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Towing an electric car on its own wheels around Bristol, whether near Avonmouth or Filton, can strain the motor, which is why K9 only ever sends a flatbed for this kind of job. The driver nearest to the car is picked from a network of 3,000, the amount is talked through on WhatsApp first, and the car ends up at a dealer, a home, or a proper charging point.
Why Towing an Electric Car Is Not an Option Near Avonmouth
An electric car that will not move on the M5 near Avonmouth, or anywhere else around Bristol, should never be towed on its own wheels, because the wheels are connected directly to the motor and spinning them without power can cause real lasting damage. K9 only sends flatbeds for electric cars, so the vehicle is lifted clear of the road surface entirely before it travels anywhere at all, whatever the make or model happens to be.
Flat Battery or Empty Battery: Two Different Problems
- a flat 12 volt battery can be jump started normally
- an empty main battery cannot be fixed by jump starting
- the high voltage pack is never touched by a driver
- the right fix depends on which problem the car actually has
Working out which of these is happening near Filton or Southmead Hospital is the first thing a K9 driver checks on arrival, since the two faults look similar from the key but need completely different solutions to put right.
Recovery by Flatbed Keeps the Warranty Intact
Manufacturers specify a flatbed for exactly this kind of recovery because it keeps the wheels off the ground and away from the motor, so using one has no negative effect on any warranty covering the battery or drivetrain. If anything, towing an electric car on a rope is closer to the kind of use that voids cover, which is one more reason K9 never does it. Getting it onto the ramps the right way near Filton or Southmead Hospital keeps the car completely safe rather than threatening any cover that came with it, whether the warranty is from the manufacturer or an extended plan bought separately.
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Getting a Heavy Car Onto a Flatbed
Electric cars are noticeably heavier than their petrol equivalents, so K9 only sends flatbeds rated for that extra weight rather than a light trailer, since the wrong equipment could struggle with the load. A tow eye and an electronic transport setting exist on most electric cars for exactly this situation, yet a 12 volt battery that has drained completely sometimes blocks the car from shifting out of park, which is exactly when skates get used near Hengrood Park and Long Ashton Park and Ride instead.
Wheel Damage Is More Common Than People Expect
Extra weight and the torque of an electric motor mean punctures and bent wheels crop up more than with a petrol car, and several popular models are sold without a spare wheel at all. Should that happen on the M4 or anywhere closer to Clifton, the car still travels by flatbed, heading from there to a dealer, or to whichever tyre specialist can fit a replacement quickly and get the owner moving again. For more on electric vehicle recovery generally, see electric vehicle recovery nationwide.
Where the Car Ends Up
From there the car usually ends up in one of three places: a dealer forecourt, the home of its owner, or a public charging bay if the main pack has genuinely run empty rather than the small battery. Longer trips are just as normal for K9, moving an electric car bought outside Bristol into the city, or taking one being sold on to a buyer somewhere else entirely. The Bristol vehicle recovery service page covers journeys beyond electric cars specifically.
Rated Highly, Available at Any Hour
K9 scores 4.9 out of 5 from Bristol customers, part of a Google total beyond 200 reviews, and the same drivers answer calls at every hour of every day, with no joining fee or breakdown cover needed before one is sent.
Call 07301 118118 and a flatbed will be on its way to your electric car.
What our customers say
“Broke down on the M25 with my family and K9 got us to safety fast. Cannot thank them enough.”
— Jonathan
“Great service, quick arrival within the hour and a good rate compared to most.”
— Ibrahim Suleman
“Excellent service from the call to the lads who picked me up. Professional and respectful.”
— Andrew Chambers
Bristol Electric Car Questions
Can my electric car be jump started at the roadside
Yes, if the problem is a flat 12 volt battery, which is the most common fault. The high voltage pack behind it is never touched during this process.
What happens if the main battery is empty
The car is loaded onto a flatbed and taken to the nearest rapid charging hub, a dealer, or home, since there is no safe way to charge the main pack at the roadside itself.
Why does my electric car need a flatbed rather than a tow
Because the wheels drive the motor directly on most electric cars, towing on the road can cause lasting damage that a flatbed avoids entirely by lifting all four wheels clear off the ground.
Is a plug-in hybrid treated the same as a full electric
Not entirely. A plug-in hybrid can sometimes creep forward on its own engine while the main battery sits completely dead, so K9 drivers weigh up each situation carefully rather than treating every hybrid exactly like a fully electric car would be treated.
More Electric Car Cover Around Bristol
Read what to do when an electric car breaks down or see our jump start service for a flat 12 volt battery specifically. Both apply whether the car is near Avonmouth or stuck closer to Bath on the other side of the city.