Large Study Finds EVs More Dependable Than ICE Vehicles, Highlighting One Unexpected Shared Problem | Carscoops

      EVs had an average of 4.2 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles, while similarly aged internal combustion engine (ICE) models exceeded that figure by more than double.

      According to a 19-hour-old report by Stephen Rivers, ADAC has discovered that electric vehicles experience breakdowns less frequently than their combustion counterparts, even with an increasing number of EVs on the road. Surprisingly, battery failures are the primary reason for breakdowns in both EVs and ICE cars, while electric cars have more breakdowns than combustion vehicles only in the tire category.

      The discussion around electric versus combustion vehicles has shifted beyond just performance and emissions; it now also includes reliability. Europe's largest roadside assistance service, the German Automobile Club (ADAC), suggests that electric vehicles may be quietly leading in reliability.

      In the past year, ADAC's staff, known as "Yellow Angels" due to their distinctive uniforms, managed more than 3.6 million breakdowns as they gathered data for this study. This data reveals that electric vehicles break down less often than internal combustion vehicles.

      EVs Indicate Fewer Breakdowns

      For the first time in 2024, ADAC announced that it had sufficient data to confidently assess EV reliability, and the results are favorable for electric vehicles. With an additional year of statistics, the argument for EV reliability has only strengthened. They attended to more EV service calls than ever before; however, these made up only 43,678 of the total 3.6 million calls, or 1.2% of the overall.

      In its recent study, the organization noted that the rise in breakdowns might correlate with the increasing popularity of electric vehicles. Additionally, the results are likely more accurate now, as some EVs are a year older.

      Significantly, 2024 was the first year that ADAC felt it had enough data to assert that EVs are more reliable. With another year of records, this claim appears even more solid. As noted by German outlet Handelsblatt, "For vehicles first registered between 2020 and 2022, electric cars reported 4.2 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles," while combustion cars in the same age bracket had a rate of 10.4.

      Shared Weakness for ICE and EVs

      Interestingly, the most frequent problem for both propulsion types was the same: the 12-volt battery. This issue accounted for 50% of breakdowns in EVs and 45% in combustion vehicles. Over the past few years, combustion vehicles have reported equal or more issues compared to EVs across various categories, including electrical systems, engine management, and lighting.

      The sole area where EVs seem to have more difficulties is with tires. Specifically, there were 1.3 service calls per 1,000 related to tire issues for EVs, while combustion cars experienced only 0.9. It’s important to note that newer EVs do not appear to have the same tire problems.

      Additionally, EVs are free from potential issues related to internal combustion engines, regardless of their age. They lack oil changes and the complex mechanical systems associated with combustion engines, resulting in fewer components subject to failure.

      ADAC acknowledges the difficulties of comparing EVs and ICE vehicles at this stage. The data is limited because all-electric vehicles have not been around for very long, leaving uncertainty about their reliability after a decade or more. Nevertheless, this trend indicates that EVs are becoming increasingly reliable and could be a more viable transportation option, even aside from their sustainability impacts.