New Electric Cars May Be Less Reliable than Petrol and Diesel Models, Survey Suggests

(Sky News) A survey by Which? finds that a higher percentage of electric car owners reported problems with their vehicle in its first four years, and that electric vehicles also spend longer off the road when they are faulty. -- A poll by consumer group Which? found that 31% of electric car owners reported a problem with their vehicle in its first four years.

The survey also found that faulty electric vehicles spend longer off the road - five days, compared with just three and four days for petrol and diesel cars respectively.

The survey appears to contradict the common perception that electric vehicles are more reliable than petrol or diesel cars because they have fewer moving parts.

But the most common faults with electric vehicles, according to the drivers surveyed, were software issues, not motor or battery problems.

The survey showed that the most reliable cars of any fuel type were full hybrids, which have a battery that is recharged from the main combustion engine. READ MORE