Leaving your EV parked for Dashain or a trip abroad

The flight is booked and a relative has the car key. Before you leave, agree on what they should check and when to call the service centre. "Start it sometimes" leaves them with too much to guess.

A few days away for Dashain and several months abroad are different situations. The manual may define a long-storage procedure, and the car can still use energy while parked. Traction charge, the small battery, tyres, security and the return-to-use checks all need their own attention.

Find the instruction for the exact car

The April 2024 Punch EV manual hosted by Sipradi advises 30–50% traction charge before long storage, avoiding discharge to zero, and a full normal AC charge before reuse. This is an example from that model's manual, not a percentage to copy into every car's storage plan.

Ask the distributor which manual revision applies to your battery variant and how the procedure changes with the length of your absence. Follow the complete instructions, including any return-to-use steps.

Do not assume that charging to 100% is always best because it leaves the most energy. Nor should you deliberately lower the pack to a small reserve before leaving without reading the instructions. The storage target is part of the maker's complete procedure.

Parked does not mean electrically inactive

Monitoring, alarms, connected services and accessories can consume energy. The amount depends on the car and its state. Remote app checks may also interact with the vehicle. A published approximate storage loss is not a guaranteed monthly drain for every car.

In a simple example, a pack left at 40% has 15 percentage points before a chosen 25% checking threshold. At an assumed loss of three percentage points a month, that margin lasts five months. If an unexpected accessory load doubles the loss, it lasts only two and a half months. This is an illustration of why checks matter, not a recommendation to leave any car unchecked for those periods.

The actual threshold, inspection frequency and charging procedure should come from the manufacturer. Arrange a competent person's help before the car becomes too depleted to follow a normal charging routine.

The low-voltage battery is a separate concern

The traction battery's remaining charge does not guarantee the car will wake normally after a long absence. Ask the service centre to assess the smaller battery and the storage arrangement. Find out whether an approved maintainer, isolation procedure or other model-specific action is needed.

Do not disconnect a terminal because a general car-storage guide recommends it. Locks, alarms, electronic settings and safe access may be affected. The Punch manual has a separate long-parking section as well as traction-battery guidance. Have the workshop explain how those instructions fit together for your car, including safe access and any work on the smaller battery.

An added tracker or dashcam deserves attention. Ask how it is powered while parked and whether it should be changed for storage. Have the installer or workshop handle wiring changes; removing a device randomly can create another problem.

Choose the parking location deliberately

Use a secure, suitable space with the exposure and ventilation conditions the manual specifies. Consider flood risk, roof leaks, access for inspection and whether the car can be recovered if it cannot move. A basement that has flooded before deserves particular caution during a long monsoon absence.

Inspect tyres and follow the model's storage and pressure instructions. Do not copy a universal overinflation amount from another manual. Clean the car and remove food or items that attract pests. Ask about appropriate covers and long-parking care without blocking ventilation or trapping moisture.

If the vehicle will remain connected to charging equipment, confirm that the maker permits that arrangement, which settings apply and who checks the installation. Leaving it plugged in is not automatically equivalent to the approved storage procedure.

Give the caretaker a written handover

Record the current odometer, charge, photographs and any known faults. Provide the applicable manual section, service contact, planned checking dates and permission limits. Explain which warning requires stopping and calling for help.

A relative should not have to guess whether a charging message is harmless. They need access to approved equipment and a safe parking arrangement. If they will drive, settle licence, insurance and operating permission matters first.

Tell the caretaker what each check is meant to establish. Switching the car on briefly may not do the charging or inspection the manufacturer requires. If they cannot carry out the agreed procedure safely, arrange a workshop visit or a different storage plan.

Returning is another step

Before the first journey, check for leaks, visible damage, tyre condition and warning messages. Complete the prescribed charging and service steps. Confirm that insurance and registration obligations remain current; storage does not automatically pause them.

If the car will not wake, use professional recovery advice. If floodwater entered the parking area, report the exposure before starting or charging. A clean exterior does not establish the safety of the electrical system.

Leave the handover somewhere the caretaker can find it, along with the service number and a copy of the relevant manual pages. When you return, check what they recorded before planning a long drive. If you are taking the car on holiday instead, use the Kathmandu–Pokhara trip guide to plan stops and confirm access.

Source scope

The storage example comes from pages 40 and 288 of the April 2024 Punch EV manual supplied on Sipradi's website. Those sections cover different battery and parking tasks; your distributor should confirm the procedure for your own car. The drain calculation is an illustration, not a measured loss rate for vehicles parked in Nepal.