An in-depth guide to EV dashboard signs
The UK has just hit a huge milestone on its carbon-zero journey, with one million EV cars now on our roads¹, and our recent research found that as many as one-third of Brits are planning for their next vehicle to be an electric car. But, making the switch to an EV means a whole array of new dashboard symbols to get to grips with. So, what do they all mean?
Our latest survey has tested UK drivers’ knowledge of EV dashboard signs to determine which ones people tend to find the most confusing, and our team of experts have jumped in to reveal exactly what they mean and why we shouldn’t ignore them.
What are dashboard warning lights?
Similar to ICE vehicles, or in other words gas or diesel cars, EVs use a handy colour-coding system for dashboard symbols, so drivers can quickly decipher what their car is telling them. However, according to our survey, a staggering 81% of drivers aren’t clear on what the different colours mean, so we’ve put together a handy summary below:
Anything in red signifies a serious warning. If a red light comes on while you’re driving, you should pull over in a safe space so you can take a look at the problem.
Amber or yellow lights symbolise that your car has an issue that needs addressing soon. These problems are imminent, but you don’t need to stop driving, you just need to address these as soon as possible.
Green, black, or blue lights are used solely to provide information about the car. In most cases, they don’t indicate warnings and you can continue driving without concern.
How well do drivers know EV dashboard lights and symbols?
Despite the growing number of EVs in the UK, only 38% of people are confident that they can correctly identify EV dashboard symbols. In comparison, an impressive 71% of people claim they could correctly recognise dashboard signs in a petrol or diesel car.
On top of this, only two-fifths (38%) of drivers surveyed know that EVs have different dashboard warning lights to petrol and diesel cars. While some of the symbols will be the same, for example, the brake warning light or tyre pressure indicator, there are plenty of new dashboard symbols to learn in EVs.
With this in mind, Thom Groot, Co-Founder of The Electric Car Scheme has compiled an in-depth guide to demystify some of the most confusing symbols.
What are the most confusing EV dashboard symbols?
With this in mind, Thom Groot, Co-Founder of The Electric Car Scheme has compiled an in-depth guide to demystify some of the most confusing symbols.
Low battery
Probably one of the most important symbols to know in an electric car, this icon will light up in amber when it’s time to recharge. When the icon first lights up you have around 10% battery left, then once it starts flashing, you’ll have 5% or less charge and will run out of power very soon.
Despite it being one of the most important symbols, a huge 83% of drivers surveyed misidentified this warning sign and over one-third (37%) thought this was the battery charge level warning light. It’s an easy mistake to make though, as the battery charge level symbol will appear in hybrid cars and flash red when the charge is almost empty.
Battery level warning (hybrid cars)
As we’ve mentioned, this symbol is found in hybrid cars and also indicates that your battery is almost empty. However, the red means that it’s a serious warning and you’ll need to charge your car as soon as possible. Until the battery is charged, your car will run on petrol power.
Over two-thirds (67%) of drivers were confused by this symbol, with most mistaking it for the low-battery sign that can appear in EV and hybrid vehicles.
The charger is still plugged in
As many as 80% of drivers couldn’t correctly identify this symbol, with lots of people thinking it means low battery. However, it’s just a sign that you’ve left the charging cable plugged in. Thankfully, your EV won’t let you drive away while still connected, but this light is explaining why your car won’t start.
Limited power
Don’t let the cute turtle symbol lull you into a false sense of security. If you see this icon light up, this is a sign that there is an issue impairing your vehicle’s performance. A shocking 79% of drivers weren’t able to correctly identify this symbol.
You’ll usually notice a reduction in the car’s speed alongside this warning light. The limited power could be down to a range of things, such as an electrical fault, low battery, or temperature issues. It’s recommended that you take your car to an approved dealer as soon as possible so they can identify and fix the issue for you.
Serious electrical faults
The serious electrical fault icon will either show up as the above symbol or as an image of a car with an exclamation mark through it. If this light does come on in red, you should stop your car whenever it’s safe to do so and find help. Driving with this light on could cause damage to the power output of the car, affecting performance and range.
Three-quarters (76%) of drivers identified this symbol incorrectly, with lots of people mistaking it for the battery charge level light, or the battery temperature warning symbol.
Ready to drive
This is a green symbol, which means there’s nothing to worry about when you see this light up. It just means your car is ready to go, and you can start driving. Bear in mind though, that if you don’t see this sign when you turn the car on, then there may be a problem and you should get it checked out before you set off.
Another three-quarters (75%) of drivers weren’t quite sure what this symbol meant, with some people thinking it was either auto glide control or eco mode.
Electrical fault
This symbol is another indication of an electrical fault, but if the sign lights up in amber, it’s usually not a major issue. However, you should get it checked out at a garage as soon as you can. According to our survey, 71% of people are confused by this symbol, with some mistaking it for the limited power sign.
Pedestrian warning
To help keep everyone safe on the roads, this warning light will appear on an EV dashboard to inform you if you need to brake to avoid any pedestrians.
As many as 70% of those surveyed misidentified this pedestrian warning light, instead thinking it was a sign that the pedestrian alert was on. The pedestrian alert is a slightly different feature altogether. EVs are extremely quiet on the roads, so they offer a pedestrian alert which is an electronic sound that broadcasts outside of the car to warn people of the vehicle’s presence. This dashboard symbol will be amber and is depicted as a car with a megaphone above.
General mechanical issue
Half of the drivers surveyed did manage to correctly identify this symbol as a sign that there’s a general mechanical issue with the car. This can be a frustrating one as it’s not always clear what the fault is, and lots of manufacturers will group a whole variety of problems under this one warning light. Usually, this symbol will be accompanied by a message on the display screen though, so follow these instructions to fix the problem.
What are the consequences of ignoring your warning lights?
| Rank | City | % of drivers that admit to ignoring their dashboard warning lights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belfast | 43% |
| 2 | Newcastle | 38% |
| 3 | Norwich | 33% |
| 4 | London | 30% |
| 5 | Liverpool | 30% |
| 6 | Manchester | 29% |
It can be tempting to ignore your warning lights when driving, especially if you aren’t sure what they mean, but it’s so important to pay attention to what your car is telling you. Worryingly though, a quarter (25%) of drivers admit that they do ignore their warning lights and don’t always address them immediately. We found that EV drivers are the most likely to ignore warning lights, with one-third admitting they do so, compared with just 18% of petrol car drivers.
Looking across the UK, Belfast drivers are the biggest culprits for this, with as many as 43% of drivers in the Irish capital admitting to ignoring their dashboard lights regularly. Following behind in second is Newcastle, with 34% of Geordies admitting to not dealing with their car’s warning signs immediately, and Norwich is in third (33%). On the other end of the scale, only one in 10 drivers in Brighton tend to ignore their dashboard lights.
“No matter what kind of car you drive, it’s vital that you understand all of your vehicle’s dashboard symbols and warning lights, and act accordingly to make sure you keep yourself and others safe while on the roads.”
Thom Groot, Co-Founder of The Electric Car Scheme continues, “Not only is there a big safety issue involved, but ignoring your warning lights can also lead to hefty fines and penalties, though our survey has revealed that three-quarters (74%) of Brits aren’t aware of this. Driving with warning lights on could see you fined up to £2,500 for using your car in a dangerous condition and you could also receive three penalty points. If you continue to drive with warning signs on, you might even receive a driving ban.”
“Take the time to get yourself up to speed with your car’s dashboard symbols, and if in doubt, your vehicle handbook should always be close by for a quick reference.”
Method and sources
A survey was conducted on 1,084 UK drivers aged 17+ in February 2024. Drivers included were EV, petrol, diesel, and hybrid car users.
Sources referenced in the article include:
¹SMMT - UK reaches million EV milestone as new car market grows
