Electric vehicles are quietly crushing old stereotypes about being delicate or unreliable, and the data now backs it up in a big way. According to Germany’s ADAC — Europe’s largest roadside assistance provider — EVs are actuallymorereliable than their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts. Andthis isn’tjust a small study — it’s based on a staggering 3.6 million breakdowns in 2024 alone.
For cars registered between 2020 and 2022, EVs averaged just 4.2 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles, while ICE cars saw more than double that, at 10.4 per 1,000. Even with more EVs hitting the road, they only accounted for 1.2% of total breakdowns — a big win for the battery-powered crowd.
Among standout performers, some cars deliveredexceptionallylow breakdown rates. TheAudi A4clocked in at just 0.4 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles for 2022 models, with Tesla’sModel 3right behind at 0.5. TheVolkswagen ID.4, another popular EV, also impressed with a rate of 1.0 – as did theMitsubishi Eclipse Crossat 1.3. On the flip side, there were some major outliers: theHyundai Ioniq 5showed a surprisingly high 22.4 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles for its 2022 models, while the hybridToyota RAV4posted 18.4.
Interestingly, the most common issue forbothEVs and ICE vehicles was exactly the same: the humble 12-volt battery. Despite all the futuristic tech in EVs, it’s this old-school component that causes 50% of all EV breakdowns, and 45% for gas-powered cars. Meanwhile, EVs shine in categories like engine management and electrical systems — areas where traditional engines are more complex and failure-prone.
But EVs aren’t completely flawless. They had a slightly higher rate of tire-related issues — 1.3 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles compared to 0.9 for ICE cars. That could be due to their heavier weight and high torque, which can accelerate tire wear. Still, this trend is fading in newer EVs as tire tech and vehicle calibration improve.
Now, zooming out beyond Germany: a 2024 Consumer Reportsstudyin the U.S. painted a different picture. It found that EVs, especially newer models, hadmorereliability issues than gas cars, citing tech glitches and inconsistent build quality. But it’s worth noting that the American data focused more onowner-reported problems, not just roadside breakdowns.
So, while the long-term story is still developing, especially for older EVs, Germany’s data suggests that when it comes to simply keeping you on the road, EVs are pulling ahead — quietly, efficiently, and with far fewer breakdowns than you might expect.
