Electric cars can be washed just like other cars - even in the car wash.
However, a few aspects should be considered.
Berlin – Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular.
According to Statista, the number of registered electric vehicles in Germany on October 1, 2022 was around 840,600.
But the new technology also raises many questions.
Not only charging and the problem of range are a frequent topic for owners.
Taking care of an electric car is also important.
When thinking about the car wash, many consumers ask themselves: Am I even allowed to use the car wash with my e-car?
And could the washing process possibly even cause damage to my vehicle?
At the latest after the incident in a car wash in Lower Saxony, the topic is known.
There had been trouble with open loading and tailgates on Tesla models in a car wash, which is why a car wash operator near Oldenburg banned all Tesla models from entering in spring 2022.
Electric cars: The ten most popular models in Germany
Electric cars: The ten most popular models in Germany
E-car in the car wash: Sensors on the vehicle can react
However, sensors on the boot lid of the electric cars were to blame here.
Water jets during the car wash ensured that the sensors registered an impulse.
Water ingress and torn trunk lids were the result.
To prevent this, Tesla has integrated a "car wash mode" into the vehicles of newer models.
The charging socket, tailgate and windows are then locked, windshield wipers and parking sensors are deactivated, according to Tesla's tips for cleaning electric cars.
Basically, electric cars such as models from the manufacturer Tesla, Volkswagen or Hyundai can be washed and cleaned to a large extent in the same way as diesel or petrol engines.
Thomas Schuster, motor vehicle expert at the KÜS expert organization, advises users of an electric vehicle to check the vehicle's manual to see whether there may be model-specific instructions for visiting a car wash.
Washing e-cars: Users should take note of this
“In the case of purely electrically powered cars, however, you can drive into car washes without fear and without risk.
The high-voltage technology of the drive system is of course protected against the ingress of moisture by the manufacturer, as is the rest of the vehicle's electronics," explains Schuster.
After all, e-cars can be driven safely in the rain or through large puddles.
According to experts, washing by hand or cleaning with a high-pressure cleaner is also no problem for electric cars.
However, users should note a few points:
Never wash the e-car while charging, there is
a risk of electric shock
It is best
to avoid high-pressure cleaners
when washing the underbody , as this is where the battery and motor of an electric vehicle are usually located
In the
engine area and around the charging connection, proceed carefully with a high-pressure cleaner
; it is best to avoid high-pressure cleaners in these areas
However, the safe use of car washes and car washes requires an electric car in the delivery condition, so no modifications or repairs should have been made to the underbody.
The underbody of the vehicle should also not be damaged by accidents or hard impacts.
(hg)
