Can You Push an Electric Car if It Breaks Down?

Electric cars are fantastic but they are not immune to running into problems. What should you do if yours fails on you, can you push an electric car if it breaks down?

You can push an electric car if it breaks down. Doing so would be no different from pushing a gas-engine car that is in neutral. 

Are you unsure what to do when an electric car breaks down? Then this article has been prepared to explain everything you need to know about this problem and what you should do to get back on the road asap. Check it out.

Can You Put an Electric Car in Neutral and Push It?

So you’ve run into a bit of a problem. Your electric car has broken down and now you need to push it out of danger. 

But can you? Is it physically possible to push an electric car? Yes, it is! If your electric car is in neutral, you can push it out of harm’s way. 

Awesome! You can now be sure that you and your car are safe while you wait for help.

Why can you push an electric car when it doesn’t have any power? Well, it all comes down to how the motor works. 

When the car is on the motor locks in place. But while the power is off the motor disengages. This makes it easy for you to move the car freely while pushing it. (That is, as easy as it can be to push a car, of course).  

If your electric car’s batteries are completely flat you can expect it to be a little tricky to get the car moving. 

Of course, the sheer weight of it makes pushing it a challenge. But that’s not all. If your car doesn’t have any power whatsoever, the likelihood is that the power steering has turned off. 

So, turning the wheel and getting the car to change direction will be tricky.

If your car has enough battery power to change the gears, we recommend that you put it in neutral. 

When the car is in neutral the motors will spin freely. It will then be much easier for you to push. You’ll just need a little elbow grease and the help of a friend or two.

What if an Electric Car Breaks Down?

Even the best electric cars can run into problems and break down. We all know that waiting on the side of the road for help to arrive is not much fun at all. 

So, what other options do you have? Should you tow an electric car that breaks down? Most electric car manufacturers discourage motorists from towing their cars. But why?

You shouldn’t tow an electric car even when it is neutral. This is because electric cars do not have transmissions so towing the car actually does a lot of damage to the motor. 

So how can you take your electric car to the garage safely? The best way to do it is to push the car onto the back of a flat-bed truck. 

If you do this, all 4 wheels will be off of the ground. 

Electric cars tend to be very reliable. So, if yours breaks down you will no doubt feel concerned. What could be the cause of the breakdown? 

Here are some of the most common reasons why electric cars break down:

Can You Tow or Push an Electric Car?

No car is immune to breaking down and if this happens to you, you’ll need to know what you should and shouldn’t do.

There are a couple of questions that often arise when an electric car breaks down. 

The first is, can you tow an electric car? Second, can you push an electric car? Let’s answer these one at a time. 

You cannot tow an electric car. Most electric car manufacturers tell motorists to avoid towing their cars. Why? Because of the way that the wheels are attached to the motor. 

Towing the car could cause you to damage the motor. Instead, you should push the car onto the back of a flat-bed truck and take it for repair. 

This way, all 4 wheels will be off of the ground as it moves.

You can push an electric car. If your electric car breaks down you will still be able to push it out of harm’s way. 

Simply put the car into neutral and push. It is no different from pushing a gas-engine car in neutral. 

If your car loses power completely, the power steering may disengage. This will make it tougher for you to turn the wheel and make the car change direction.

Can You Push a Tesla With a Flat Battery?

You’re stranded on the freeway because your Tesla has a flat battery. Now what should you do? Rest assured, you can push a Tesla onto the side of the road so that it is out of the way of oncoming vehicles. 

If your Tesla’s battery is flat, here are a couple of things you can do to get it on the road to recovery. (Pun intended).

1. Call a flat-bed tow truck. You should not tow your Tesla with its wheels on the ground as this could do damage to its engine. Towing it on a flat-bed truck is more effort and will also likely be more expensive. But towing it any other way will put you at the risk of ruining your engine. And as you know, an engine problem will cost you way more than the hire of a flat-bed tow truck. 
2. Put the car into neutral. When in neutral, the motor will disengage. This will make it easier for you to push. 
3. Put the car into “Transport Mode”. If your Tesla has this feature, activate it.

If your Tesla has a flat battery, do not panic. The car has simply run out of gas or battery. Once you have topped these up, your Tesla should start working normally again. 

If it doesn’t then you may need to see a mechanic as there might be a more complex fault with the vehicle. 

Final Thoughts

Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular so knowing what to do when one breaks down is too. 

What should you do if your vehicle runs into problems? Can you push an electric car if it breaks down?

This article has helped us out of a sticky situation as it has explained that you can push an electric car if it breaks down. 

If you put the car into neutral and then push, it will be no different to push a gas engine car in neutral. 

Regular maintenance on the electrics should keep your car on the road for as long as possible.