By Jason Rodriguez on

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So, you’re thinking about how to recharge vehicle battery in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach? While you might be driving around on something with wheels, you still need to be mindful of energy consumption. Otherwise, you could find yourself stuck in the middle of nowhere with no other option but to walk the rest of the way home.

How to recharge vehicle battery in Death Stranding 2

There are a few ways to ensure that the vehicles you find in-game are fully charged and in tip-top condition. These include:

  • Facility repairs
  • Energy drain negation
  • Generators
  • APAS Enhancement skills

What drains your vehicle's battery?

What drains your vehicle’s battery?

Before we talk about how you can recharge a vehicle’s battery in Death Stranding 2, let’s focus on what actually drains power in the first place. There are several causes:

  • Naturally, just driving your vehicle around drains its battery gradually.
  • Activating its speed boost by pressing L3 causes the battery to get drained faster.
  • The double jump action also has this effect.
  • Putting a lot of effort into crossing deep water uses up more energy.
  • Enemy attacks that use electricity can short-circuit the battery.
  • Small chiral critters usually found near tar pools will swarm your vehicle and slowly deplete energy.

Repair and recharge via facilities

Repair and recharge via facilities

The best method to recharge vehicle battery in Death Stranding 2 involves visiting large facilities and the DHV Magellan mobile base. These structures often feature a garage where you can park your motorcycle. Simply face your vehicle and hold the Circle button to complete the repair process. Not only will your vehicle be back in pristine condition and maximum durability, but its battery will be fully restored as well.

Note: Vehicles that you stole from enemies cannot be repaired in facilities at all.

Energy zones and staying in power grids

Energy zones and staying in power grids

Settlements also have an effective radius, which you’ll see as a blue outline that passes through surrounding pylons. Vehicles within this area will not consume their battery’s energy even while you’re driving around.

Likewise, you may use your resources to build roads. These highways have what’s called an “Energy Zone” smack dab in the middle. You won’t expend energy as long as you’re driving in the middle lane and you’re passing through the Energy Zone signs.

Building Generators via PCCs

Building Generators via PCCs

The Portable Chiral Constructor (PCC) can be used to build all sorts of structures. One of these is the Generator, which you can plop down in an area that’s part of the Chiral Network.

Basically, each region has a faction/NPC/settlement that controls it. Once you’ve completed the necessary tasks to reconnect that region to the UCA, you’ll be able to place the structures you want. In the case of the Generator, it emits electricity to recharge the battery of any vehicle that’s nearby.

Ideally, you should place these in sections of the map that are farther away from large facilities/garages.

Skills and upgrades that affect battery recharge rate

Skills and upgrades that affect battery recharge rate

Some of the best APAS Enhancement skills even affect battery consumption. One, in particular, is called Emergency Vehicle Charger. When used, it causes Sam to transfer his battery’s own power to a vehicle. Simply press L3 while inside a vehicle whose battery has been fully drained to complete this action. Likewise, there’s a perk called Battery Efficiency Boost that reduces energy consumption by 8%.

Another option is the Battery Unit upgrade, which comes from West Fort Knot. Multiple units can be fabricated and equipped to increase battery life further. In fact, there are higher-tier variants that you can unlock down the line.

That does it for our guide on how to recharge a vehicle’s battery in Death Stranding 2. As you’re happily roaming around the wasteland, you might want to know how to manage your inventory and how to increase carrying capacity as well.

Humanity yearns to be interconnected once more, and it’s up to you to deliver the goods. If you need more help, then we’ve got you covered in our Death Stranding 2 guides hub.