THE MOST FREQUENT FAILURE IN EVs? A 12-VOLT BATTERY…

By Anne Bourgoin

Every year, the German automobile club (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil Club [ADAC]) publishes its list of breakdowns requiring the services of a registered tow truck. In 2023, a 12-volt battery was the most common cause of failure on electric vehicles (EVs). It powers simple equipment and accessories such as door openers, starters and dashboards. It is found on both EVs and gasoline-powered vehicles.

In 2023, this battery was responsible for 44% of gasoline vehicle breakdowns and 54% of those of EVs. As the driver is not informed when the battery is due for replacement, the automobile club calls on manufacturers to improve their battery management systems to prevent the battery from draining too quickly, especially when the vehicle is not in use.

However, according to the ADAC report, EVs experience fewer breakdowns than gasoline-powered vehicles because they are less complex. In fact, since EVs contain fewer parts, breakdowns are less likely to occur.