EV high-voltage battery level warning light
A warning light for the high-voltage battery that drives an electric car. Hyundai and Kia call it the high voltage battery level warning light: it comes on when that battery’s charge is low.
Easily confused with
How to read it
Hyundai’s 2023 Ioniq 5 manual says the high voltage battery level warning light illuminates when the high voltage battery level is low, and Kia’s guide to its electric-car lights says it turns on when the remaining power of the high-voltage (drive) battery is low. Nissan’s 2020 LEAF has its own low battery charge indicator for the Li-ion drive battery, which illuminates when the available charge is getting low. This is a different battery from the one the Battery warning light watches: that light is for the 12-volt battery and its charging, and on the LEAF a DC/DC converter charges the 12-volt battery from the 400-volt Li-ion battery.
Also searched as: EV battery warning, EV low battery light, high voltage battery light.
Dashboard symbols vary by manufacturer. The vehicle's owner's manual or a qualified mechanic can say what a light means for a particular vehicle.
When it comes on
The Ioniq 5 manual’s section on the battery gauge says a warning light comes on when the remaining charge is below 10%, and that the car can then go a further 30 to 40 km (18 to 25 miles), depending on speed, heating or air conditioning, weather and driving style.
What the manuals say to do
Hyundai’s manual and Kia’s guide use the same words: when the warning light turns on, charge the battery immediately. Nissan’s LEAF manual says to charge as soon as possible, preferably before the Li-ion battery available charge gauge reaches 0%, and that its low battery charge indicator turns off just before the battery is completely discharged and the car stops.
Faults in the battery system
A fault in the high-voltage system has a different light from a low charge. Nissan’s EV system warning light comes on for a malfunction in systems that include the Li-ion battery system, the traction motor and inverter, and the charge port or on-board charger. Hyundai’s service warning light, and Kia’s, come on for a problem in the electric vehicle control system, such as its sensors.
Look-alikes
The Battery warning light is for the 12-volt battery. The power limitation (turtle) light can follow a low charge: Hyundai’s manual says that when the high voltage battery level is low, the power down indicator light illuminates and the car’s power is limited.
More dashboard warning lights
Browse symbols drawn with lines or squares and rectangles.
Sources
- 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Owner’s Manual, Hyundai Motor America (MyHyundai), State Of Charge (SOC) Gauge for High Voltage Battery, p. 1-65; High Voltage Battery Level Warning Light and Service Warning Light, pp. 1-66 to 1-67
- Understanding the Warning Lights and Indicators in Electric Vehicles, Kia Quick Tips, Kia Corporation (Kia Aruba), 05 High voltage battery level warning light; 07 Service warning light
- 2020 Nissan LEAF Owner's Manual, Nissan North America, Instruments and controls: EV system warning light, p. 2-18; Low battery charge indicator, p. 2-35; 12-volt battery charge warning light, p. 2-15
Last reviewed September 30, 2026 by Rory Hansen. How we research