Electric cars give trouble, though not the kind you might expect: survey

Published on 5 March, 2022

Overview

It had to happen. The glistening sheen of the electric car’s reliability – due to having fewer moving parts – had to have a bit of doubt cast over it.

And that comes by way of a new survey from consumer group Which?

It claims new electric cars may be less reliable than petrols and diesels.

It’s a big statement and appears to contradict the ­widespread belief that electric vehicles are more reliable and give less trouble generally because they have fewer ­moving parts.

However, it is important to stress that much of the trouble with EVs in the survey was found to stem from software problems not motors or batteries.

There is no denying, however, the finding that a higher percentage of electric car owners reported problems with their vehicle in the first four years of ownership.

Nearly one in three (31pc) EV drivers reported a problem in that timespan. 

That really isn’t much more than the 29pc for diesel cars which owners reported.

But it is a long way from the 19pc of petrol car buyers whose vehicle gave trouble in the four years of ownership from new.

A little bit more concerning might be the fact that when electric vehicles are taken off the road the repair work needed takes longer, the survey found.

‘Longer’ means five days compared with just three for petrol and four for diesels, according to Which?

The survey showed the most reliable cars of any fuel type were full hybrids: cars with a battery that is recharged from the main combustion engine.

More than 48,000 people told Which? about 57,000 cars they drive. Included were 2,184 EVs.