Electric and Hybrid Car Recovery Kilkenny
Electric cars and hybrids need a recovery operator who understands them. Most EVs cannot be towed with the driven wheels on the ground without risking serious damage to the motor and electronics, and many manufacturers state that the car must be transported on a flatbed. Kilkenny Recovery Truck uses flatbed recovery for every job, so your EV is handled the way the manufacturer intended.
We recover Teslas, Nissan Leafs, Hyundai Ioniqs and Konas, Kia EV6s and Niros, VW ID models, MG4s, BYDs, Polestars, Toyota and Lexus hybrids and plug-in hybrids across Kilkenny and the M9.
Common EV and hybrid call-outs
- Out of charge (range anxiety is real on the M9 between Kilkenny and Waterford at night)
- 12 volt auxiliary battery flat so the car will not wake up or go into Ready mode
- Charging faults where the car will not accept charge at a public charger
- Stuck charging cable or a car that will not release the charger
- Warning messages that put the car into limp mode or reduced power
- Accident recovery with high voltage system precautions
- Punctures (EV tyres are heavier and most EVs have no spare)
Out of charge on the motorway
If you run out of charge on the M9, the car will warn you, reduce power and eventually stop. Get onto the hard shoulder while you still have motion, hazard lights on, everyone behind the barrier, and call us. We recover the car to the nearest working rapid charger (there are chargers at the M9 service areas and in Kilkenny city) or home to your own charger, whichever makes sense.
Safe handling of high voltage vehicles
We treat every EV and hybrid as a high voltage vehicle. We do not touch orange high voltage cabling or components at the roadside, we follow the manufacturer's transport mode and tow-hook procedures, and after a collision we take the precautions needed for damaged battery packs. The car is winched onto the flatbed with all four wheels off the ground.
- Pull onto the hard shoulder as far left as you can and switch on your hazard lights.
- Get everyone out of the car through the left-hand doors and behind the crash barrier.
- Put on a hi-vis vest if you have one. Never stand between your car and the traffic.
- Do not try to change a tyre or fix anything on the hard shoulder.
- Note the nearest junction number and the blue marker posts, then call us.
- If you are in a live lane and cannot move the car, stay belted in and call 112 or 999 first.
How ev and hybrid recovery works with us
EV and Hybrid Recovery in Kilkenny: common questions
Can an electric car be towed with a rope?
Generally no. Most EVs have no true neutral and the motor generates current when the wheels turn, which can damage the drivetrain and electronics. Check your handbook, but the safe default is flatbed recovery.
Can you charge my EV at the roadside?
We can jump start the 12 volt battery, but we cannot give a meaningful charge to the high voltage battery at the roadside. We recover you to a charger.
Can you put the car into tow mode or neutral?
Yes, where the car allows it. Many EVs have a transport or tow mode in the menu. If the 12 volt battery is flat we jump it first so the car can be put into neutral and the parking brake released.