Electric Vehicles (EVs) are becoming everyone’s favorite these days. Knowing about their safety is crucial if you own one or plan to. Although generally secured than traditional vehicles with internal combustion engines, due to lesser moving parts and a lower tendency to catch fire, EVs have their own safety measures to look out for. This guide will throw light on some crucial safety tips related to EVs. The purpose? Ensuring your safety on the road and the longevity of your prized EV.
Battery Safety: Protecting the Heart of Your EV
Your electric vehicle’s battery is a key part. Making sure it’s safe is really important. Some key advice for keeping your battery safe include:
1) Avoid Extreme Temperatures
Hot or cold weather could harm your EV’s battery and how well it works. Always try to store your vehicle in a garage or under shade to guard it from harsh temperatures. If your area has extreme heat or cold, think about utilizing a heat regulation system or pre-setting your car to ensure your battery stays in the best temperature zone. Get to know more on this from the U.S. Department of Energy’s information on how weather impacts EV batteries.
2) Regularly Inspect the Battery
Regular check-ups can find possible battery problems before they get worse. Look at the battery for any physical harm, leaks, or strange behavior. If you see something not right, get your car checked by a skilled mechanic right away.
3) Charge Safely
Always, make sure your charger fits your car. Don’t gamble with broken or off-brand chargers. At home, be sure to follow directions for setting up and looking after your EV charging station. Double-check that all is fitted and connected. If your vehicle allows, set a limit on charging to avoid going overboard.
Safe Driving Practices for Electric Vehicles
Driving an EV might need you to adjust your habits from what you’re used to with a regular car, particularly in how you manage and brake. Here are some guidance on driving for ensuring your safety:
1) Understand Regenerative Braking
Most electric cars include a feature called regenerative braking. This system turns the energy made when braking into stored energy for the battery. The car with regenerative braking can stop faster than usual cars, making it stop quickly. To understand your car’s handling, practice in a safe place. Also, get to know the control that the regenerative braking adds to your car.
2) Be Mindful of Silent Operation
EVs are quieter than old-style cars, which might lead to mishaps with unaware pedestrians. Staying aware with your sight and hearing for walkers, and other car noises around you is essential, especially in crowded areas. It’s beneficial to use a pre-existing alert system for pedestrians if your car has it. Nonetheless, giving ample space should be a priority when driving on bustling roads, moving into residential regions that are fairly new.
3) Maintain a Safe Following Distance
Electric cars can speed up faster and use a distinct way to brake compared to typical autos, so keeping enough room from the auto ahead is crucial. This way, you’ll have enough time to respond and avoid collisions, notably if the auto ahead of yours has to halt unexpectedly.
Home Preparations for Electric Vehicle Owners
Emergencies with your electric vehicle (EV) aren’t usual, but preparing for them is wise. Here are some top yet simple steps to make sure you’re well prepared:
1) Keep an Emergency Kit in Your Car
Every type of transportation needs an emergency kit. This kit should have things like a first-aid kit, a flashlight, some basic tools, a blanket, and snacks that won’t go bad. Also, consider having an emergency kit just for EVs. This could include things like a portable charger or a battery jumper.
2) Know How to Handle a Battery Fire
Battery fires in EVs, though rare, can still happen. If you suspect that your car’s lithium battery is on fire, knowing what to do is crucial. The first thing is to get out of your car and go far away as possible if you believe that the battery is aflame. You shouldn’t attempt to put out the fire all by yourself. Dial your local emergency number and let them know that your electric car equipped with a lithium-ion battery is in trouble.
3) Understand Towing Procedures
If your EV breaks down or gets hit, it might need a tow. But, towing electric cars is different to ensure the battery and engine don’t get ruined. Always look at your car manual for exact towing steps. It’s important that your tow truck driver and anyone else helping with the tow, knows it’s an EV. Some EVs might need to be towed on a flatbed to prevent harm.
Maintenance Tips to Ensure Safety
Ensuring an electric car is reliable and secure needs routine care. Some service suggestions below might be wise to follow:
1) Keep Software Updated
Electric cars occasionally require their software to be updated. This helps fix issues, enhances safety features, and improves efficiency. So, to benefit from updated functions, ensure your electric car’s software is consistently updated. Typically, these updates can be done wirelessly. This means, always watch for notifications from your car’s manufacturer.
2) Inspect Tires Regularly
Good car handling mostly depends on tire maintenance. Make sure your tire’s pressure is right, as the maker recommends. Also, check your tires for signs of wear or damage, and rotate them correctly for more safety. Regular care of tire condition makes steering better, reduces stopping lengths, and therefore boosts general safety.
3) Monitor Brake Health
EVs use regenerative braking, which could mean less strain on the usual brakes. However, keep an eye on your brake pads and rotors. Check if they’re still good enough for your use. Regular checks are crucial, especially when you spot changes in brake performance—like a strange noise or platform shake. Don’t wait to switch out parts of your car’s braking system that are old and worn. Doing this keeps your EV safe.
Conclusion
The tips about electric car safety shared earlier are helpful. They guide you on how to get a car that is not only fun but also reliable and safe. You will learn about everything from taking care of the battery, learning safe driving skills, and being ready for any emergency. You can make the most of your electric car if you focus on safety. Even though electric cars are generally safer, the most critical elements to safe driving are being informed and alert.
If you want to know how to protect your electric vehicle, then you should definitely go through our provided guide on top safety tips for electric vehicle owners.