Electric vs Gasoline: A New Study Compares Vehicle Reliability
When trying to determine which among gasoline, hybrid, and 100% electric vehicles are the most cost-effective in the long term, reliability must be taken into account. However, there is currently no clear consensus on this issue.
For example, a report by Consumer Reports published in late 2023, based on a survey of owners and data from over 330,000 vehicles from model years 2020 to 2024, indicated that reported problems with electric vehicles were 79% more frequent than with conventional vehicles.
However, another analysis conducted recently by the ADAC – the German equivalent of the CAA – concludes that electric vehicles break down much less often, as reported by the Handelsblatt media.
They accounted for a mere 1.2% of the approximately 3.6 million roadside assistance calls in Germany in 2024. This is the first year that the organization has enough data to confidently assert that these vehicles are more reliable than those with internal combustion engines, at the same age.
"Looking at vehicles first registered between 2020 and 2022, electric models experienced 4.2 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles, according to the ADAC. For combustion models in the same age group, this figure was 10.4."
It is worth noting that the main issue requiring roadside assistance concerns the 12-volt battery in both cases, accounting for 50% of breakdowns for electric vehicles and 45% for gasoline/diesel vehicles.
Combustion models showed a higher breakdown rate regarding various components and elements of a vehicle, such as the engine, electrical system, and headlights. The only exception? Tires. According to the ADAC, 1.3 breakdowns per 1,000 electric vehicles in 2024 were attributed to tires, compared to 0.9 for others.
The organization acknowledges that reliability goes beyond issues requiring roadside assistance, as many owners can drive themselves to the dealership or garage to have them fixed. In short, consider this study as another perspective while waiting for a more comprehensive and long-term comparison.
