What to Do If an Electric Vehicle Runs Out of Battery on the Highway?
3 Answers
If an electric vehicle runs out of battery on the highway, you should: 1. Call a tow truck to tow the vehicle to the nearest charging station; 2. Try to control the vehicle's speed—pressing the accelerator deeply for extended periods at high speeds will deplete the battery very quickly. It's best to maintain a speed of 90km/h to reduce power consumption; 3. Pull over and call the 4S store for assistance. When driving an electric vehicle long distances on the highway, plan ahead before the trip by checking which service areas have charging stations. Additionally, when the battery level drops below 30%, you should look for a service area to recharge. If the remaining distance is not far, charging the battery to 80% is sufficient.
I just had this unpleasant experience on the highway a few days ago. Seeing the battery level drop to only 5%, I immediately turned on the hazard lights and pulled over to the far-right emergency lane, placing a triangular warning sign 150 meters behind the car. First, I contacted the highway rescue hotline 122, and they arranged for a tow truck service. Then, using a charging app, I found the nearest service area with fast charging stations. The tow truck driver helped tow my car there, and just 30 minutes of charging was enough to get me to the exit. This experience taught me a lesson—now, I always use the battery estimation feature on my navigation for long trips and make sure to recharge early at service areas.
After three years of driving an electric vehicle, I've developed a set of emergency protocols. Before hitting the highway, I always check the distribution of charging stations along the route using a map app, paying special attention to the maximum distance between two service areas. When the battery level drops below 30%, I start looking for charging opportunities immediately—never wait until it's nearly depleted. If you do run out of power unexpectedly, stay calm: activate the vehicle's SOS emergency call system or contact your insurance company's roadside assistance—they can dispatch a mobile charging unit to your location for a quick recharge. For added peace of mind, keep an emergency power pack in your trunk at all times.