HOISTING OF ELECTRIC CARS, A DISASTER ....

According to Touring, electric car owners call on the breakdown service more often than internal combustion engine car drivers. This is due to the complexity of the car and the greater risk of increasing damage, with the necessary costs. Moreover, the repair work is more delicate. For example, gloves are needed to avoid electrocution.

According to Touring figures, the number of breakdowns involving electrified cars (including hybrids) rose from 2,510 in 2015 to 3,877 in 2021 and 3,973 in 2022. Of these, 1,822 cars had to be towed last year.

The problem, however, is that ordinary breakdown assistance is no longer enough if you drive an electric car. Once stopped, these cars cannot be moved. A tow truck with a crane has to come, if possible. After all, if the car gives up the ghost in an underground car park, it is not feasible to intervene that way. Touring tells La Dernière Heure that it is not possible to tow an electric car with another vehicle. Leaving the car bulbous in neutral recharges the battery, which can lead to overheating and damage. So the only solution is to tow the car.

Longer repair time

Dutch and UK studies show that electric cars take longer to recover in the event of a breakdown. On average, you have to reckon with five days of immobilization. This is due to the large number of electronic components and the scarcity of certain chips.

In short, the cost of breakdown assistance can be expected to rise in the coming months and years, as will insurance prices.