Can You Jump-Start a Hybrid Car?

By Adrian Castillo

If you’re dealing with a dead battery in your hybrid vehicle, you may be wondering: “Can you jump-start a hybrid car?” The simple answer is yes. There are some similarities between hybrids and standard gas-engine vehicles, and this is one of them. However, the process of jump-starting a hybrid isn’t quite the same as it is for other cars, which is why it’s extremely important to know how to handle it. If something goes wrong, it could be very dangerous for both you and your vehicle.

How to Jump-Start a Hybrid Car

If you’re in a tight spot and need to jump-start your hybrid to get it up and running again, be sure that you know what you’re doing. First of all, both cars should be turned off, along with anything else that runs on electricity—your air conditioning, radio, and any GPS devices you have. Leaving any of those on during a jump-start could risk damage from the surge of electricity.

Once you’re sure everything is off, open the hoods of both vehicles just like you would for any other jump-start. Then, connect one end of your jumper cables to the positive terminal in your hybrid and connect the other end to the terminal of the same color in the other vehicle. From there, things are a little different. You’re going to connect one end of the other cable to the negative terminal in the working vehicle. Where the other end goes will depend on the model of your hybrid, so consult your owner’s manual to locate the right spot.

Once the cables are properly connected, you should start the working vehicle and let it run for a little bit. After a few minutes, you can start your hybrid and everything should run as normal. When you disconnect the cables, be sure to do so in the opposite order from when you connected them.

The Long-Term Solution: A Hybrid Battery Replacement From Bumblebee Batteries

While you can jump-start a hybrid car, it’s not going to be a long-term solution. When your battery’s life is nearing its end, you’ll need to invest in a replacement. Bumblebee Batteries is the company to call for hybrid battery replacements and installations, as we offer both new and rebuilt options that we install locally at our Gresham, Oregon, shop and elsewhere through mobile battery installations.

If you want more information about jump-starting hybrid cars or would like to learn more about our hybrid battery replacement options, contact Bumblebee Batteries today.