EV ready indicator
An information light that shows an electric or plug-in hybrid car is switched on and can be driven. Toyota, Hyundai and Kia call it the READY indicator; Nissan calls it the READY to drive indicator light and Chevrolet the vehicle ready light.
How to read it
Nissan’s 2020 LEAF manual says the READY to drive indicator light illuminates when the EV system is powered and the vehicle may be driven. Chevrolet’s 2022 Bolt EUV manual says the vehicle ready light comes on whenever the vehicle is ready to be driven. The light matters because the car can be silent: Toyota’s 2024 RAV4 Prime manual says there may be no engine sound or vibration even though the vehicle is able to move with the “READY” indicator illuminated, and that the vehicle will not move when it is off. Kia’s guide to its electric-car lights shows it as the word READY in a green box.
Also searched as: EV ready light, READY 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.
Steady, off or blinking
Hyundai’s 2023 Ioniq 5 manual gives three states: on, normal driving is possible; off, normal driving is not possible or a problem has occurred; blinking, emergency driving. The manual says a ready indicator that goes off or blinks means a problem with the system, and to have the vehicle inspected by a Hyundai dealer. Kia’s guide says the same of its ready light: it turns off or blinks if there is an issue with the vehicle’s systems.
When it goes out
Nissan’s LEAF manual says the READY to drive light turns off for certain EV system malfunctions, and just before the Li-ion battery is completely discharged. It also says the car cannot be switched to READY to drive while the charge connector is plugged in, the state the EV plug-in indicator shows.
Look-alikes
The READY light is information, not a warning. A car that is on but has limited its power shows the power limitation (turtle) light instead.
More dashboard warning lights
Browse symbols drawn with letters and numbers or squares and rectangles.
Sources
- 2020 Nissan LEAF Owner's Manual, Nissan North America, Instruments and controls: READY to drive indicator light, p. 2-23; charge connector note, p. 2-22
- 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Owner’s Manual, Chevrolet (General Motors), Instruments and Controls: Vehicle Ready Light, p. 92
- 2024 Toyota RAV4 Prime Owner’s Manual, OM42F73U, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Sounds and vibrations specific to a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle; Starting the hybrid system
- 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Owner’s Manual, Hyundai Motor America (MyHyundai), Warning and Indicator Lights (related to electric vehicle): Ready indicator, p. 1-66
- Understanding the Warning Lights and Indicators in Electric Vehicles, Kia Quick Tips, Kia Corporation (Kia Aruba), 01 Ready indicator light
Last reviewed September 30, 2026 by Rory Hansen. How we research