Two batteries, two different problems
The large high-voltage battery drives the wheels and is recharged at a charger. A roadside jump does not charge it.
The small 12-volt battery is the one a jump start is for. It wakes the car up, and once the car is on, the main battery keeps it charged again.
Signs the 12-volt battery is the problem
Any of these points at the small battery rather than the big one:
- The car won't unlock with the key fob or the phone app.
- The screens stay dark when you get in.
- A warning about the 12-volt or low-voltage battery appeared in the days before.
- On a hybrid, the car won't switch on and the Ready light never comes on.
Where the jump points are
It depends on the model. On many electric cars the 12-volt battery or its jump terminals sit under the hood or in the front trunk, and some need a release cable to open the front trunk when the 12-volt system is dead. The owner's manual shows the exact spot.
When to call
Tell dispatch the year, make and model, and that it's electric or hybrid, so the driver comes with the right equipment for the 12-volt system.
If the problem is a low main battery rather than a dead 12-volt one, a jump won't help. The car needs a charger, or a tow to one.
Common questions
No. A jump only helps the 12-volt battery. A low main battery needs a charger, or a tow to one.
The idea is the same: the 12-volt battery is what gets the jump. Note that it's a hybrid in your request so the driver brings the right equipment.