12V Battery Maintenance and Charging
Battery electrolyte is poisonous. It contains sulfuric acid. Serious burns can result from contact with skin, eyes or clothing.
Antidote:
External: Flush with water.
Internal: Drink large quantities of water or milk. Follow with milk of magnesia, beaten egg, or vegetable oil. Call physician immediately.
Eyes: Flush with water for 15 minutes and get prompt medical attention.
Batteries produce explosive gases. Keep sparks, flame, cigarettes, etc. away. Ventilate when charging or using in an enclosed space. Always shield eyes when working near batteries. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.
Before servicing your vehicle’s 12V battery, ALWAYS power off the vehicle and remove the key from the key switch. Then, ensure that high-voltage power is turned off by unclasping the high-voltage service disconnect.
Your vehicle has a low-maintenance flooded battery. It does not require refilling.
Always keep battery terminals and connections free of corrosion. If cleaning is necessary, remove the corrosion with a stiff wire brush. Wash with a solution of one tablespoon baking soda and one cup water. Rinse well with tap water and dry off with clean shop towels. Coat the terminals with dielectric grease or petroleum jelly. Be careful not to allow cleaning solution or tap water into a conventional battery.
The sealed battery is already filled with electrolyte and has been sealed and fully charged at the factory. Never pry the sealing strip off or add any other fluid to this battery.
Your electric vehicle will maintain the charge of the 12V battery whenever the High-Voltage Battery Pack has an adequate State of Charge (SoC). See Storing the Vehicle for details on long-term vehicle storage.