Traffic jam panic in an electric car: How to survive the crisis!

Traffic jam panic in an electric car: How to survive the crisis!

During holidays and weekends, German highways are bursting with traffic jams and more and more people are switching to electric cars. The Tesla Model Y is particularly popular and was the best-selling car worldwide in the first quarter of 2023. But what happens if the battery runs out in a traffic jam? In a current test, the ADAC tested mobile chargers, so-called e-boosters, to bring broken down electric cars to the nearest charging option without a towing service, reports 24auto.de.

Fortunately, empty batteries are only rarely the cause of a breakdown in electric vehicles. The ADAC also states that energy consumption in traffic jams is minimal, which means that electric cars do not stop immediately even when the battery level is low. Nevertheless, the ADAC emphasizes the importance of travel planning in order to identify charging stations along the route. A well-filled battery to begin with is crucial, especially in critical situations where the vehicle's emergency buffer may be activated. If the battery does drop to zero, you should stay calm and protect yourself from the breakdown as usual - turn on the hazard lights, put on your breakdown vest and contact the ADAC.

Winter conditions and traffic jams

The challenges for electric car drivers are particularly noticeable in extreme temperatures. In a test, the ADAC examined how electric cars behave in traffic jams in cold weather. The vehicles remained in operation for several hours in freezing temperatures of down to -14 °C. Surprisingly, it turned out that the batteries had amazing endurance even in these adverse conditions. After 12 hours, the Renault Zoe had used around 70 percent and the VW e-up around 80 percent of its charge. Both vehicles were able to maintain the interior heating for a few hours, which can be crucial on cold nights because a well-warmed heater is vital for the vehicle's occupants. The most important tips for long journeys in traffic jams are therefore to reduce the temperature, use heated seats and always pay attention to the weather conditions, according to the ADAC in its test. In the case of longer traffic jams, a heating optimization task should also be considered in order to protect the battery and get to the next charging station, such as adac.de reported.