According to Mr. James McCarthy, chief engineer at the California Institute of Transportation Technology (USA), electric cars are a future trend, but drivers should not rely entirely on smart systems. Always check your battery level before each trip and update your vehicle software regularly to reduce the risk of incidents.
Here are some important parts that drivers should check periodically when driving an electric car:
Battery
One of the most important parts of an electric vehicle is the battery. If the vehicle runs out of battery while traveling long distances or in areas without charging stations, it will be disadvantageous for the driver.
How to handle: turn on the emergency warning light, move the vehicle to the roadside safely. Call a rescue service or a mobile charging station if available.
Some car manufacturers will offer the nearest charging station location feature, so use it before your car's battery is completely depleted.
Control software
Electric cars operate heavily on software. Failures such as suspension, air conditioning or hanging entertainment screens can occur while running. Therefore, checking control software is very important.
How to handle: turn off the vehicle, wait for about 2-3 minutes and then restart. If it cannot be fixed, avoid trying to warming up many times to avoid making more errors. Find a safe stop and call for technical assistance.
Regenerative braking system
Regenerative braking helps recharge the battery when decreasing the acceleration, but if not checked periodically, this system can sometimes have a error that causes the vehicle not to slow down properly.
How to handle: Use regular mechanical brakes, keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front. If you feel that the braking system is unstable, you should stop the vehicle as soon as possible.
Location system or self-driving vehicle
For self-driving or internet-connected vehicles, lost GPS signals or connection errors can cause the vehicle to operate inaccurately.
How to do it: turn off the self-driving mode immediately. Hand drive and temporarily stop using the supporting features until the system is stable again.
Electric cars bring a new and convenient driving experience, but also require users to have a good understanding of technology and have skills to handle situations. Equipping yourself with knowledge will help protect yourself and passengers in safer danger on each journey.
