In this guide
Fitting a dash cam to an electric car raises a question petrol drivers never think about: what happens to the 12V battery while the car is parked? Here is how we fit dash cams to Teslas and other EVs at our Nottingham workshop, and what we recommend.
The problem with hardwiring an EV
Every EV still has a conventional 12V battery running the locks, lights and computers. It is topped up from the main traction pack, but only when the car decides to do it. A dash cam drawing from that 12V system in parking mode can pull it down faster than the car replaces it, particularly if the vehicle sits for days at an airport or on a driveway.
On a petrol car a hardwire kit with a voltage cutoff handles this neatly. On an EV the cutoff still protects the battery, but you often find parking mode shutting down early, which defeats the point of having it.
The answer: a battery pack
For EVs we fit a dedicated dash cam battery pack rather than wiring parking mode into the car. The pack charges while you drive and then powers the camera on its own cells once you park, so the car’s 12V system is never touched. Nothing to flatten, nothing for the car to complain about, and parking mode runs for far longer than a hardwire kit would allow.
We use the VIOFO BP100 and its EP100 expansion. The BP100 alone covers most overnight and street parking; add the EP100 if you leave the car for several days or park at an airport. The smaller BP60 suits drivers who only need a few hours.
Which camera to pair it with
Any VIOFO in the range works with a battery pack, so choose on image quality rather than power. For most EV drivers we fit the A229 Pro, which gives 4K at the front and 2K behind. If you want the best available, the A329S records 4K at 60fps. If your car is used for private hire work, take the 3-channel version with the infrared cabin camera.
A note on Tesla Sentry Mode
Sentry Mode is useful, but it is not the same as a dash cam. It records to a USB drive, it does not cover the same angles in the same quality, and it drains the traction pack noticeably. A dedicated dash cam with its own battery gives you consistent footage at the resolution an insurer wants, without eating your range while the car sits.
Fitting an EV properly
EV interiors are tight on space and the trim clips are often different to a petrol car, so the battery pack needs mounting somewhere secure and ventilated, usually under a seat or in the boot, with the cable routed out of sight. We do this at our Beeston workshop, and we are an authorised VIOFO installer, so the warranty is not affected.
Installation starts from £100 for a 2-channel camera, with the battery pack fitted at the same time. Prices depend on the vehicle and are confirmed before you book. See VIOFO dash cams fitted in Nottingham, or read our guide to parking mode if you are not sure which mode you need.
Driving a Tesla, Kia EV6, Ioniq 5, ID.3 or anything else electric? Call us on 0115 924 0666 and we will tell you exactly what we would fit and what it would cost.
