BERLIN: Electric cars do break down, only less often than petrol or diesel cars.
According to figures from Germany's huge ADAC motoring club, electric vehicles (EVs) have shown themselves to be more reliable than their ICE-engined brethren, at least so far.
This is not surprising since petrol and diesel cars have up to 2,000 moving parts besides the engine, such as the clutch and exhaust, whereas electric vehicles have only around 20 such parts so there is less to go wrong.
Faults with the 12-volt on-board battery, which is installed in every EV, are by far the most common cause of electric car breakdowns.
This battery is an essential component since it maintains critical safety systems in the event of a high voltage power failure.
EVs usually come with two batteries: one larger lithium-ion unit for supplying the motor with power when driving, and the other for powering the rest of the vehicle's low current systems.
If either of these run flat, you may find yourself stuck by the roadside. By paying attention to your car beforehand though, you can avoid a breakdown altogether.
Simply listen to the car or be aware of the charge level display and range forecast. Every e-car has an on-board computer that clearly indicates an impending empty battery and gives the route to the next accessible charging station. These signals should never be ignored, even if it does costs journey time.
In summer, an electric car fortunately consumes very little electricity in a traffic jam. Therefore, slow-moving traffic of any kind is generally no cause for concern.
Nevertheless, it makes sense to properly plan the route and the necessary charging breaks. But that is no different to a car with an internal combustion engine, where refuelling stops also have to be factored in.
Most EVs have an emergency range buffer that allows you to reach the next charging station at reduced speed. However, this should only be used in an absolute emergency.
If all else fails and the e-car comes to a standstill, the same applies as with all breakdowns: Switch on the hazard lights and park in a lay-by or on the hard shoulder, put on a high-visibility safety vest, get behind the crash barrier and call a qualified helper.
Towing an electric car to a workshop with another vehicle is usually not an option since energy is still generated in the electric motor via at least one axle if is just pulled along the road. This puts a considerable strain on the car's battery.
This is because the wheels of an EV are directly linked to the electric motor even if you have the car in neutral.
Any tow in the event of a breakdown should therefore not be carried out by a breakdown truck with a tow cable, but the EV should instead be recovered via a flatbed truck.
By no means should a driver "tamper" with the vehicle's high-voltage system by the roadside. Simply put, keep well away from all orange-coloured cables under the bodywork.
Fortunately some EV problems are software-related and these can often be fixed remotely by the manufacturer.
Recharging at the road side will only work with electric cars which can be replenished with direct current, like the Nissan Leaf, the Hyundai Ioniq and the Tesla models. Roadside recharging won't work with the Renault Zoe, for example.
Fortunately some EV problems are software-related and these can often be fixed remotely by the manufacturer.
There have been several attempts at an electric car breakdown service, but so far no provider has been able to establish itself.
One start-up in Germany's automobile hub of Stuttgart uses compact battery trolleys which can be parked next to a stricken car and enable the charging process. They can be ordered via an app.
Hyundai tested mobile charging assistance in the German cities of Hamburg and Duisburg in 2019. The so-called V2V charging (vehicle to vehicle) was used to rescue a stranded Ioniq using an electric car parked next to it. Charging was done with direct current.
