Highlighting safety procedures, expert provides steps when EV suddenly shuts down

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Automotive expert from the School of Electrical Engineering and Informatics at Bandung Institute of Technology (STEI-ITB), Agus Purwadi, has emphasised the importance of understanding the correct safety procedures, particularly when an electric vehicle (EV) suddenly shuts down at a railway crossing or on the highway. He made this statement in relation to the train accident at Bekasi Timur Station, West Java, on Monday (27/4) evening, which involved one electric taxi unit. “This incident should serve as an important lesson for all of us regarding safety procedures, especially related to electric vehicles. As a technology that relies on a centralised electronic control system, handling EVs in emergency situations has protocols that are slightly different from conventional cars,” Agus said when contacted from Jakarta on Thursday. He explained that when an EV suddenly shuts down, the computer system usually automatically activates the parking pawl (transmission lock) or electronic parking brake. This condition makes the vehicle difficult to move, so a quick response is key to safety. “When an EV suddenly shuts down, the computer system will usually activate the parking pawl or electronic parking brake due to loss of power. This makes the car very difficult to push,” he said. In the most critical situations, such as at a railway crossing, Agus emphasised that the safety of life must be the top priority. “There is only one priority rule: leave the vehicle immediately,” he added. This expert in electrical power engineering and energy conversion, who is actively researching the development of electric vehicle technology in Indonesia, detailed that passengers should not attempt to restart the vehicle or search for neutral mode. “Life is the priority; do not waste time trying to restart the car or looking for the neutral button. As soon as the car stops in the middle of the tracks and cannot be moved, all passengers must exit immediately,” Agus said. “Move away from the tracks and run towards the direction from which the train is coming. Why? If the train hits the car, the debris will be thrown forward following the direction of the train’s movement. By running towards the oncoming train, we avoid the debris scatter zone,” he explained. Meanwhile, in road conditions, drivers still have the opportunity to mitigate. Agus suggested utilising the vehicle’s momentum to pull over to the shoulder of the road before the system fully locks. He also highlighted the importance of understanding the emergency neutral procedure so that the vehicle can be moved, as well as using hazard lights and a warning triangle to alert other road users. “Many EVs have specific procedures for shifting the transmission to neutral when power is lost, usually through a combination of buttons or a manual lever under the console. This is important so that the car can be pushed or towed,” Agus explained. He revealed that if the 12V battery, or auxiliary battery, is still functioning, the basic electronic systems will continue to operate. “Always ensure the 12V battery is in prime condition, because it is the heart of the entire electronic brain of the electric car,” Agus added.