EV Dash Cam Install
Above all, what is an electric vehicle? Why did I buy an EV? Can I install a dash cam in my EV? Will it kill my battery? Certainly, people are cautious. Let's answer some of these questions.
What Is an Electric Vehicle?
EVs are fully, or partially powered vehicles running on electric power. They require you to plug in to the grid and charge instead of filling up with gas. Some vehicles use a combo of gas and electricity, most referred to as hybrid. What I love most about owning an EV is no oil changes. Hybrid vehicles still require an oil change as they are both gas and electric. Fully electric vehicles get approximately 150 to 600km of range while a hybrid can surpass 1000km.
Why Did I Buy an EV?
Firstly, I bought an EV because I was tired of paying $600 a month for gas. When you drive roughly 25,000km a year like I do budgeting for the ups and downs of gas prices can have a toll. Secondly, all the safety features the vehicle is equipped with was a no brainer. Lane departure warning system lets me know when I am drifting out of my lane. Blind spot detection will notify me when someone is in my blind spot. Adaptive cruise is one of my favorite functions as you can set the speed and your vehicle will adapt to the vehicle in front of you as you drive. Cross traffic alert will notify you when people are walking behind your car, or another vehicle is passing by. Last but not least factory back up camera. The only thing missing was a dash cam install in my EV.
Can I Install a Dash Cam In My EV?
Yes you can. We have performed installs into the following vehicles.
- Chevrolet Bolt
- Porsche Taycan
- Kia Soul EV
- Nissan Leaf
- Hyundai Kona
- Hyundai Ioniq
- Toyota Rav4 Hybrid
- Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
- Toyota Prius Prime
- Toyota Camry Hybrid
- Volvo XC90 PHEV
- Toyota Corolla Hybrid
- And many more
Will It Kill My Battery?
In short, no it will not. Make sure you get a dash camera with low battery protection. This will shut down the dash cam as soon as it reaches a certain set voltage to protect your battery. All of our GNET, Thinkware and IROAD dash cameras have this feature built in. Depending on model you can set anywhere from 11.7 to 12.3 volts. We recommend setting for anything 12 volts or above. We also offer electric vehicle OBDII adaptors for the DIY installers.
In conclusion if you want to install a dash cam into your EV, fear not. Find a trusted shop. Ask if they have done any electric vehicle for dash cam install? Do their dash cams have low battery protection? If you cannot find a trusted shop, ask your car dealer who they recommend.