Tips to Prevent an Electric Car from a Total Shutdown: Look After the 12V Battery and the Main Battery

Unlike conventional cars that rely on liquid fuel, electric vehicles (EVs) depend heavily on the health of the energy management system. Total shutdowns in EVs are often caused by seemingly trivial issues that can be prevented. Here is a technical guide to maintaining your electric vehicle’s performance.

Many EV owners do not realise that their car still has a small 12-volt battery. This battery is the key to ‘waking up’ the car’s computer system. If this battery fails, you will not be able to unlock the doors or start the engine, even though the large battery under the floor remains 100% charged.

Lithium-ion batteries have chemistry that is sensitive to low voltage. Allowing the battery to reach 0% can cause permanent damage to the battery cells.

If you plan to store an electric vehicle for a long period (more than 2 weeks), follow the guide below to keep the battery healthy:

Take the car to a dealer promptly if you notice the following symptoms:

In 2026, electric vehicle manufacturers are increasingly releasing updates to the Battery Management System (BMS). These updates are important to improve charging algorithms and the battery cooling system. Do not delay software updates as they can prevent malfunctions that could lead to the vehicle’s total shutdown.