping with the electric car is therefore usually unfounded. However, find out about the different charging options for your electric car and, if necessary, you can choose your electric car according to the best price-range ratio.

 

Manufacturers' mobility guarantee

Most manufacturers offer a so-called mobility guarantee, which takes effect in the event of a breakdown and helps you out of a jam. But be careful: It's better to find out in advance whether there is a warranty even if there is a breakdown due to an empty battery. Sometimes this option is excluded. We have listed some manufacturers where the "empty battery reason" is not excluded:

BMW is an exception with the so-called BMW Mobile Recharger, because no other manufacturer currently offers a charging service at the scene of a breakdown. However, it may also be that a manufacturer does not consider an empty battery to be a breakdown. At Opel, this reason is explicitly excluded and you would have to pay for a breakdown service yourself in this case despite the warranty.