Impact in an electric car — the battery risk after a crash
A damaged traction pack can ignite hours later. Never touch the orange cables; the car is transported and left in the open.
Symptoms
- An impact to the floor or sill of the car
- Hissing, crackling or a sweet chemical smell
- Smoke from under the car, even faint
- The cabin floor is unusually warm
Get out first and move away. If the battery may be damaged, the safe distance is at least 15 metres, upwind. The traction pack sits under the floor and is exactly what takes the hits from kerbs, potholes and side impacts.
Do not touch the orange cables. Orange means high voltage — hundreds of volts that do not forgive. Do not open the bonnet, do not touch components under the car and do not try to disconnect the pack.
The danger is not only at the moment of impact. A damaged cell can go into thermal runaway hours or days later, even if the car looks intact. That is why after a floor impact the car goes to a workshop for inspection, not into a garage under a home.
Hissing, crackling or smoke means call the emergency number immediately. Such a fire is not put out with a powder extinguisher and is not a job for a passer-by.
How it is transported: on a flatbed only, with no attempt to drive or tow it, and where possible left in an open area away from other cars and buildings. Tell us it is an electric car after an impact — that changes both the equipment and where we will put it.
Leave your number — we will call you
If you are in a hurry, calling is fastest. The form is for when you cannot speak.