A recent survey by UK car care brand Autoglym has found that 21% of drivers fear they may be electrocuted while washing an electric vehicle (EV), highlighting ongoing misconceptions about EV safety among the public.
The study, which questioned over 1,000 UK motorists, found the concern particularly prevalent among younger respondents. Some 46% of those aged 25–34 and 40% of those aged 18–24 said they agreed with the statement: “If I were to wash an electric car, I fear there might be a risk of receiving an electric shock.”
Geographically, the fears were most pronounced in London, where 46% of respondents expressed concern, compared with only 7% in Wales.
Industry experts were quick to dismiss the fears as unfounded. “Getting a shock when cleaning an EV is a very old myth and completely false,” said television presenter and EV advocate Quentin Willson. “Car makers rigorously test battery EVs for safety and perform special water soak tests to make sure all the high voltage components are insulated and consumers are always protected.”
He added: “There’s no evidence anywhere of someone getting a shock from an EV while cleaning one… Electric cars have been on sale since 2009, so if this was genuinely a danger, we’d know about it by now.”
Autoglym’s technical training manager Lee Irving also sought to reassure consumers, stating: “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.”
The survey highlights a lingering gap in consumer education on EV safety, despite more than a decade of mainstream electric vehicle use in the UK.
Source: motortradenews.com