What do the new icons on the dashboard of your electric car mean?

Ignoring a light on the dashboard? That's never a good idea. A lot of classic symbols, such as oil or fuel level information, will no longer be needed in an electric vehicle. Some specific EV icons will be added instead. Below, we go over seven new symbols that may appear on your EV's dashboard.

1. Ready to drive

When you see this symbol, you may fasten your seatbelt and press the accelerator. It means your EV is ready to drive. Once you have pressed the start button, the green icon will light up. If it does not, the car may be struggling with a problem that you need to have checked.

2. Eco Mode

This icon speaks for itself: the electric car is in eco driving mode. But do you know what that means exactly? Just like with petrol and diesel models, the eco mode causes your car to accelerate slightly slower. In an electric vehicle, of course, you don't do this to save fuel, but rather to use the available energy more efficiently and get extra kilometres out of your battery's power. You will therefore be able to cover a greater distance with your EV.

3. General error

One of the many advantages of an electric car is the fact that an EV requires relatively little maintenance due to the lack of a conventional engine. But when this symbol lights up, it's best to stop by the garage. It indicates a general fault that a professional should check. Most brands group several problems under this symbol, ranging from a fault in the electrical system, battery or traction system to charging problems. Often, along with the icon, the display will also show a message explaining exactly what is wrong.

4. Limited power

A turtle on the road? No, this symbol does not mean that you are driving behind a slow car. However, you will notice that your own EV suddenly starts driving slower. It is therefore an important icon that lights up when there is a serious problem with the car's power. This could be due to an electrical fault, a problem with the battery's power supply or temperature, or some other defect affecting the vehicle's performance. So, if you see the turtle, it is recommended that you drive to an authorized garage immediately and get what is going on checked.

5. Beware, pedestrians won't hear you.

An electric motor runs virtually silent. To warn pedestrians that a car is approaching, your EV produces an electronic sound at low speed. Some models offer the option to turn off this audible signal. In that case, this icon indicates that you should be extra careful, as pedestrians and cyclists will not be able to hear you coming. Does the icon light up at any other time? Then there might be a problem with the sound.

6. Low battery

You don't really need an explanation for this symbol, but we give it to you for completeness. It lights up as soon as your battery power drops to 10-12%. The icon may vary from model to model, but the message is clear either way: time to plug in your EV and recharge the battery. Does the light start to flicker? Then you only have 5% of your power left and you're in danger of stalling soon. No need to worry about your EV's driving range, as long as you don't ignore this icon.

7. Electrical failure

An exclamation mark means that there is a problem with the car's electrical system. This could have to do with the battery, motor or wiring. There is no need to panic, but have the fault checked at an authorized garage as soon as possible. If the light turns completely red, this is a serious warning and you may even end up stalling. Don't leave this icon on and go to the nearest dealer immediately.

Still have questions about electric driving? Take a look at our FAQ!