Can an electric car go through a car wash?

Even as electric cars become more and more mainstream, we sometimes come across myths about them that need to be addressed. One of these is whether electric vehicles can go through an automated car wash.

In fact, the UK Government’s Go Ultra Low campaign did some research on the matter, and found that 42% of British people thought that the answer to that question was no – but they’re wrong: it’s perfectly safe to go through a car wash in an electric car.

Why it’s okay to take an electric vehicle through a car wash

It’s perfectly natural to ask the question – after all, in our daily lives we are careful to never let water and electricity mix. It seems logical that you shouldn’t let a car wash spray high-pressure water on a car full of electricity.

Yet car makers are very thorough in their testing and wouldn’t put a car on sale that wasn’t able to withstand a lot of water. There’s even something called the 'soak test', where cars are subjected to near-flood levels of rain in order to check for potential leaks, which is carried out to make sure everything is safe.

This also means electric cars are perfectly safe to drive in the rain as well. Look at it this way: your petrol or diesel car’s engine would be destroyed if it filled up with water, yet car washes and rainy days are commonplace. It’s the good design on the part of the car makers that means it’s incredibly rare for this to happen.

Is there anything I should be aware of when washing my electric car?

Washing your electric car is the same as washing any other kind of vehicle - there’s little damage you can do to an electric car or van. The same is true of all plug-in hybrid vehicles, which are tested to the same degree.

In all cases, all of the high-voltage components are hidden deep within the bodywork, with seals ensuring there's no danger of fire. You wouldn’t let water get into the petrol tank when washing a petrol car, so avoid scrubbing exposed electrical contacts and you’ll be fine. If you're looking for a more thorough guide to cleaning your car, see our full guide packed with advice for you.