Jump starter for electric car?

[itsbigmal]

The other day no key fobs worked but luckily the app came to the rescue and at least I could get in, but I know from reading some posts that the app failed them and they had to use the metal key and sort things from there with a power pack.

I can find a shed load of these small starter packs on Amazon but all seem for ICE cars. Do I have to have a special one for an all electric car? Think it would be handy to keep one under the seat for such an emergency.

Many Thanks

 

[Ian Key]

You just need a basic one. It doesn't have to turn a starter motor over just to provide enough power to bring the main traction battery back on line.

Your next question will probably be what has everyone else bought?

I went for a NOCO as it's a well known brand and I've found it will last well over 3 months without requiring a top up charge. The only time I've used it is to start a friends diesel Fiesta before I persuaded her that she really needs to get a new battery.

https://amzn.eu/d/0hPE2eZU

 

[TimothyN]

After a little research and market comparison, I bought this

 

[MG Clive]

I got this one in August 2024, I charged it up and chucked it in the car, and there it remained until December 2025. Then, just before Christmas, a neighbour down the street had his Ford diesel van battery go flat, and after 16 months sat in the back of my car, and still showing 99% power on the screen, my Acezuk started it with no problem.

 

[Alb]

I got this one in August 2924, I charged it up and chucked it in the car, and there it remained until December 2025. Then, just before Christmas, a neighbour down the street had his Ford diesel van battery go flat, and after 16 months sat in the back of my car, and still showing 99% power on the screen, my Acezuk started it with no problem.

You've invented time travel then Clive

 

[MG Clive]

You've invented time travel then Clive

Oooops, well spotted, post edited.

 

[Ian Key]

You've invented time travel then Clive

He's auditioning for the Doctor

You can imagine @MG Clive saying "'m t' Doctah welcome t' ower tardis"

 

[mgaz]

Thought I read somewhere it's not advisable to use them on e. v. vehicles?

 

[salty]

You possibly misread. You can jump start an EV using a booster. Or off an ICE car.
But don't jump start an ICE car from an EV.

 

[mgaz]

You possibly misread. You can jump start an EV using a booster. Or off an ICE car.
But don't jump start an ICE car from an EV.

Thanks

 

[mgaz]

Does anyone know if you can get a jump starter with a built-in battery charger? A dual purpose thing.

 

[salty]

To be honest, don't know. You can get um,
with a built-in tyre inflator. I know that's not your question, just saying. But as for a built-in battery charger, not sure. But I'm sure somebody will.

 

[GaryMG4]

Does anyone know if you can get a jump starter with a built-in battery charger? A dual purpose thing.

Not sure why you would need one. Once you have 'jumped' the 12v and put the car in 'ready mode' it will charge the 12v from the traction battery I believe.

 

[LaS]

I went for this one because it have a feature not all boosters have. That red button that is kind of "are you really really sure you want to do this" option. What it does is forcing to supply 12v to the car battery even if it is so dead that the booster think there is no battery present.

I first bought a booster without this option and it did not work when the 12v is very low or totally dead.

 

[Porsche944]

Noco are the market leaders it seems, but my wife bought several no name, Chinese ones from Amazon. They are now both mine as a 2 car family. Both have served me well. The Abarth had a dodgy battery a while ago and the jump pack got me out of trouble several times. And yes I did eventually change the battery. If you buy one you need to charge it every 2-3 months or so. We have an older dead one here which swelled up to twice its size!

 

[LaS]

Another experience i want to share here: I left my MGS5 for 7 days when on holliday and was very exiting to if it was dead when i came home. This time it was not, everything was ok. But since i had a bad experience with a dead 12V a couple of weeks ago i wanted to learn i bit regarding how the car treats the 12V regarding charging voltage after a week without use. So i opened the car but did not start it. Then opened the hood and measured the 12V battery voltage. I did expect to see a voltage around 12.something. 12.7 would indicate a fully charged battery so if i was 12.5 or above after 7 days i would be nice, but what i saw was the car was charging the 12V with 14.7. So i learned that charging start just by unlock and maybe opening a door. Did not know this but learning something new every day about this car...

 

[stevedee]

...So i learned that charging start just by unlock and maybe opening a door...

The car monitors & charges the 12V system battery frequently, whatever the status of the doors.

Its never fully charged, so this 'trickle' charge may happen every few hours or every few days, depending upon the 'draw' on the battery; in practice, if you keep it in a wake state, charging is frequent. If allowed to fall into a deep-sleep state, charging is much less frequent.

 

[LaS]

The car monitors & charges the 12V system battery frequently, whatever the status of the doors.

Its never fully charged, so this 'trickle' charge may happen every few hours or every few days, depending upon the 'draw' on the battery; in practice, if you keep it in a wake state, charging is frequent. If allowed to fall into a deep-sleep state, charging is much less frequent.

I understand, the charging is kind of "random" or as you write depending of the state of the battery. This is of course the most logical. I am by the way reding your pdf "AI-opinion-on-AGM-for-S5.pdf" now. It is very good.