A new study by Autoglym reveals that more than one in five car owners worry about getting electrocuted while washing an electric vehicle.
The survey of 1,000 car owners found that 21% agreed with the statement “if I were to wash an electric car, I fear there might be a risk of receiving an electric shock.”
Younger drivers show the most concern – 46% of those aged 18 to 34 said they’d worry about an EV shocking them during cleaning. Only 8% of drivers aged 55 to 64 shared this fear.
Regional differences are striking. London-based car owners are most hesitant, with 45% expressing concern about washing EVs. Welsh motorists showed the least worry at just 7%.
Industry Experts Debunk the Myth
Former Top Gear presenter and transport campaigner Quentin Willson dismissed these concerns entirely.
“Getting a shock when cleaning an EV is a very old myth and completely false,” Willson explained.
He pointed to manufacturers’ extensive safety testing. Car makers perform special water soak tests to ensure all high voltage components stay insulated and consumers remain protected.
“On YouTube there’s lots of footage of EVs driving effortlessly through heavy floods.”
Willson emphasized the lack of documented incidents. Electric cars have been on sale since 2009 – if washing posed a genuine danger, evidence would exist by now.
Lee Irving, technical training manager at Autoglym, agreed that these misconceptions need correcting as more drivers consider switching to electric vehicles.
“While we recommend owners avoid flooding an EV’s charging port with water, cleaning one is no more dangerous than cleaning a petrol- or diesel-powered vehicle,” Irving said.
Ongoing Myth-Busting Efforts
The fear of electric shocks represents just one of several EV misconceptions that continue circulating among potential buyers.
Recent studies have also debunked claims that EV batteries won’t last as long as traditional cars. Modern EV batteries typically outlast the average lifespan of new vehicles.
Another persistent myth suggests air conditioning drains EV range by 50% or more during summer months – testing shows the actual impact is far less severe.
As EV adoption accelerates, addressing these safety concerns becomes increasingly important for helping consumers make informed decisions about their next vehicle purchase.
