EVs and Hybrids Drive through Car Wash

[Dustydog]

Read this on Lunar Forum.

What’s the general thoughts about using chassis cleansing at car washes?

Should all breakdown organisations be able to deal with EVs?

 

[otherclive]

I really don’t have any such thoughts as I don’t use that type of carwash. I use a garden hose on fan spray if the cars been going through salted roads. But I can see why some may be concerned as it would be different to going through a flood. In the case of the latter the cars owner manual will advise.

I’m sure that given time all motor breakdown organisations will deal with electric or hybrid cars. If they don’t then when you go to enroll they will not accept your car. However what they can do at the roadside remains to be seen.

Another concern would be “is it safe to charge the car when it’s raining?”

 

[Buckman]

We mainly use hand wash as they seem to do a better job and less swirl marks. Our breakdown policy is with the AA as it is included in the warranty for the first year and thereafter in the service plan.

 

[RogerL]

I really don’t have any such thoughts as I don’t use that type of carwash. I use a garden hose on fan spray if the cars been going through salted roads. But I can see why some may be concerned as it would be different to going through a flood. In the case of the latter the cars owner manual will advise.

I’m sure that given time all motor breakdown organisations will deal with electric or hybrid cars. If they don’t then when you go to enroll they will not accept your car. However what they can do at the roadside remains to be seen.

Another concern would be “is it safe to charge the car when it’s raining?”

Last time I had a car repaired at the roadside was about 1995 - modern cars are too complex for roadside fixes and need taking to a workshop.

IMO I'd expect every breakdown organisation to deal with EV and hybrids, if only to get them to a dealer workshop.

EVs need to be designed to cope with water - it's not that rare to drive through a large puddle which could spray water anywhere on the undersides and up into various compartments.

 

[otherclive]

Wrt hybrids Toyota have been producing them since 1997 so as far as mine is concerned I will put my faith in Toyota engineering plus a modicum of my own judgement.

 

[Lutz]

I would expect any car, whether an EV or not, to be able to cope with driving through at least a short flooded stretch of road with water at axle height

 

[Tobes]

Read this on Lunar Forum.

What’s the general thoughts about using chassis cleansing at car washes?

Should all breakdown organisations be able to deal with EVs?

The origional post is about a mild hybrid - it barely qualifies as an EV.
Yes - IMHO, if an breakdown company is happy to take your money when you sign up and give them your registration, they should support you when you need it.

 

[Tobes]

I really don’t have any such thoughts as I don’t use that type of carwash. I use a garden hose on fan spray if the cars been going through salted roads. But I can see why some may be concerned as it would be different to going through a flood. In the case of the latter the cars owner manual will advise.

I’m sure that given time all motor breakdown organisations will deal with electric or hybrid cars. If they don’t then when you go to enroll they will not accept your car. However what they can do at the roadside remains to be seen.

Another concern would be “is it safe to charge the car when it’s raining?”

Yes- you can charge a car in the rain, they are designed for this operation.
Yes, you can take an EV through a car wash, they are designed for this too.
And yes, you can drive through shallow flood water - they are also designed for this - some for deeper than others. My Polestar 2 says flood water should be no deeper than the door sills. Indeed - we had to put this to the test in October 2021 when staying at Low Manesty (Borrowdale club site) in the lakes. The lake flooded and we had to wade out along the lake road through a section about a foot deep, while towing the caravan. It was a little intimidating but absolutely fine.

 

[otherclive]

I would expect any car, whether an EV or not, to be able to cope with driving through at least a short flooded stretch of road with water at axle height

Wasn't the question related to underbody car washes, not a flooded section of road? I'd relate the experience of a neighbours 7 series BMW and a Nissan (noddy) Micra going through a flooded section of road, but might be accused of Fred Drift.

 

[otherclive]

Yes- you can charge a car in the rain, they are designed for this operation.
Yes, you can take an EV through a car wash, they are designed for this too.
And yes, you can drive through shallow flood water - they are also designed for this - some for deeper than others. My Polestar 2 says flood water should be no deeper than the door sills. Indeed - we had to put this to the test in October 2021 when staying at Low Manesty (Borrowdale club site) in the lakes. The lake flooded and we had to wade out along the lake road through a section about a foot deep, while towing the caravan. It was a little intimidating but absolutely fine.

My comment wrt charging in the rain was TIC. Not too different to connecting to a sites EHU I guess.

 

[Tobes]

My comment wrt charging in the rain was TIC. Not too different to connecting to a sites EHU I guess.

Ack - I should have noted that , though in some places on the internet, that question gets posted at face value!

 

[borderbilly]

Come

Wasn't the question related to underbody car washes, not a flooded section of road? I'd relate the experience of a neighbours 7 series BMW and a Nissan (noddy) Micra going through a flooded section of road, but might be accused of Fred Drift.

Come on, get Fred going.

 

[Dustydog]

Issue one.

Can a breakdown company in the UK deal with any type of EV breakdown ?
Seems not?

Why not?

All types of EVs are still a low% on our roads . The breakdown companies just don't have enough EV trained staff . So all they can do is pick up and deliver to the EV dealer.


Issue two
Do high pressure under chassis washing apparatus work safely with all EV variants?

No idea but it does seem an undesirable proposition.

Lets face it we don't pressure wash our caravans, or do you 🙀

 

[otherclive]

Come
Come on, get Fred going.

The lady drove her Micra down the Center of the flooded road, and my neighbour followed her in his 7,series petrol. About a third of the way through the gap between them increased as the Micra sailed on and the BMW ground to a halt. Net result a 7 series engine rebuild with insurance only paying 50%. It had a very low air intake whereas the Micra, like our Note, had an intake level noticeably higher.

 

[Tobes]

Issue one.

Can a breakdown company in the UK deal with any type of EV breakdown ?

Yes. If it has a flat tyre, of flat 12v battery, run out of fuel - these can all be dealt with.
If it has a failed ECU, no -but it's the same for ICE.
I have been recovered 4 times by our rescue coverage. Failed fuel pump, broken diesel filter, stuck parking break, and blown turbo hose.
I have been roadside fixed once - loose chipping between disk and guard.

Seems not?

They can.

Why not?

All types of EVs are still a low% on our roads . The breakdown companies just don't have enough EV trained staff . So all they can do is pick up and deliver to the EV dealer.

That's all they can do in _most_ situations for ICE too.

Issue two
Do high pressure under chassis washing apparatus work safely with all EV variants?

No - but I would change the caveat here from "all EV variants" to "All cars - irrespective of fuel type"

No idea but it does seem an undesirable proposition.

Lets face it we don't pressure wash our caravans, or do you 🙀

Yes - I do. And I pressure wash all our EVs too.

 

[RogerL]

Yes. If it has a flat tyre, of flat 12v battery, run out of fuel - these can all be dealt with.
If it has a failed ECU, no -but it's the same for ICE.
I have been recovered 4 times by our rescue coverage. Failed fuel pump, broken diesel filter, stuck parking break, and blown turbo hose.
I have been roadside fixed once - loose chipping between disk and guard.

IC cars can't be fixed by the roadside in the event of engine failure - but they can be recovered to a workshop where they can be fixed.

Is there any technical reason why the same doesn't apply to EVs - ie recover them to an appropriate workshop?

 

[Dustydog]

Thanks Tobes.
My OP was bringing attention to the plight of an hybrid EV and Green Flag. It seems a lot of breakdown employees are not very conversant with EVs and indeed their operation.

A main dealer in Chippenham known to me and Clive have a specific quarantine area for , I assume , broken down EVs. . They are concerned fro safety and I have to assume the breakdown boys qualified in EV are thin on the ground.

Pressure washer on the caravan🙀.
I think you may find such action is a warranty exclusion on most makers water ingress warranties. I wouldn’t use one but everyone to their own😜

 

[Tobes]

IC cars can't be fixed by the roadside in the event of engine failure - but they can be recovered to a workshop where they can be fixed.

Is there any technical reason why the same doesn't apply to EVs - ie recover them to an appropriate workshop?

Nope - it's just the same. The towing restrictions may require a flatbed, but thats the same for an AWD ICE stuck in park.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Read this on Lunar Forum.

What’s the general thoughts about using chassis cleansing at car washes?

Should all breakdown organisations be able to deal with EVs?

Firstly your link is to a facebook page, and I don't use facebook, But I will assume it questions the safety of using a chassis washer at a car wash, against the risk wetting important electrical gear, ie EV's

My take on this relates the penetration of water(and or chemicals) and I don't think it should be a problem, any more than wetness from the road or when driving through a puddle at speed. Ideally you should avoid it, but manufacturers should be designing to cater for such incidents.

As others have said perhaps slightly differently, before agreeing to take on a customer, they should be doing basic checks to establish they are capable of handling the risk, if necessary by asking direct questions about the areas where they don't have full competence. Specifically if they don't cover EV's they should make that a leading question in the proposal.

 

[Tobes]

Thanks Tobes.
My OP was bringing attention to the plight of an hybrid EV and Green Flag. It seems a lot of breakdown employees are not very conversant with EVs and indeed their operation.

Yep - this is not an EV problem, but a training problem.

A main dealer in Chippenham known to me and Clive have a specific quarantine area for , I assume , broken down EVs. . They are concerned fro safety and I have to assume the breakdown boys qualified in EV are thin on the ground.

This is also a training problem - as you say, qualification is key. But so is common sense. If an EV has broken down because it has a dead 12v battery - isolation is not needed.

Pressure washer on the caravan🙀.
I think you may find such action is a warranty exclusion on most makers water ingress warranties. I wouldn’t use one but everyone to their own😜

Our van is 2016 model - well past warranty. I didn't pressure wash it pre-warranty expiry, but it gets it now

 

[Dustydog]

Firstly your link is to a facebook page, and I don't use facebook, But I will assume it questions the safety of using a chassis washer at a car wash, against the risk wetting important electrical gear, ie EV's

My take on this relates the penetration of water(and or chemicals) and I don't think it should be a problem, any more than wetness from the road or when driving through a puddle at speed. Ideally you should avoid it, but manufacturers should be designing to cater for such incidents.

As others have said perhaps slightly differently, before agreeing to take on a customer, they should be doing basic checks to establish they are capable of handling the risk, if necessary by asking direct questions about the areas where they don't have full competence. Specifically if they don't cover EV's they should make that a leading question in the proposal.

Would you like a screen dump? I’ve PM’d you