The Mysterious Electrical Misfire

Since the first motor car of the modern era rolled out of someone’s shed late in the Nineteenth Century, man has experienced automotive breakdowns. Something, somewhere, has gone wrong. It must have been infuriating in those early days but in the here and now we just sigh and reach for our credit card and smartphone to call our local car servicing garage for professional help.

Over that time, words that bring a shudder to cash-strapped modern motorists, like ‘engine misfire’ or 'ignition problem’ and ‘fuel pump issues’ have become very familiar among drivers of petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles; but what of the new breed of electric vehicle (EV) driver? With their cars there is no engine to let them down, but charging those giant batteries can still present problems. Though you could get away with it? Think again.

The ‘Electrical Misfire’

An EV works differently, obviously, so doesn’t face the same potential problems as a fossil-fuel powered vehicle. There is no fuel system to go wrong in an EV. In fact, in many ways, EV’s are simpler than combustion engine cars, but things can still go wrong. Don’t despair though, correct maintenance by a professional modern garage that can also provide the MOT test when the time comes, will help pre-empt any issues.

What might be considered an EV drive fault usually relates to a charging interruption or a reset of the system. For example, with a petrol/diesel misfire, issues arise from a failure in the combustion cycle. But with an electric car, what might feel like a ‘misfire’ usually relates to an interruption in charging, or to the delivery of power.

Charging Issues

Charging interruptions or temporary system resets are usually at fault. This could mean the EV starts to charge, but then pauses, charges slowly, or stops completely. This sort of hesitation can feel like an ignition fault or a fuel delivery issue, but the root cause is entirely different. Often, these problems arise from what is known as a ‘handshake failure’,where the car and the charger stop communicating as they should.

Before charging can begin, the car and the charger exchange information about compatibility, power limits and safety considerations. But if this is interrupted, charging can be slowed, paused, or stopped. The Battery Management System (BMS) can also cause issues. Temperature, voltage and/or current must be constantly and effectively managed for battery health to be maintained. If any of these fall outside established parameters, then charging can be interrupted. This kind of interruption can feel sudden and unexpected with further confusion arising if there’s no clear explanation on the display. This is the dilemma of the modern EV driver; with regular fuel cars we kind of know what’s what, but electric power is new to us. It’s easy to get stumped.

And That’s Not All

It’s not just about hardware. Software glitches (and we are all very familiar with those thanks to other devices) can interrupt the charging/power delivery process. If the charging unit, for example, is malfunctioning or damaged, or there are network or payment issues, then charging can stop. The sense of interruption, hesitation, or inconsistency in an EV can all seem a little like issues that mirror the engine misfire, but these are invariably down to preventing damage or to system glitches, rather than mechanical faults

Troubleshooting

Instead of thinking about a charging issue as an engine misfire, EV troubleshooting is actually more about checking your connections, software and charging conditions, rather than mechanical parts. remember, don’t tinker with electrical things you don’t understand – electricity can be lethal. Owners can’t check spark plugs or fuel injectors here; the focus instead should be shifted to power flow and system communication glitches.

Ensure the charging cable is inserted fully and locked securely into place. Examine the connector for dirt, debris or moisture since these can interrupt the flow of electricity. Many false starts can be resolved by simply disconnecting and reconnecting comparable to mobile phone or computer jinks. Turning it off and turning it on again. Restart the charging session. End the charging session via the charger or app, then start the process again. If you keep getting issues try rebooting the system. This can help clear any glitches that result in inconsistent behaviour. Or, could it be the charging station? Try a different charge-point (public ones often malfunction or have maintenance issues). If a different charger works, you know it most likely wasn’t your car. Are there any ‘handshake’ or authentication issues? Double check that your app, RFID card or payment method is set up and working as it should be. Look out for error messages on the charger and the vehicle display.

Keep an eye on charging speed and temperature too. If your battery is too hot or too cold, charging may be slowed down or paused (this is to maintain the health of your battery). Check for software updates or indeed if the vehicle itself has any pending updates (over-the-air software updates) as these might improve charging reliability. Remember, that charging slows down when 80-100% full, and that is normal (to preserve battery health). Indeed, some issues are simply to protect the battery, and are not a ‘breakdown’ in the classic sense. Above all, if in doubt in this brave new world of electric motoring, get the vehicle checked by trained personnel at your favourite car servicing garage who understand how this technology works; just like your old internal combustion model.

Fire?

Finally, the idea of EV’s bursting into flames has been rather unfairly targeted. As EV development has moved forward so has the safety aspect. No car maker with any sense is going to be successful promoting dangerous goods. That’s why cars in general are much safer than they once were and it is also true that poorly maintained fossil fuel cars can also burn. Yes, it is true that in very rare circumstances in EV’s thermal runaway (overheating), damage or manufacturing defects in a battery can cause EV fires. In terms of thermal runaway in particular, it’s clear that an effective Battery Management System (BMS, as mentioned above) is critical to avoid battery damage. As is quite clear, electric cars and fire don’t mix, so if the BMS shuts your car down, it’s probably for a good reason.

As always and forever, maintain a car properly and reduce problems to a minimum.