Own a Chevy Volt? Better Read This Before Towing

2011 Chevrolet Volt With Old Glory

No matter how careful a car owner you are, every once in a while you may wind up getting your car towed. Something break down, you run out of charge, or maybe you didn’t realize you were parking in a snow zone. Things happen.

Electric car owners however need to be careful about how their cars are towed. With conventional gas-powered cars, the transmissions should be shifted into neutral during towing so the wheels are disconnected from the engine. Otherwise, towing the car can cause the engine or transmission components to also turn.

Many electric vehicles however do not have a neutral position in their transmissions. As a result, if a rear-wheel drive electric car gets towed from the front, the spinning of the wheels will cause the motor to spin. The heat from the friction may cause further problems, damaging the motor or other components.

Volt owners should make sure their cars are towed with the front wheels off the ground. Better yet, suggests GM, a flatbed truck should be used.

Source: GM-Volt.com