What does the car ready light mean?
2 Answers
It means the vehicle has completed all preparations, has successfully started, and is ready to depart at any time. This is a startup status indicator unique to new energy electric vehicles. Here are detailed explanations: 1. Gear positions: Many electric vehicles on the market have different gear positions compared to conventional automatic transmission cars. The gear selector in electric vehicles is typically a rotary knob shape, operated by twisting. There are usually four gear positions: R (Reverse), N (Neutral), D (Drive), and S (Sport mode). For smaller vehicles, there might be three gear positions: R, N, and D, missing the Sport mode. 2. Ready light: When starting, first fasten the seat belt. Then firmly press the brake pedal and release the handbrake with your right hand. Press the engine start button to turn its indicator light green and display the "Ready" message on the instrument panel. Note that not all vehicles have this Ready light feature.
When I see the READY light illuminated on the dashboard, I know the car is fully started and ready to drive. Especially in hybrid or electric vehicles, this light indicates the powertrain is in standby mode—the engine might not be running yet, but the electric system is already activated, just waiting for you to press the accelerator. Back when I drove a traditional gasoline car, there was no such light. Now that I've switched to a hybrid, I've learned to glance at the READY light after ignition. If it's not on, I need to check whether the foot brake is fully depressed or if there's a system malfunction. Developing this habit prevents situations where the car won't move when starting, particularly after waiting at traffic lights for extended periods—the car may auto-stop to save energy, and the READY light reminds you it's ready to go. This design is quite smart, balancing fuel efficiency and safety. I recommend everyone confirms the light is on before starting off.
