EV out-of-charge breakdowns fall to record low
The number of electric car breakdowns due to running out of charge fell to a record low in June, according to the AA.
revealed that just 1.4% of call-outs to EVs in June 2024 were related to cars with limited or no charge in their drive batteries. Its data shows that the figure has been steadily decreasing for the last five years and is now at an all-time low.
In June 2019, 4.6% of EV call-outs were to cars with no charge. By June 2021 that had dropped to 2.8% and last year it had fallen to 1.6%.
The AA predicts that by the end of 2024, the annual figure will have fallen to 1%, which is the same as the proportion of call-outs to petrol and diesel cars which have run out of fuel.
The organisation put the decrease down to improvements in the number and reliability of public chargers as well as better driver education and the ever-improving range of new EVs. It said that most drivers switching to EVs ‘will never look back’.
AA president Edmund King said: “The AA has the biggest database of EV breakdowns in the UK and our figures clearly show that year-on-year the proportion of EVs running out of charge has dropped dramatically.
“We understand why many drivers have been hesitant about switching to EVs as it is a massive change but it is important that their decisions are based on accurate information.
“Once drivers have made the switch the vast majority will not look back.”
The AA said the most common breakdown faults for EVs were tyres, wheels and the 12V battery – similar problems to those experienced with conventionally fuelled vehicles.
Sue Davies, Which? head of consumer rights, commented: “It’s positive that electric vehicle breakdowns from running out of power are at an all-time low.
“However, recent Which? research found that more than two-thirds (69%) of electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicle owners who have used the UK’s public charging network reported being unhappy with it.
“The government and chargepoint operators must continue working together to ensure the UK’s charging infrastructure is up to scratch. Charging must be easy and reliable to support more people to make the move to an electric car.”
