Great Wall Motor Provides Tips for Facing Trouble While Using an Electric Vehicle

GWM, the Global Intelligent Technology Company and xEV leader, would like to share simple and practical recommendations for dealing with any issues that may arise when driving an electric car, in order to make every driver feel more confident every time they start their beloved EV.
 

Running out of power while driving an EV: Easy way to find an EV charging station

On the go, if drivers notice that the battery is running out of power and that the vehicle may die soon, it is now easier than ever to find a nearby charging point due to the infrastructure provided by both the public and private sector, which is helping push the electric vehicle ecosystem in Thailand to be more accessible by increasing the number of EV charging stations to cover a much wider area.

Users can use Google Maps to search for relevant keywords (e.g. EV charging, EV charging stations, or EV charger) or download apps that help locate charging stations.

Some apps can check the availability, monitor the real-time charging status, as well as reserve a charging queue place in advance, such as EVolt, EA Anywhere, PlugShare, MEA EV, EV Station PluZ, PEA VOLTA, GO TO-U, and G-Charge, which comforts drivers by collecting charging station locations across Thailand and combines them into one app.

By the end of August, the GWM app will cover 65% of the charging station network, and this will increase to 85% by the end of this year.

All GWM G-Charge Supercharging Stations are equipped with high-power DC charging units, starting at 120 kW, to serve all brands of electric vehicles.

The fast, safe, and highly available EV charging stations ensure 24/7 operation of the charging points by using the GWM app, where users can search for charging stations and reserve a timeslot for charging.

However, the best way to prevent battery drainage to a low level along the way is to plan your route and charge in advance to avoid any negative surprises during the journey.

Getting into an accident or engine malfunctioning on the road: How to get help?

The first thing to do when facing the unexpected, whether the car dies or breaks down on the road, is to remember to follow these critical steps: turn on the emergency warning lights to alert other commuters that your car is having trouble.

After that, try to turn off the engine and wait for about 20 minutes and restart the engine, or reset the vehicle's system and start the engine again.

If the situation still does not improve, call the relevant agencies such as the police at 191, highway police at 1193, emergency ambulance hotline at 1669, or the emergency roadside assistance service, etc.

For those who have car insurance, you can call the car insurance company right away.

GWM also has technology installed in every vehicle that helps the driver to easily operate in the event of an unexpected incident by having an SOS button to call for emergency assistance in the case of any accident involving injured passengers.

Another button activates customer service, which provides 24/7 roadside assistance with an expert technician on hand to assist and arrive at the scene within 30 minutes for emergencies and 45 minutes for a trailer lift operation.

Moreover, customers can contact the GWM Contact Center via the GWM app or call directly at 02-668-8888 and press 1 for emergency service, giving the full name, contact number, and body number (VIN), which is the unique identification code of each vehicle.

This will help staff work to find information more conveniently and quickly. However, in the event of a traffic accident, please contact your insurance company to coordinate further assistance.

With renewable energy vehicles that are powered by electricity and have a working mechanism and innovative technology that is not similar to a combustion car, many people are concerned that if their electric vehicle has a problem or its systems malfunction, who should they turn to?

It could be mentioned that many car garages today are well prepared for EVs as they send their mechanics and technicians to learn more about EV systems.

However, if you need more confidence, you can report the damage to the service centre of the purchased electric vehicle.

GWM has many GWM Partner Stores across the country and is ready to take care of customers with an experienced and well-trained team.

Moreover, GWM provides a complete manual with the purchased car, in which drivers can look for EV driving techniques and information with detailed explanations to help drivers become accustomed to car features before driving.

Driving EVs through floods: Is it really safe?

It is quite a common crisis for internal combustion engine drivers in Thailand to face a car stall in the rainy season because the ventilation or cooling systems of the internal combustion engine are connected to the exterior, which puts the engine at risk when there is a flood.

By contrast, the EV engine (including the motor, battery, and charging system) is designed to be in a closed and secure area, preventing it from being exposed to water and having lower risk in a flood.

When driving over floodwaters, EV drivers should keep in mind that the flood level should be less than 30 centimetres high, or at the level of the footpath, or halfway up the wheel.

It is advisable to stop driving if the flood extends above the car door sill, as water might leak into the vehicle and halt or damage the system.

Because all components of EVs are powered by electricity, drivers must be cautious not to allow water to enter the vehicle, as this may cause damage to the electric wire, battery system, motor system, gears, or engine control unit, despite the fact that these components are thoroughly waterproof sealed.

As the battery is one of the crucial components of EVs, it is tested for IP Rating (Ingress Protection), which is the standard for preventing solids and liquids from entering inside the car, causing electricity leakage if the car is underwater.

The standard for electric vehicles generally is IP67, which guarantees to prevent damage from flooding up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.

The ORA Good Cat uses batteries that meet IP67 standards, are waterproof, and can prevent damage from flooding up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.

It also remains completely dustproof and can drive through 40 cm of high floodwater. That means drivers can rest assured that floods won't cause damage to the EV battery.

However, there is a risk of water leakage into the battery components, especially for salt water, which can erode substances and may damage lithium batteries.

It is therefore advised to avoid driving EVs in high levels of water for a long period of time to prevent the damage it may cause.

It is advised that after driving through floods, you apply the brakes repeatedly for 5-10 minutes to push water from the brake pads. If water gets inside the car, dry it off by exposing it to the sun and opening the hood and doors. Alternatively, drivers can take their vehicle to a service shop to have it fully inspected.

Charging an EV: How it works and what to do when it doesn't work

In the early period of using electric vehicles, there was a lot of confusion about how to charge and the location of the charging port – which the driver would get used to after using the vehicle for a while.

If the charger is unable to connect to power when it's plugged in, it may be that the charger plug is not properly connected.

The simple solution is to unlock the vehicle and re-insert the charger firmly in place. Then press the vehicle lock and press 'Recharge' in the app to complete the process.

For example, the ORA Good Cat doesn't have a button to unplug the charging port, so the owner has to unlock the vehicle first and then pull it out.

There are several reasons a charging port might get stuck, and each is as frustrating as another; it could be due to incorrect communication between the vehicle and the standard vehicle charger – such as the vehicle stopping the charging itself before the timer expires.

Therefore, it is recommended to unlock three times to cut off the electrical system, then the vehicle's charging port can be unplugged.

However, if the charging port still gets stuck, the driver can press the 'Emergency' or 'Off Breaker' main button to cut off the power on the charger side. After that, the charger can be unplugged.

As a last resort, if following the initial steps, the charger still cannot be unplugged, call the electric vehicle charging service provider's call center for emergency assistance and describe the problem for technical troubleshooting.

Most charging stations clearly post a toll-free customer service number. Even if they can't provide an easy fix, it is essential for the charging company to know that there was a problem with their equipment.

A couple of things to know about charging: if a driver wants to stop charging, especially at a public charging station, it is necessary to press 'stop charging' on the app first so that the vehicle system connects with the charging kiosk to stop the power supply.

However, users can stop charging immediately when charging their EV at home.

Maintaining and servicing an electric vehicle: Everything you need to know

Even though electric vehicles may not require as much maintenance as internal combustion engine vehicles and consist of fewer parts and equipment than conventional cars, a periodic maintenance check is something that every user must pay attention to.

Checking the mileage accordingly will help extend the life of the electric vehicle and provide worry-free driving. The service center will inspect the operation and any possible malfunction with the motor, battery, charging system, cooling system, radiator, gear, lighting system or tires.

Most electric vehicles are scheduled to have a periodic check with a service center every 12 months or 15,000 kilometers (whichever comes first).

The ORA Good Cat, the 100% electric vehicle from GWM, comes with a 5-year or 75,000-kilometer warranty, which covers both a specialized technician and consumable parts. (For Premiere Deal consumers, the 12 Volt battery, wiper blades, and brake pads are not covered.)

Consumers can use their vehicle with peace of mind and worry-free driving every time.

In addition, GWM also offers Mobile Service, an off-site car check-up service following the periodic maintenance table, using a fully-equipped vehicle and a specialized technician team.

It also includes Pick Up And Delivery On Demand, a service to pick up a vehicle for maintenance (depending on distance) at a standard GWM service center and deliver it back at the appointed location after the service is finished.

The service can also be requested two business days in advance through the GWM app, Partner Store – which covers many areas, or the GWM Contact Center (02-668-8888).

After-sales service for 5 years. Conditions as designated by the company.