Electric vehicles are more likely to be successfully repaired at the roadside than petrol or diesel cars, despite driver concerns to the contrary. The AA and Autotrader surveyed more than
Electric vehicles are more likely to be successfully repaired at the roadside than petrol or diesel cars, despite driver concerns to the contrary.
The AA and Autotrader surveyed more than 2,000 consumers in December and found that 44% of consumers are concerned about the risk of breakdowns or roadside repairs when considering switching to an EV. The most concerned age group was the 75+ cohort, more than half (56%) of whom were concerned. And among the different regions, drivers in the North East had the highest concerns, with 52% of respondents sharing reservations, whilst women were slightly more likely to be concerned (46% vs. 41% for men).
But fresh data from the AA reveals that EVs are more likely to be successfully repaired at the roadside than petrol or diesel cars.
Similarly, despite consumer concern about battery health, data from the AA reveals that the 12V battery in an internal combustion engine car is a more likely reason for a breakdown callout than the battery of an electric car.
Additionally, a recent survey of aftermarket businesses by the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) found that 81.2% of UK workshops are already equipped to work on EVs, reinforcing the improved ease of repairing EVs.
Edmund King, AA president, said: “For many drivers the switch to electric is a big step and some are understandably hesitant. However, one thing prospective electric drivers don’t need to worry about is breaking down. The AA has the biggest database of EV breakdowns in the UK and our data shows EVs running out of charge is a tiny proportion of EV breakdowns and has fallen dramatically since 2015. In addition, we fix a greater proportion of EVs at the roadside than petrol and diesel cars and the small number we can’t fix can easily be towed with our free-wheeling hub.”
The figures have been published as the AA joins Autotrader, ChargeUK, the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and the SMMT as part of the cross-industry ‘The Facts’ initiative.
The campaign promotes a set of user-friendly, simplified facts that offer a data-backed view of the reality of owning and driving electric cars to dispel popular misconceptions.
The latest quarterly update to The Facts campaign reveals:
Keir Mather, Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister, welcomed the latest report highlighting the reliability of EVs.
“Data shows the vast majority of EV owners would never go back, and to support more people access the benefits of making the switch we’re investing over £7.5bn, including £2bn for the Electric Car Grant, which has helped nearly 50,000 people save up to £3,750 when buying a new EV.”
Erin Baker, Autotrader’s editorial director, commented: “It’s fantastic to have the AA join our campaign to make sure that drivers have the right information to make informed choices. Their data shows EVs can offer high levels of reliability, far more than many drivers may expect. Whilst electric cars might not be right for all buyers right now – if you can charge off-street, it could be a great option – we hope The Facts help provide confidence for those that are considering going electric.”
