Can I drive an electric car into the car wash?

Are electric cars actually allowed in the car wash? Or is it dangerous? Are the motor and battery sufficiently protected? What about the antenna? And with the charging connection and ... STOP. Before you continue to worry and your electric car sinks under a thick layer of dust, simply follow these brief washing instructions for electric cars. If you stick to it, your electric car is guaranteed to come out of the car shower sparkling clean and beaming with joy!

Electric car: to wash or not to wash?

An electric car in the car wash? Is that possible? After all, we all learned at school that electricity and water never belong together because of electric shock and all that. And then there's the story about the flooded Teslas ... It's no wonder that you might be a little nervous as a new e-driver when you head for the car wash.

But it's a good idea to do it anyway.

Because firstly, the manufacturers have of course thought ahead and made sure that the battery and motor stay nice and warm and dry even during the wildest wash cycle. That's why they are perfectly insulated and placed in strategically favorable locations. The batteries are usually somewhere in the underbody and the motors in the protective vicinity of the axles.

And secondly, dust, dirt and snow do not stop at an electric vehicle. So sooner or later, even the cleanest city runabout needs a thorough shower. Otherwise the paintwork will suffer. And the look too, by the way.

So YES, you should wash your electric car.

And since this is not allowed at home in most regions, you will have to go to a car wash for better or worse. Find out now how to get in and out of the car wash unscathed!

Before the car wash: remove the aerial, close the windows, close the covers

Before you drive into the car wash with your electric dirt finch, a little preparation is required. Just like at home when you give the children a bath. You don't put them in the bathtub fully clothed either.

So close all the windows, remove the aerial (or fold it in) and close all the covers (i.e. charging socket, trunk, roof rack, extra compartments, etc.).

In short: put your electric car into car wash mode.

If you own a newer Tesla model, this will be done for you fully automatically. Tesla has learned from its car wash disasters and retrofitted it.

In the car wash: idle in, engine on

Once you have carefully prepared your electric car for the upcoming washing experience, you can drive straight into the car wash.

Position your vehicle on the conveyor belt and engage neutral gear (N). This will prevent the wheels from locking. Simply leave the engine on, i.e. leave the ignition key in the ignition.

Now everything is ready and you can get out (don't forget to close the doors), enter the wash code and relax briefly. In the meantime, your e-car will be polished to a high shine and have the brushing fun of its life.

A little tip on the side: If you want to take your e-car home again after the wash cycle, it is advisable to ensure that the battery power is kept to a minimum. Because if the battery dies during the wash, so does the motor and your stay in the car wash will be unnecessarily prolonged ...

After the car wash: dry the brakes, put the antenna on and off you go

So, now your darling is fresh and clean again and ready for new adventures. So, it wasn't that bad, was it?

And that's why there's not much left to do after washing. At least no first aid or anything like that. Only the brakes still need your attention. This is because they have usually been exposed to a load of cold water during the wash and therefore don't brake so well.

Therefore, rub them warm again by braking briefly several times and remove any annoying water residue (please do this at low speed).

Then quickly adjust the antenna. And then you can drive off relaxed and happy with your shiny baby.

Configure a genuine and waterproof ARI electric vehicle now!