You'll definitely need it on your first long trip after taking it out of your car...

 

I’ve used mine a grand total of twice - which makes it well worth the purchase price.

Once when an EV work van was sitting for 6 months, and didn’t respond at all as the 12V was flat. I didn’t measure the voltage, just connected the charger and turned the key, it started immediately, and hasn’t had any problems for the last year or so it’s been driven regularly.

Once more when new neighbours were moving in, and the ancient petrol Fiesta they were using didn’t start - and again it started immediately.

 

For over 3 years I have been carrying a Noco Boost X GBX45 battery jump starter pack in the boot of my Niro EV. Will I ever need this to jump start my own car, or would it only ever be of benefit to help me jump start somebody else's petrol / diesel car (which I have done, in the past)?

The Niro EV is supposed to top up the 12V battery from the main traction battery, if the 12V battery ever gets too low. I assume that when I replace my Niro EV at the end of 2026, that any brand new EV model would also have this capability. Is this definitely the case, or are there some EV models which do not top up the 12V battery from the traction battery?

My son has just got his first car (an ICE car, not an EV), and I'm debating whether to buy a battery jump starter pack for his car, or whether to simply leave my Noco GBX45 in his car, if I'm never going to need it myself other than for helping out an ICE motorist in need.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this.

1/ the minute you leave it at home…you will need it

2/ I wouldn't keep it in the boot….when you need it, how will you get it out of the boot?

 

Where would you recommend keeping it? Is there a reason I would be able to open the car but not the boot?

 

I’ve owned an E-GMP for 3x years, that everyone says will suffer from ICCU issues on a weekly basis.

Never had, or needed, a jump starter.

(That’s cursed it! )

 

In 3 1/2 years I've used mine once to start my son's car.

 

It's like having insurance and never needing it, against needing insurance and not having it.

Booster in glove box or front store. It can then be accessed by the physical key. Even after getting into the car with the physical key, the boot won't pop if the 12v is totally flat. And scrambling into the boot via the dropped rear seats is a bit undignified.

 

Mine fits under the passenger front seat. Not the driver's seat cos of the motors needed for the electric adjustments.

 

I had my 2020 Eniro for 5 years. Never had a single issue with the 12V. Never even bought a 12V jump unit. Only thing I did was because of so much bad reports, I fitted a BM2 the day I took delivery. Monitored it often. No issues whatsoever. Even through lockdown when car wasn’t driven for weeks. 12V was always well maintained by the system automatically every day. I took no special precautions except I never ever used Accesory mode. I believe that was my key to success. Accessory mode is the biggest 12V killer. Peter.

 

Hmmm... all this time I thought Accessory mode used traction/HV battery to power 12V. I only just realised that what I wanted is "Utility" mode and that requires a lot more effort to enable.

I have had some nice relaxing times sat in accessory mode listening to the radio 😬 No problems fortunately but I must have discharged the 12V battery pretty deeply on occasion.

 

For over 3 years I have been carrying a Noco Boost X GBX45 battery jump starter pack in the boot of my Niro EV. Will I ever need this to jump start my own car, or would it only ever be of benefit to help me jump start somebody else's petrol / diesel car (which I have done, in the past)?

The only time I've used mine is to jump start a neighbours Diesel Audi. I was rather pleased to be able to practice with it as I haven't had to use it on my EV.

Buy your Son his own. Definitely need yours when you give it away.

 

The NOCO us quite chunky abd if you have it in a case takes up even more space.

One solution woukd be to jeep it but in the boot where ut's accessible by just dropping a seat back from inside the car.
Another solution woukd be to gift it and buy some cheap tat which us much smaller but woukd fit in the glovebox.

I honestly can't find mine to see if it even fits in my glovebox so am going from memory but if you gave a xar which is prone to drain the 12v if circumstance dictates then it's worth gaving sonething available just good enough to get ypu out if a pickle.
No need for anything that can spin over a Merlin.

Gaz

 

My answer Yes. As others say sods law leave it you will need it

 

Old fashioned jump leads work just as well. You will also need social skills to approach other motorists for a bit of help.

But a decent set will take up more space than a small booster. Just at a tenth of the price.

 

If it's not happened already it's time the market saw an EV jumpstarter which held enough power for half a dozen starts of the most demanding EV.

Cable sizes could be vastly reduced as well as the bulkiness and function of the booster unit itself.
It could probably charge from USB in the car without any issue.

I just can't be bothered to Google for one but something like that could be knocked out for £40 and sell one to practically every EV owner so should be worth producing. I imagine it only needs to be a third the size of anything aimed at ICE vehicles.

Gaz

 

I bought one for £20, basically a 10,000mAh battery pack, complete with USB ports, charged by USB, with a pair of slim cables with crocodile clips on the end. I thought it was going to be too cheap and useless, but I’ve used it twice and it worked perfectly each time. Used about 20% for each start, and won’t jump start below 60%, so only two starts - but why would you need 5?
I just found this on AliExpress: ￡37.75 | EAFC 1000A/1200A Jump Starter Power Bank Portable Charger Starting Device for 3.0L Emergency Car Battery Jump Starter

https://a.aliexpress.com/_EJUCTmw

 

OK I pulled my thumb out of my backside and found one specifically piddly jumpstarter for EVs.

The price on the following link though makes you wonder why you couldn't make something yourself from some normal rechargeable batteries and a Christmas cracker set of jump leads.

Micro EV Jump Starter - Powerpac

www.powerp.co.uk

Gaz

 

I’ve used my jump starter a total of 3 times, once for my Leaf and the other 2 times to start neighbours ice cars. I’ve just checked and charged it up ready for the coming season.
I would say keep it in your car just in case

 

I was reading this thread this morning, thinking I haven't had any such issues, only for it to happen to me this afternoon.

Took somethings for our boat to marina and left hatch door open while transporting from car to boat (half an hour). Went back to car - boot wouldn't close, and car wouldn't start with infotainment screen just displayed the warning about boot open flashing on screen until it eventually disappeared..

Luckily had a boat battery I could connect to and it started ok, and has been ok since.

Moral - don't read articles about other people's problems

 

For everyone (in the UK) Lidl have currently a battery power pack/tyre inflator on sale for £50, and I can confirm it works fine for both functions on my Niro EV. I can also confirm that leaving hatch open for an hour depletes the 12v battery

Lidl Power Bank