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Do electric cars idle?
I’ve never driven an electric car before but was hoping to test drive some soon. If I’m driving something like a Tesla or a Nissan Leaf and need to park momentarily to pick something up, is it safe to idle an electric car?
Allison Stone · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
In a traditional combustion engine car, idling refers to a scenario where the car is not in motion, but the engine is still turning and burning fuel. A common scenario in which a gas-powered car might idle is when you’re momentarily parked to pick something up, or waiting for your car to
warm up in the winter
. While idling is not necessarily terrible for your car, it does waste a significant amount of energy. With an
electric car
, the electric motor will only ever spin the driveshaft while the car is in motion. You can still drain energy from the battery if the other internal systems such as cooling or heating are on while the car is parked, but it does not “idle” in the traditional sense.
If you’re thinking about buying a new electric car, the
Jerry
can help you get the best deal possible on car insurance
. Jerry is a licensed broker that does all the hard work of finding and comparing quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies. Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price. Sign up today, and in less than 45 seconds Jerry will collect and analyze all of the information from your existing insurer to find you the best quotes for the best price.
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- Gregory R.
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