EVs ‘more likely to break down and leave drivers stranded than petrol or diesel cars,' damning report reveals

The Irish Sun

18-06-2025

ELECTRIC vehicles are reported to be more likely to breakdown on the road than cars with petrol or diesel engines, according to research.
A survey of nearly 30,000 drivers looked into their experiences with breakdowns over the past two years.
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The survey found 16.8 per cent of battery car drivers experienced a break down recently
Credit: PA
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This compares to 10.7 per cent of petrol car owners who reported a break down.
Credit: PA
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Overall, 11% of respondents of the survey had suffered a fault in the last 24 months that made it undriveable.
A similar figure of 10.7 per cent of petrol car owners reported a break down in this time, which is a significantly lower rate than batter car owners.
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Results of the survey come just days after the boss of AA reported attending a higher proportion of electric car breakdowns.
In 40.6 per cent of these break downs, the EVs had to be towed from the roadside to a garage.
However, only 29.6 per cent per cent of petrol cars required this.
CEO of the breakdown service provider, Jakob Pfaudler, added EVs are prone to not only punctures, flat batteries, but also jammed charging cables and technical glitches.
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He claimed EV breakdowns are more common despite the "idea "common misconception" that they are more reliable than internal combustion engine cars due to having fewer moving parts.
On top of that, the report found there was only a one in four chance EV drivers would have their cars permanently fixed by a breakdown company after being stranded on the road.
This is in comparison to two in five petrol car owners who were able to get back on the road after calling out roadside assistance.
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As a result, EVs were the most commonly transported vehicles taken to garages for repairs, as they cannot be towed.
They are unable to be towed due rotation of their driven wheels risking of damage to their e-motors.
Edmund King, president of AA, also suggested EV drivers are more likely to be confused and flustered by warning lights in their cars, leading them to call for roadside assistance.
Whereas petrol car drivers often drive to a garage when being given warning alerts.
King estimated, however, that only 86 per cent of traditional cars could be dealt with at the roadside compared to nine in ten battery powered cars which tend to just need a "simple reboot".
An additional positive for EV drivers from the survey data suggested their breakdown-related faults could typically be resolved for free, more than any other fuel type.
89% of EV faults could be resolved at zero-cost for the driver, according to the survey, with only three per cent paying more than £1,500 for fixes.
Hybrid cars did even better on this front, with 91% being fixed for free, and only two per cent paying over £1,500.
However, 76% of petrol car owners reported having their vehicle repaired at no cost following breakdown, and only two-thirds of diesel car drivers.
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WhatCar? research also found Britannia Rescue to be the best breakdown assistance provider in terms of timing and quality
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