Knowledge is key to understanding EV breakdown risks

Lee Puffett, managing director of Start Rescue offers an insider’s view on how the recovery industry is adapting to electric vehicles

Change is inevitable and the rapid transition to EVs has demanded an equally swift evolution for breakdown recovery providers. With more than 1 million EVs on the UK’s roads now, and the significant milestone of 2 million plug-in vehicles in the UK just passed, it also means we now have a much clearer picture of the most likely causes of an EV breakdown call-out. This also means we, as a breakdown provider, are in a better position to deal with that.

Using the data we collate at Start Rescue, it is clear that range anxiety, which gets so much prominence in the talk about EVs, just isn’t a major issue today. As EVs have become more commonplace, particularly with company fleets moving towards them in large numbers due to the tax benefits, many drivers who are not EV early adopters have simply changed their driving habits to accommodate powering their car.

This is borne out by our data that shows we are receiving far fewer call-outs due to “user error”, or in other words someone running the battery down to the point the car cannot be driven. Greater driver awareness has helped here, and our Vehicle Recovery Operatives (VRO) are less likely to have to recover an EV to a charge point than in the past.

The right tools for the job

Of course, it’s still vitally important that you, as an EV driver, have a breakdown provider who is fully EV-trained and uses the right equipment to deal with your car. An example of this is many VROs using a small van with a conventional rapid deployment trailer cannot tow an EV due to weight restrictions. This could mean an additional delay waiting for a transporter or the VRO simply not being able to deal with your need. We have ensured our VROs are properly trained and attend the breakdown scene appropriately equipped to work with EVs so you can be confident we will be able to help.

If your EV does have to be recovered and stored, there are additional considerations that a responsible VRO will put into place and make you aware of. For instance, EVs must be stored separately from ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles and given much more space around them while stored.

The real causes of breakdowns

So, if battery range isn’t a prime reason for an EV breakdown call-out, what is? Simply put, it’s the other battery that many EV drivers either forget about or are unaware of – the 12-volt one that takes care of so many of the car’s basic functions.

Just like any other vehicle, EVs rely upon a normal 12-volt battery to operate systems such as opening the doors, wipers, lights, dashboard, and crucially the initial start-up of the vehicle.
Instead of being recharged by an alternator, this 12V battery is kept topped-up by the main high voltage batteries. Intelligent systems govern when this 12V battery is charged and this is seemingly where technology and education need to be improved. Some vehicles will only charge the 12V battery when it is being driven, while others will stop charging when the state of charge of the main batteries falls below 20%.

The better-considered systems have an automatic shut-off of the 12V battery to prevent the main batteries being drained, but allow the charging of the 12V battery to be manually reinstated by the driver in the cabin without the need for a jump start.

A flat 12V battery is one of the biggest reasons for an EV breakdown, accounting for almost a quarter (24.1%) of call-outs. Flat tyres account for 28.6% of EV call-outs. By comparison, ICE cars are less likely to suffer from a flat 12V battery, responsible for 20.7% of call-outs, and are less prone to flat tyres (14%).

While change is inevitable, knowledge is key to getting the most out of your EV, whether that’s driving it or when considering breakdown cover.