The Dutch Road Assistance service Wegenwacht was called 1,355,000 times last year – an average of 37,000 daily interventions or two per minute. Ten years ago, there were ‘only’ 1.1 million. The most common breakdowns were a defective battery, flat tires, and problems with the alternator.
However, with the higher number of electric cars on the road, the number of reported problems with those cars also increased. In 2024, Roadside Assistance registered approximately 65,000 breakdown services for electric cars, an increase of roughly 26% compared to more than 51,000 last year.
Flat tires and battery problems
The most commonly reported problems with electric vehicles were flat tires and problems with the battery, connected to the car’s lighting, heating, and infotainment system. To save weight, e-cars often no longer have a spare wheel.
An explanation for the ever-increasing number of calls? The fleet continues to grow and the car – often electric – has become technically too complex. Even simple skills, such as checking tire pressure, are no longer basic knowledge for today’s motorists.
The busiest day for the yellow Wegenwacht vans was Tuesday January 9th last year, when the roadside assistance service was called in more than 7,700 times due to the winter weather. About two-thirds of the breakdowns were reported digitally, via the ANWB website or app.
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