First steps
What should I ask before buying a Karma
Inquire about the previous owner's driving habits and whether they charged the vehicle properly while using it regularly.
What do I need to know about the battery
Low electric mileage vehicles need thorough inspection as cells may be damaged. Battery health depends on regular charging and discharging cycles.
How often should I drive
Recommend frequent use: minimum weekly full electric drives and monthly gas engine use to maintain battery health.
Is the Karma reliable
The vehicle is reliable with proper care. It requires constant driving rather than garage storage. The highest recorded mileage noted is approximately 350,000 km.
How to handle charging correctly
Charge when remaining range is 0-20km. Avoid brief charging stops. Periodic 48-72 hour charging sessions balance cells.
What is the best process to charge
Turn off and lock the car first, wait for sleep mode (indicated by closing mirrors and a click sound), then plug wall socket before the charging gun. Reverse this order when unplugging.
How can I check cell condition
Charge to 80km, drive in electric mode to 0km. Rapid range dropping at low remaining range indicates dead cells.
Bad cells - do I need to change the whole Battery rack
Not necessarily; individual modules can be exchanged depending on the number of defective cells.