How to Jump-Start an (EV) Electric Vehicle

Many Golden drivers have been surprised to find out that the powerful, high-voltage lithium batteries are not the only batteries in their electric vehicles. Electric vehicles also have a regular, 12-volt lead-acid battery, just like you’d find in any gas-powered automobile. While these 12-volt batteries typically charge when the lithium batteries are being charged, they can still die or get drained from time to time. If that happens, the car will not be able to start. Does that mean you can jump your EV? Yes, you can. What about jump-starting other cars? Can you jump-start a car with an EV? Our service center wants you to be informed, so let’s answer that question below and talk about the proper EV jump start procedure.

How to Do an EV Jump-Start, Step by Step

First, we should make clear these instructions are specifically for jump-starting your EV’s 12-volt battery. You should never try to jump your high-voltage lithium batteries. That having been said, if you follow the simple steps below, you should be back on our Fort Collins roads in no time:

EV Jump Start Procedure

1. Park both cars close enough to each other so that the jumper cables can easily reach from one battery to the other. Alternatively, you can also use a portable jump-start device instead of another car.
2. Make sure both cars are in park and that the ignitions are turned off.
3. Connect the positive (red) clamps to the positive (+) terminals on the batteries.
4. Connect the negative (black) clamps to the negative (-) terminals on the batteries.
5. Turn on the engine in the car with the good battery.
6. Try to start the EV.
7. Once started, disconnect the cables and allow the car to run for at least 20 minutes to give the battery a full charge.

Can You Jump-Start a Car with an EV?

What about using your EV to jump-start another car in need? You would think that with all that electric power coursing through your EV, it would be ideally suited to jump-start another vehicle. So, can you jump-start a car with an EV? Surprisingly, no. An EV is not designed to output energy from the batteries to another vehicle, and this should not be attempted.

Let the Service Center at Fisher Acura of Boulder Help

If the battery in your car continues to give you trouble, schedule an appointment with our service center. Our battery experts can easily diagnose the problem and get you back on your way quickly. And, if you found this guide to be helpful, you might enjoy our posts explaining the difference between hybrid and electric cars and whether Acura makes an electric vehicle. We’re just down the road from Thornton. So, drop by or contact us today.