SECTION 16 — BATTERIES
16
DANGER
• See General Warnings on page 1-1.
WARNING
• See General Warnings on page 1-1.
DANGER
• Battery – Explosive gases! Do not smoke. Keep sparks and flames away from the vehicle and service
area. Ventilate when charging or operating vehicle in an enclosed area. Wear a full face shield and
rubber gloves when working on or near batteries.
• Charge batteries in a well-ventilated area only. Batteries emit hydrogen while being charged. Hydrogen
is an explosive gas and must never exceed a level of 2% of the air.
• Battery – Poison! Contains acid! Causes severe burns. Avoid contact with skin, eyes, or clothing.
Antidotes:
– External: Flush with water. Call a physician immediately.
– Internal: Drink large quantities of milk or water. Follow with milk of magnesia or vegetable
oil. Call a physician immediately.
– Eyes: Flush with water for 15 minutes. Call a physician immediately.
• Use insulated tools when working near batteries or electrical connections. Use extreme caution to
avoid shorting of components or wiring.
WARNING
• Wear safety glasses or approved eye protection when servicing the vehicle or battery charger. Wear a
full face shield and rubber gloves when working on or near batteries.
• Use insulated tools when working near batteries or electrical connections. Use extreme caution to
avoid shorting of components or wiring.
• Ensure battery connections are clean and properly tightened. See Battery Care on page 16-16.
CAUTION
• On all electric vehicles, turn off all accessories before charging batteries.
NOTE:
Recycle or dispose of discarded batteries in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The batteries supplied with an electric vehicle are different from those supplied with an automobile. The outward
appearance of these two batteries is similar, but the operating characteristics are very different. The electric vehicle
battery is a deep-cycle battery, and the automotive battery is a “starting, lighting and ignition” (SLI) battery. They
should never be substituted for one another.
2009 Electric Precedent Maintenance and Service Manual
Page 16-1
