Less than 10% of battery car drivers have broken down, according to this study

There are still many barriers around the electric car that prevent this from taking off as expected: distrust of a technology that we are not familiar with, the charging infrastructure, the price, anxiety about autonomy or the fear of being stranded.

The latter has been the subject of study by the digital platform company VerticalScope, based in Toronto and parent company of AutoGuidewhich has surveyed 1,200 electric car owners. Of them, 9.1% were left strandedbut few of them because they are left without autonomy.

Mechanics, behind most breakdowns

The most common reason EV owners reported being stranded (6.4%) was due to a purely mechanical problemwhether it was a suspension or transmission component or the cooling systems required for the powerful batteries in electric vehicles. Meanwhile, a total of 2.1% of respondents reported being stranded due to a software problem.

Today, software controls most key functions, including headlights, side mirrors, range information, advanced driver assistance systems, wireless updates and climate control, which are usually accessed via the central touchscreen. As for running out of range, only 0.6% reported having been stranded for this reason. This is not a good thing for the vehicle’s mechanics and can also lead to a fine.

The study also analyzes Which brands have had the most problems?with General Motors and Nissan leading the pack in terms of owners reporting breaking down (around 20%). Meanwhile, a third of owners of the ill-fated Fisker Ocean have reported having this problem at least once, but that’s no surprise given the electric SUV’s debut.

As for Tesla, only 7% of owners report ever breaking down, and none report it was due to the software. But watch out, BMW has better results: models like the i4, i5 and iX all have a rate of 5% or less.

Find your ideal electric car

If you’ve thought about buying an electric car, this will interest you. We have created the Personalised Electric Car Recommender, where, in addition to seeing the models that suit your needs, you will also have answers to the questions that may concern you the most, such as price, range or nearby charging points.