EV out-of-charge breakdowns fall to record low
The proportion of electric cars running out of charge has fallen to an all-time low, according to the AA.
The breakdown service revealed that just 1.85% of all EV call-outs in 2024 were due to a car running out of charge – down from 2.26% in 2023.
The new data shows there has been a 78% drop in the proportion of out-of-charge call-outs since the AA started tracking numbers in 2015. In that first year, 8.26% of EV call-outs were for a flat drive battery but since then the number has been on a downward trend apart from small blips in 2017 and 2019.
The recovery service’s president Edmund King OBE said the latest figures showed range anxiety should be a thing of the past.
He commented: “The AA has the biggest database of breakdowns in the UK and our figures clearly show that year on year the proportion of EVs running out of charge has dropped dramatically.
“In fact, in the last eight years the proportion of EVs running out of charge has dropped by about 80% which is due to an increase in the number of chargers and their reliability; better charge post support for customers; improved range on newer EVs; and better driver education and information.”
The AA deals with around 8,000 breakdowns every day, and just five or six related to an EV that’s out of charge. Often the vehicles are not actually out of charge but are low on charge, or not able to charge due to technical problems, leaving the driver worried about getting to the next charger.
The AA predicts that within the next few years the proportion of out-of-charge breakdowns will fall to around 1% – in line with the proportion of call-outs for petrol and diesel cars that have run out of fuel. It has also found the top 30% of EV breakdowns are almost identical to petrol and diesel cars, with tyres, wheels and the 12V battery being the most common issues.
King added that better education would help address fears around EVs such as running out of charge. He said: “We understand why many drivers have been hesitant about switching to EVs as it is a major change, but it is important that their decisions are based on accurate information.
“Once drivers have made the switch, the vast majority enjoy the ride and won’t go back. Now is a brilliant time to switch as both new and used EVs are massively discounted, full of exciting tech, and for those who can charge at home, the economics and savings are a no-brainer.”
