Set up the lift from the manual, not from what looks strongest underneath

  1. 01
    Identify the exact lift and support locations

    Use the instructions for the model and model year. Look for diagrams that distinguish an emergency scissor-jack point from a shop lift point or a place where a stand can safely support the vehicle.

  2. 02
    Check the vehicle weight and equipment rating

    EV battery packs can make curb weight higher than expected. Confirm jack, stand, ramp, or lift capacity with enough margin for the actual vehicle and the way it will be supported.

  3. 03
    Prepare a hard, level surface

    Avoid soft soil, sloped driveways, broken pavement, or a surface that can let a jack wheel sink or a stand tilt. Set the parking brake and use wheel chocks as the vehicle procedure directs.

  4. 04
    Use an adapter only when it belongs to that vehicle

    Some EVs specify a lift pad, puck, or shaped adapter to protect a pinch weld or locate the lifting point. An adapter copied from another EV can place force in the wrong area.

  5. 05
    Lower the vehicle if anything shifts or deforms

    Stop if the jack pad slips, the lift point bends, a stand tilts, or the underbody contacts the equipment somewhere other than the approved location.

EV-specific details worth checking before the first lift

  • Whether the manufacturer has a tow, jack, lift, transport, or service mode that needs to be enabled or disabled.
  • Locations of the traction battery enclosure and high-voltage cables shown in owner or service information.
  • Whether the factory emergency jack is intended only for wheel changes and not for under-vehicle service.
  • Approved jack-pad or lift-adapter shape, if the vehicle requires one.
  • Safe stand placement if a floor jack occupies the normal lift point during DIY work.
  • Any battery, rocker-panel, or underbody damage from a previous impact that makes lifting uncertain.

Stop and get help

Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack

A hydraulic floor jack, scissor jack, or emergency jack is a lifting device, not a substitute for properly placed support equipment. Follow the vehicle and support-equipment instructions before going under the vehicle. Do not place a jack or stand against the traction-battery case, orange high-voltage cable, coolant line, underbody panel, suspension arm, or another convenient-looking surface unless the manufacturer specifically identifies it as an approved lifting or support point.

Why copying another EV’s lift setup can be risky

Two EVs can look similar underneath while using different battery enclosures, rocker structures, jack-point inserts, and service-lift procedures. Even within one model family, battery size or chassis revisions can change what the manufacturer permits.

The safest DIY habit is to separate three questions: where the vehicle may be lifted, where it may be supported, and which equipment is rated to do each job. If those answers are not clear in the available documentation, a tire or service shop with the correct lift information is a better choice than experimenting under a heavy vehicle.