High voltage
Clearly a key safety issue with electric vehicles, of any type, is high voltage. This is usually 400 volts or more. The Porsche Taycan is 800V, Formula-e are 950V and some manufacturers are said to be looking at 1200V options. Remember, domestic mains voltage is 230 volts and that is dangerous! The high voltage components include the:
- Battery
- Power controller
- Motor
- Air conditioning
- Heater
All of these components if accident damaged or dismantled are capable of giving a fatal electric shock. All are perfectly safe for normal use, so don’t worry.

Audi e-tron FE07 #11 (Lucas di Grassi)
Quiet operation
One aspect of a moving EV is that it can be very quiet. It is important therefore, to look as well as listen when cars could be moving in car parks, workshops or showrooms, or anywhere similar. Newer EVs have a noise generator that plays sound through an external speaker to improve safety.
Engines
On some hybrid vehicles, the engine can start without warning. This happens when the electronic systems detect that the battery is becoming discharged – the engine starts in order to recharge it. This will not happen if the vehicle is switched off and the keys removed. There are horror stories of this happening after untrained people have drained the oil!
Personal protective equipment
When working on certain aspects of a high voltage vehicle, technicians will use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). However, no PPE is needed by owners and users of EVs.
Work on electric vehicles
When work is being carried out, it is important that you do not approach an electric vehicle if it is cordoned off or displaying HV warning signs, unless specifically asked to by a qualified person. Equally, you should never attempt to move a damaged electric vehicle without permission.
A technician should not work on the high voltage or highly magnetic components of an EV if they have a heart pacemaker or other medical device such as an insulin pump fitted. Normal service and repair operations are fine. If in doubt, check the manufacturer’s guidance.
Unless you are an EV qualified technician carrying out diagnostic work, you should unplug the vehicle from the charge socket before commencing any operation. An example would be when washing or valeting the vehicle.

Figure 6 Working on a high voltage battery
Emergencies
As with all vehicle types of, dangerous situations can arise. In the event of a fire, the normal workplace procedures must be followed. If a person suffers an electric shock, then the instructions and processes outlined on ‘Electric Shock’ posters should be followed.
A high voltage vehicle that has been flooded or even completely submerged is not a particular danger but should only be moved or worked on by a qualified person.
Vehicle delivery
If a crashed or broken down vehicle is delivered, for example to your workshop, it is essential to follow safe procedures. Ideally a trained technician should be present to decide what will happen and where the vehicle will be dropped off. A dedicated fenced off area may be used if no technician is available.
Perfectly safe!
It is important to stress again here, that for normal use, drivers and passengers are perfectly safe in an EV. As well as insulation and shielding other sophisticated safety features are built in, for example, the high voltage is shut down in an impact. Clearly, you should not interfere with any complex systems on a vehicle, and the high voltage in particular, unless you are an appropriately trained technician.