The electric car will not wake up — the 12-volt battery is to blame
The main pack can be full while the car is completely dead. The small battery powers the locks, the display and the contactors.
Symptoms
- The car will not unlock with the key or phone
- The display stays dark although the pack is charged
- Only a click when trying to start
- The door handles do not extend
Every electric car has two batteries. The large traction pack moves the car. A separate 12-volt battery powers the computers, the display, the locks and — most importantly — the contactors that connect the main pack to the system at all. If the small one dies, the car is dead no matter how full the big one is.
That is why the car will not unlock. On many models the handles are electric. Almost every manufacturer provides a mechanical backup: a hidden lock under a cap in the handle, an emergency release in the boot, or external terminals behind a front panel. The location differs by model and is given in the handbook.
A jump start helps, but only for a moment. If the 12-volt battery is old or has been deeply discharged, the car will wake up and then die again. That is not a reason to set off.
Why towing becomes harder: without 12 volts neutral cannot be selected and the electric parking brake stays applied. The wheels will not turn, so the car goes onto the flatbed with a winch and skates under the wheels — tell us about this on the phone.
When to call: when the car dies again after a jump, when you cannot open the door, or when you are on a busy road.
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If you are in a hurry, calling is fastest. The form is for when you cannot speak.