Breakdown Problem
Electric Car Out of Charge or Won't Charge
An EV that has run out of charge cannot be towed to a charger. Regenerative braking means turning the driven wheels can push current back into a system that isn't ready for it, and most manufacturers explicitly prohibit towing in their handbooks. The correct answer is always a flatbed with the driven wheels off the ground.
What you're likely seeing
- Zero range remaining, car in turtle mode or fully stopped
- Public charger accepted the cable but never started the session
- Charge flap or cable locked into the car and won't release
- 12V battery flat — the EV won't 'wake up' even with a full traction battery
- Charging fault warning after a failed rapid-charge session
Do this before anything else
- 1If the car is stopped and can't move, treat it exactly like any other breakdown — hazards on, get to safety, call 999 for Highways if you're on a motorway.
- 2Don't let anyone flat-tow an EV, even a short distance. It's a drivetrain repair, not a shortcut.
- 3A stuck charging cable is usually released from inside the car or via a manual release cord in the boot — check the handbook before pulling on it.
On a motorway or dual carriageway, ring 999 and ask for National Highways before you call any recovery company. Motorway breakdown advice →
How we move the vehicle
EVs travel on a flatbed with all four wheels off the ground. Where the vehicle can't be driven or rolled onto the bed we use skates. Our drivers are aware of high-voltage isolation points and will not attempt anything that involves the orange cabling — that stays with a qualified EV technician. Very often the actual fault is a flat 12V battery, which we can jump, waking the car up so it drives normally again.
What it costs
Priced as a standard recovery on distance to your chosen destination — home, a public rapid charger, or your dealer. If it turns out to be the 12V battery and a jump gets you going, you pay a roadside attendance instead.
Full recovery cost guideQuestions we get asked
The service you probably need
Other problems we're called to
Tell us what the car is doing
Describe the fault on the phone and we'll tell you honestly whether this is a roadside fix or a recovery — and what it will cost — before a driver leaves.