Why EVs go on a flatbed
In most electric cars, the drive wheels are connected straight to the electric motors. If those wheels roll on the road while the car is being towed, the motors turn and can generate current or overheat. Many EVs are also all-wheel drive. Manufacturers' roadside guides generally say the same thing: use a flatbed, or as a short-distance exception, wheel dollies under the wheels left on the ground. A flatbed is the simple, safe answer.
Transport mode and tow mode
Many EVs have a setting, called something like transport mode, tow mode or car wash mode, that releases the parking brake so the car can roll onto the flatbed. It usually needs the car to have some 12-volt power. Your owner's manual or the car's screen shows how to turn it on. If the car has no power at all and the wheels are locked, tell dispatch: we can still load it, and the driver will plan for it.
Dead 12-volt battery vs empty main battery
EVs have two batteries. The big high-voltage battery drives the car. A small 12-volt battery runs the computers, the locks and the system that turns the car on. These are two very different problems:
- Dead 12-volt battery: the screen is black, the doors may not unlock, and the car won't power on, even if the main battery shows a good charge. A jump start to the 12-volt system, at the points the manufacturer specifies, often fixes it. Ours is $65 plus $3 a mile for the drive to you.
- Empty main battery: the car powers on but says it has no range. A jump won't help. It needs a charger, so we put it on the flatbed and take it to the nearest charger or home.
We never touch the high-voltage system.
EVs after an accident
A damaged EV battery can be dangerous, sometimes hours after a crash. If you see smoke, hear popping or hissing, or smell something sweet or chemical, get away from the car and call 911. Tell dispatch and the fire department it's an electric vehicle. A tow company should only load a crashed EV once the scene is safe.
What to tell dispatch
- That it's an EV (or a plug-in hybrid), with the year, make and model
- Whether the screen turns on, and the range showing
- Whether it's in transport or tow mode, if you know how
- Any crash damage, especially underneath the car
- Where it's going: home, a charger or a dealer
A flatbed EV tow costs the same as any other tow with us: $120 plus $8 a mile. Get an estimate with the towing cost calculator, or call (414) 254-1468.