Electric car breakdowns from running out of battery at lowest ever level despite charging concerns
The number of vehicle breakdowns as a result of EVs running out of battery reached an all-time low
GETTY/PA
New data has found that the number of electric vehicles running out of power and breaking down is at a record low as experts analyse how the public charging network is impacting drivers.
The latest research from the AA found that just 1.4 per cent of callouts for electric vehicles in June were due to their batteries having limited or no charge.
This is the lowest monthly figure on record and is down from 1.6 per cent in June last year, 2.8 per cent in 2021 and 4.6 per cent in 2019.
Experts have forecast that figures will continue to drop, with breakdowns expected to fall to around one per cent in the near future.
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The AA said public chargers had become more reliable and widespread
PA
This would be a similar proportion to the number of callouts for petrol and diesel vehicles running out of fuel on roads over the same time period.
The AA has attributed the drop in breakdowns to the growing number of public charging provisions, as well as higher quality devices and the improved range of new EVs.
Edmund King, President of the AA, said he completed a 1,500-mile rally around Britain in an electric vehicle "without any range anxiety".
In comparison, he said the same challenge three years ago was "more stressful" because there weren't as many charging stations and they were less reliable.
According to new data from ChargeUK, there are around 900,000 electric vehicle chargers in public, at homes and at workplaces, with the number of devices increasing every day.
King added: "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."
The data also found that the most common breakdown faults for electric vehicles are tyres, wheels and the 12V battery, similar to the most common occurrences with other vehicles.
Sue Davies, Which? head of consumer rights and food policy, said electric vehicle drivers would be happy to see that breakdowns are at an all-time low.
She highlighted a recent Which? study which found that more than two-thirds (69 per cent) of EV and hybrid owners who have used the public charging network are not happy with it.
While the national infrastructure has grown in recent years, there are still complaints from drivers surrounding the reliability of the chargers and the numerous payment options.
Davies continued: "The Government and chargepoint operators must continue working together to ensure the UK’s charging infrastructure is up to scratch.
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12-volt batteries in electric cars have been prone to causing a breakdown
GETTY"Charging must be easy and reliable to support more people to make the move to an electric car.”
Labour has pledged to introduce new changes to boost the uptake of electric vehicles and improve the number of EV chargers around the UK.
This includes reinstating the original 2030 deadline to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles after former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak overhauled several vital net zero pledges last September.