> **Quick Answer:** Put your hazards on immediately and coast to the right shoulder. Do not stop in a travel lane. Once safely stopped, call your automaker's roadside assistance line (Tesla, Rivian, GM, Ford, and most others have 24/7 EV-specific lines). Your car needs a flatbed tow, not a jump start, and it needs to go to a charging station or dealer, not a standard shop. Do not let anyone push or dolly-tow an EV on its drive wheels.
## What Do I Do the Moment My EV Loses Power on the Highway?
Hazards on, steering wheel steady, ease onto the right shoulder. When an EV hits zero state of charge, you lose propulsion but you keep steering and brakes. Use that window. You typically get a low-charge warning well before the car goes completely dead, so if you are still moving when you read this, take the very next exit or pull fully off the roadway now.
Once stopped, stay in the car with your seatbelt on if traffic is passing close. If you are in a dangerous position, like a narrow shoulder near a curve, get out through the passenger side and stand behind the guardrail. Call 911 to let state police know your exact mile marker. You can also dial 511 in most states to reach your state DOT's road condition line.
## Can I Get a Mobile Charge Delivered to Me on the Highway?
Sometimes, but do not count on it as your primary plan. A handful of roadside services and EV-specific providers carry portable DC fast-charge units that can push 10 to 15 miles of range into your pack. Tesla's roadside service has deployed these in some regions. Rivian has a similar mobile charging van program in select markets. The problem: coverage is thin outside major metro areas, and wait times on a busy highway are unpredictable.
If your automaker's app shows mobile charging as an available option in your location, request it. Also request a flatbed simultaneously so whichever arrives first handles you. Never let a gas-powered "fuel delivery" truck leave you a gas canister. That helps nobody with an EV.
## Does My EV Need a Flatbed or Can It Be Towed Normally?
It needs a flatbed, full stop. Most electric vehicles use a single-speed direct-drive motor connected directly to the axle. When the drive wheels spin without the motor running, the motor acts as a generator and can back-feed current into an already-depleted battery management system, causing damage to the inverter or the battery pack itself. Tesla explicitly states in its owner's manual that all four wheels must be off the ground during transport. This applies to virtually every rear-wheel-drive, front-wheel-drive, and AWD EV on the market today.
If a tow truck operator shows up with a wheel-lift rig and tries to dolly-tow your car with any drive wheels on the ground, stop them. Call your automaker's roadside line and make them dispatch a flatbed. This is not optional. A damaged inverter on a modern EV can cost $8,000 or more to replace. If you have roadside assistance through your automaker, insist on their dispatched provider.
For guidance on what to expect when your car breaks down on an interstate more broadly, [this breakdown on who to call first when your car dies on the interstate](/car-died-on-interstate-who-do-i-call-first/) covers the sequence clearly.
## Who Do I Call and What Does Towing an EV Cost?
Call your automaker's roadside line first. Tesla, Ford (for Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning), GM (for Bolt, Blazer EV, Silverado EV), and Rivian all include complimentary towing for the first few years of ownership or within a certain mileage threshold. Check your glove box card or the manufacturer's app for the number.
If you are outside that coverage or need a third-party tow, a flatbed for an EV runs roughly the same as any flatbed tow: $125 to $2
*Photo: Pexels*
50 for a local haul under 10 miles, and $3 to $7 per mile after that. The catch with EVs is that destination matters. You need to reach a Level 2 or DC fast-charging location capable of accepting your connector type, or a certified dealer. A regular shop may not have the equipment or certifications to charge your vehicle or diagnose a battery management issue. That destination can add miles and cost compared to a typical breakdown.
If you carry roadside assistance through your insurance policy, call them next. Policies vary widely on whether they cover flatbed-only requirements, so confirm before the truck hooks up. [State Farm's roadside assistance towing coverage](/state-farm-roadside-assistance-towing-coverage-limit/) and [Progressive's towing coverage](/progressive-insurance-towing-coverage-how-much-will-they-pay/) both have per-incident caps worth knowing before you need them.
## How Do I Avoid Running Out of Charge on a Highway Again?
Plan charging stops the same way you used to plan gas stops, but with tighter margins. Most EV navigation systems (built-in or apps like PlugShare and A Better Route Planner) will route you through charging stations automatically. Set a personal rule to stop when you hit 15 to 20 percent state of charge on long-haul trips, not 5 percent.
Range estimates on the instrument cluster drop faster in cold weather (lithium-ion cells lose capacity below 40 degrees Fahrenheit), at highway speeds above 70 mph, and when running cabin heat at full blast. If any of those conditions apply to your trip, build in an extra charging stop. Your navigation's estimated range is calculated for average conditions, not yours specifically.
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*Photo: Pexels*
## Common Questions
**Q: Will my EV start again if I push it to a charging station?**
A: No. Once the high-voltage traction battery is fully depleted, the car will not move under its own power. A charge from an external source is the only way to restore propulsion, and that requires either a mobile charge unit or a tow to a working charger.
**Q: Can a jump start box help if my EV runs out of charge?**
A: A standard jump pack works only on the small 12-volt accessory battery, not the high-voltage traction pack that actually drives the car. If your 12V system is also dead (which can happen after extended sitting), a jump to the 12V battery may restore enough function to let the car be put in neutral for loading onto a flatbed, but it will not restore driving range.
**Q: How long will it take for a tow truck to reach me on the highway?**
A: Through a manufacturer's roadside program in an urban area, expect 45 to 90 minutes. In rural stretches, two hours or more is realistic. [Waiting safely on a highway shoulder](/how-long-can-you-wait-on-side-of-highway-for-tow/) is manageable if you stay in the car with your seatbelt on and hazards running.
**Q: Does my EV's warranty cover a dead battery from running out of charge?**
A: No. Running a battery pack to zero repeatedly can degrade it faster, but a single out-of-charge event is not a warranty claim. Traction battery warranties (typically 8 years or 100,000 miles under federal mandate for EVs) cover defects and capacity loss below a threshold, not range management mistakes.
**Q: What if I ran out of charge in a tunnel or underpass?**
A: Get the car to neutral immediately and signal for help. Do not attempt to push it yourself in live traffic. A breakdown in an enclosed structure is a priority call for 911. [This guide on breaking down in a tunnel](/car-broke-down-in-tunnel-what-to-do/) walks through the specific steps.
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*Need roadside help? Visit [Tow With The Flow](https://towwiththeflow.com/electric-vehicle-ran-out-of-charge-on-highway-what-to-do/) for real answers when your car breaks down.*
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Electric Vehicle Ran Out of Charge on Highway: What to Do Right Now: Roadside Tips
EV ran out of charge on the highway? Here's exactly what to do, who to call, and how towing works for electric vehicles.
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