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The increasing use of electric vehicles has fuelled the debate on their comparison with ICE-powered vehicles. The debate has now moved beyond the standards of performance, emissions and cost of ownership. Now the debate is centred on the reliability. According to a report published by the German Automobile Club (ADAC), electric vehicles are proving to be more reliable than their ICE versions.

 

 

This report is based on the analysis made by the workers of ADAC, who responded to more than 3.6 million breakdowns in 2024. Based on their analysis, it is reported that EVS are more reliable and less prone to breakdown than conventional ICE vehicles. It would be interesting to know that ADAC workers are famous as “Yellow Angels: due to their signature uniforms. However, these technicians received more service calls for EVS, this hike indicates an increase in the adoption of electric vehicles throughout the European region. With more EVS on the road and old models stepping into their second or third year of use, the data of EVS is increasing.

 

Reason Behind The Increasing Confidence Of ADAC Workers: It was in 2024, when a statement claiming the reliability of electric vehicles was made by ADAC workers. This was based on the statistical data of vehicles registered between 2020 and 2022. It is reported that electric cars recorded the breakdown of 4.2 cars per 1,000 vehicles, while ICE-powered cars recorded 10.4 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles.

 

Common Problem: The 12-Volt Battery

Despite this, one common problem faced equally by both ICE powered and battery powered vehicles is the 12-volt battery. Reports reveal that 50% of EVS registered for service call had the breakdown due to this battery, whereas this percentage was 45% for ICE cars. Apart from this, the ICE powered vehicles shown more issues related with engine management, lighting and electrical parts etc.

 

EVS and Tire Trouble

There is, however, one area where EVS need to work, this is related with tires. The report noted 1.3 tire-related service calls per 1,000 EVS, compared to 0.9 per 1,000 ICE vehicles. That said, newer EVS are showing signs of improvement in this area, indicating that tire-related problems may diminish over time.

 

Fewer Parts, Fewer Problems

The main reason to trust on the performance of EVS, is the presence of simple mecahnisms. There is no need to change the engine oil as in ICE cars.  The presence of less parts mean less mechanical issues, this indirectly reduces the chances of breakdowns. This also protects the owners from hectic maintenance.

 

Looking Ahead: ADAC does caution that the long-term comparison between EVS and combustion cars remains incomplete, as EVS haven’t been around long enough to fully assess their reliability after 10 or more years. However, the data so far is promising. As EV technology matures, they may not only be a greener choice—but a more practical and dependable one too.