What does READY mean on a car?
4 Answers
READY means "the vehicle has completed all preparations, has successfully started, and is ready to go at any time." The specific introduction is as follows: Meaning of READY: Both electric vehicles and hybrid new energy vehicles display the startup status in this way. Because after a new energy vehicle starts, there is no engine roar, making it difficult for the owner to determine whether the vehicle has started successfully. Therefore, the READY indicator light is used to alert the driver. Common car dashboard lights include: tail lights or headlights; high beam indicator light, which appears when the high beam is turned on with the headlights on; low beam light, which appears when the low beam is turned on and the headlights are angled downward; front fog light, located below the front of the vehicle; emergency warning and turn signal operation lights; engine warning light; brake pad damage warning light, typically found in imported vehicles and lights up when sensors related to the brake pads malfunction; TPMS warning light, which illuminates when the tire pressure is low; low fuel warning light, which lights up when the fuel tank level is between 5 to 7 liters.
As someone who drove gasoline cars for over a decade before suddenly switching to an electric vehicle, I was completely baffled by the READY light at first. Later I learned that this thing is essentially the EV equivalent of a "successful ignition" signal. After pressing the brake and pushing the start button, the car automatically checks critical components like the battery, motor, and control systems. If everything's normal, a green READY indicator pops up on the dashboard. Only then is the vehicle's high-voltage system truly powered up, allowing you to shift gears and drive away immediately. The most practical benefit comes during cold winter starts - whereas I used to wait 3-5 minutes to warm up my gas car, now I just wait for the READY light and get instant warm air from the heater, saving both time and hassle.
We new energy vehicle owners all call it the "READY light" because when it lights up, it means the steed is ready. Unlike traditional cars, electric vehicles don't have engine vibration sounds when starting, so designers specifically created this light prompt. From my daily commuting experience: sit in the car, fasten the seatbelt, press the brake and hit the start button, and within about two seconds the READY light will come on. This indicates that the 400V high-voltage system is activated, and the battery pack is ready to output power at any time. If you try to shift gears without the light on, the car simply won't move. Once I forgot to unplug the charging cable and pressed the start button—the READY light stubbornly refused to illuminate, and the dashboard popped up a reminder. This safety design is indeed thoughtful.
The mechanic told me during the repair that the READY light is essentially the health report of the vehicle's control system. After the low-voltage battery powers the vehicle's systems, it automatically scans the three-electric system: checking if the battery pack voltage is stable, whether the motor controller temperature is normal, and if there's any leakage in the high-voltage wiring harness. Only when everything is OK will it show a green light. This design specifically addresses the characteristics of electric vehicles, as they lack the ignition feedback of fuel-powered cars. It's even more noticeable in hybrid vehicles—when the READY light is on, the engine can automatically start and stop during driving. However, it's important to note that the light being on doesn't mean you can drive off immediately; you must press the brake pedal to shift gears.
