Shipping an Electric Vehicle: What's Different from Petrol Cars
The share of electric vehicles in automotive transport flows has doubled in two years. Today, one in four car carriers transports at least one electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle. This shift has forced carriers to adapt their practices — and the professionals shipping these vehicles to learn a few specific rules.
Charge Level: The 15–30 % Rule
This is the first question any serious carrier asks before loading an EV: what is the battery level?
The industry standard, aligned with manufacturer and insurer recommendations, is to maintain the charge level between 15 and 30 % during transport. Neither too low, nor too high. Here is why:
Too low (< 10 %): the vehicle may not have enough range to be manoeuvred properly during loading and unloading. Some regenerative braking systems can also behave differently at very low charge.
Too high (> 80 %): lithium-ion batteries are slightly more stable when not kept at maximum charge over a long period. In the event of thermal stress or an incident during transport, a fully charged battery carries a marginally higher risk of thermal runaway. This is the same reason manufacturers recommend not charging to 100 % for daily use.
The 15–30 % range is the optimal compromise: enough to manoeuvre, reasonable for safety.
This rule applies to battery electric vehicles (BEVs). For plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), the high-voltage battery follows the same logic, but the combustion engine can take over if needed.
Alpine Tunnels: Specific Regulations
The Mont-Blanc tunnel, the Fréjus tunnel, and the Gotthard base tunnel in Switzerland have regulations that have evolved in recent years to account for electric vehicles.
Mont-Blanc and Fréjus: electric vehicles transported on car carriers are subject to charge level checks before tunnel entry. A charge level above 50 % can be questioned, or in some configurations result in a refusal of passage. Experienced carriers on these routes systematically ensure their EVs are at a reduced charge level before approaching the tunnels.
Brenner (Austria-Italy): no tunnel on the main route, but Austrian regulations for heavy goods vehicles include rules regarding vehicles carrying high-capacity batteries. Carriers who regularly run the Germany-Italy route via the Brenner are well-versed in these procedures.
Gotthard: the base tunnel, the longest in the world, has its own rules for convoys carrying electric vehicles. Switzerland applies ADR (dangerous goods transport) standards once the total battery capacity exceeds a certain threshold.
These regulations evolve regularly. If your vehicle needs to transit through an Alpine tunnel, verify with your carrier that they are up to date on the current rules. Check our dedicated pages for the affected corridors: France → Italy, Germany → Italy, or France → Switzerland.
Do You Need a Specialist Carrier?
Not necessarily — but you do need a carrier who knows what they are doing. The vast majority of standard electric vehicles (Tesla Model 3/Y, Renault Megane E-Tech, Peugeot e-208, Volkswagen ID.4, etc.) are transported exactly like petrol vehicles, on standard open car carriers.
What actually changes in practice for the carrier:
- Charge level verification before loading and communication to the driver
- Specific loading procedure: some EVs have different tie-down points or specific sill protections
- No idling: an EV does not run at idle — if the carrier needs to leave the vehicle "on" for any reason, they know it draws the battery differently
- In case of breakdown: a fully discharged EV is not towed the same way as a petrol car — a flatbed or trailer is required, not a tow bar
For very premium vehicles or those with very large batteries (Tesla Model S Plaid, Rivian, Lucid Air), enclosed transport may be recommended. Less for electrical safety reasons than for the vehicle's value itself.
Battery Fire: A Real but Heavily Overestimated Risk
In recent years, battery fires in car parks and on ferries have created anxiety around EVs. Some context:
Statistics from the ADAC (German motoring club) and insurers show that EVs have a lower fire rate than petrol vehicles per kilometre driven. The difference: when a lithium-ion battery ignites, the fire is harder to extinguish and lasts longer.
This is why some ferry companies (particularly Scandinavian ones) have at times limited EV capacity in their vehicle decks. Regulations are evolving, and the Mediterranean ferries connecting France-Corsica, France-Italy or Spain-Morocco do not have these restrictions.
For your road transport on a car carrier, this risk is managed by the charge level rule. An EV at 20 % charge presents risks comparable to a petrol vehicle with a partially full tank.
EV-Specific Checklist Before Shipping
Before handing your EV to a carrier:
- Check the charge level: aim for 15 to 30 %. If the vehicle is charged to 100 %, let it drain or unplug it the evening before.
- Disable automatic charging: some EVs (Tesla in particular) can resume charging if plugged in. Inform the carrier.
- Disable automatic software updates: an OTA update during transport can change vehicle behaviour (parking mode, transport mode, etc.)
- Activate transport mode if available: Tesla, BMW, Volvo and others offer a "transport mode" that disables certain functions and makes it easier for carriers to handle the vehicle.
- Disable variable-height air suspension (if applicable): some electric SUVs can automatically lower themselves, complicating loading onto the car carrier.
- Note the remaining range on the handover document: just as you would note mileage for a petrol car, this is a data point that will be checked at delivery.
Impact on CMR Insurance
CMR insurance (Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road) applies to electric vehicles just as it does to petrol vehicles. In case of damage during transport, the claims procedure is identical.
The potential difference arises in the event of a battery fire: if a battery fire breaks out during transport and damages other vehicles on the carrier, questions of liability can become complex. Professional carriers hold insurance policies adapted to this risk.
For high-value vehicles (premium EVs over EUR 60,000), additional ad valorem insurance is recommended — exactly as you would for a petrol vehicle of equivalent value.
Electric vehicle transport is now a routine activity for carriers in the EsyLoads network. If you have specific questions about your vehicle or your route, contact us before placing your order — our team can direct you to carriers best equipped for your vehicle type.