Safety comes first
Put your hazard lights on straight away. If the car is still rolling, steer it to the side of the road, a car park or a quiet street. An EV with a flat battery has no power steering assistance or brake boost left to rely on, so don't leave it late.
If you're on a busy road and it is safe to get out, stand well away from the traffic. On a fast road, that means behind the barrier. If you can't get to safety, ring 999 before you ring anyone else.
Don't keep driving in limp mode
Most EVs warn you before the battery is empty. The car may slow right down, cut the heating or show a turtle symbol. This is limp mode. The car is trying to get you to the side of the road, not to the next junction.
Don't carry on into traffic at a crawl. Other drivers won't expect you to be that slow, and the car can stop without further warning. Find the first safe place and stop there.
What to tell us on the call
Don't force a plug in. They are shaped so that only the right one fits. If it won't go in easily, stop and tell us what you can see.
Plug-in hybrids are worth a mention. Most take Type 2 for AC charging, but many can't use a rapid charger at all. A top-up from us still works, as long as the car takes AC charging.
Ring us first. If you can't talk, message us on WhatsApp and share your location pin. It helps us to know:
- Your car's make and model
- The plug type, if you know it (Type 2, CCS or CHAdeMO). If you don't, the make and model is enough
- The battery percentage, if the screen still shows it
- Exactly where you are: road name, nearest junction, car park level and bay, or a dropped pin
- Are you somewhere safe?
What happens next
We're open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Ring and we'll tell you honestly how long we expect to be, based on where you are and the time of day. We don't promise times we can't keep. Call for a price, and we'll talk it through on the phone.
When we arrive, we plug in our 7.5 kW portable charger. We carry Type 2, CCS and CHAdeMO, so your car's socket will be covered. A 30 minute charge adds about 10 to 12 miles.
It's a top-up, not a full charge
Our charge is meant to get you to a public charge point, not to fill the battery. Before we leave, we'll help you pick the nearest rapid charger so you know where you're heading.
While you wait, keep the car locked and switched off, and don't try to restart it repeatedly. If the car has a 12 volt battery warning as well, mention it on the call. We only do mobile charging, so we may not be the right service for that, and we'll say so.
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