Get the vehicle running again
Restore a dead vehicle battery in Nomad Drive by using a Charger, fitting a working replacement or pushing the vehicle until it gains enough emergency charge to start. Preserve that charge by switching off unnecessary headlights, cabin lights and wipers; running the engine does not recharge the battery.
Check the ignition before replacing anything
Turn the ignition and read the warning before spending a Charger or searching for another battery. “Battery is not installed” means you need to fit the part, while “Battery is broken” means its charge has reached zero. A broken battery can therefore be charged rather than discarded. If it empties while you are driving, the engine stops immediately.
The depletion warning reads “Battery is depleted. Charge it or install a new one!” Once you try the ignition afterwards, it reports the battery as broken. Resolve the warning you see, then try the ignition again: another startup problem can remain after the battery is fixed.
| Ignition message | Next action |
|---|---|
| Engine is not installed | Fit an engine before trying to start. |
| Engine is broken | Use an Engine Repair Kit or fit another engine. |
| Engine is overheated | Let the engine cool and check the radiator. |
| Battery is not installed | Install a vehicle battery. |
| Battery is broken | Restore its charge or fit a working replacement. |
| Fuel tank is not installed | Fit the Motorcycle's separate fuel tank. |
| Out of fuel | Refill the fuel tank before restarting. |
| Release the handbrake! | Release the handbrake to continue. |
Use a Charger on the vehicle battery
The item is named Charger, although the tutorial calls it a Battery Charger. It restores 65 units of vehicle battery charge and is consumed when used. An Engine Repair Kit cannot charge the battery, so match the repair item to the part.
- Equip the Charger so you can use it directly on the RV's battery.
- Use the Charger on the vehicle battery to restore charge; the Charger is used up.
- Try the ignition again to see whether the engine starts or another warning needs attention.
A full Battery I holds 100 charge, and a Charger takes an empty one from 0 to 65. At 35 charge, a Charger fills it completely; above 35, some of the restoration is wasted because the charge stops at full. If you can comfortably preserve the remaining charge, save the Charger until more of its restoration will be useful.
Swap in a working vehicle battery
A working spare is the alternative when you have no Charger. Use a vehicle battery for this job: the small item also named Battery belongs to flashlights and power tools and cannot be installed in the RV. Keep the spare vehicle battery separate from your tool supplies so you can grab the right item when stranded.
- Remove the depleted vehicle battery to make room for the working replacement.
- Install the working vehicle battery at the “Insert Battery” prompt to replace the flat part.
- Try the ignition again and deal with any remaining startup warning it displays.
Push for an emergency start
With no Charger and no spare, pushing can get a flat battery working again in Early Access. Rolling the vehicle restores a small emergency charge, up to 5%, enough to start the engine. This is a way to reach more supplies, so keep electrical use low afterwards.
- Switch off the headlights, cabin lights and wipers to protect the charge you are about to recover.
- Grab the vehicle's body and walk to push it until you see “The battery picked up a little charge”; friends can push together for more strength.
- Use the ignition once the battery wakes to start the engine, provided the other startup conditions are satisfied.
- Head to the next stop in daylight with unnecessary lights off and search for a Charger or replacement battery.
Driving after the restart will not build that emergency charge back up. The engine neither drains nor charges the battery, and a generator does not recharge it either. The older demo had no push-charging option, so its advice about recovering without supplies differs from Early Access.
Keep a reserve while parked and driving
Low-beam headlights, high-beam headlights, cabin lights and windshield wipers drain the vehicle battery while switched on. They continue using charge with the engine running, so idling does not protect your reserve. With all of those systems off, the battery holds its charge.
- Switch the cabin lights off before leaving the RV to scavenge, and use a flashlight inside at night.
- Turn the headlights off when unnecessary; when you need them, prefer low beams over high beams.
- Switch the wipers off when you no longer need them so they stop drawing charge.
- Keep a Charger and a working spare battery in the RV once you find them, giving yourself recovery supplies for the next breakdown.
The stove, coffee maker and radio do not drain the vehicle battery. The radio still needs a working battery to play, so silence after a battery failure does not mean the radio caused the drain. Fridge and cooler shelves also keep food fresh without battery or generator power.
Find replacement batteries and Chargers
The starting Hippie Van comes with a Battery I, and more Battery I parts turn up along the road. Vehicles you find bring core parts that include a Battery II or III. Chargers also turn up along the road, but the starting house does not provide one.
Loot is distributed by distance travelled from the start rather than by building type. Search the stops you reach instead of relying on a particular building to supply a Charger. After an emergency restart, make finding recovery supplies your priority before optional projects.