A study carried out in the United Kingdom by the maintenance product specialist Autoglym highlights this astonishing fear, which still affects 21% of the drivers surveyed. A figure as surprising as it is inaccurate.
The results show that this fear is not uniform. It is particularly marked among the youngest since almost half of those aged 25-34 and 40% of those aged 18-24 say they fear an electric shock when cleaning their electric car, compared to only 8% of those aged 55-64. Geographically, residents of major cities like London are the most worried, while in more rural areas like Wales the fear of electrocution affects just 7% of respondents.
A lack of information, more than a reality
Modern electric cars are designed to very strict waterproof standards, the lithium-ion batteries are hermetically sealed and all high-voltage components are insulated and protected against water. Manufacturers must comply with international protection index standards (often IP67 or IP68), which guarantee resistance to powerful jets of water or even temporary immersion. So many characteristics which make any risk of electrocution in a washing situation purely theoretical, and above all not documented since the appearance of mainstream electric vehicles more than a decade ago.
Beyond the technical aspect, this fear illustrates a psychological dimension of the energy transition. While manufacturers, public authorities and electric mobility players highlight the environmental and economic benefits of electric vehicles, preconceived ideas persist and influence behavior. Today, sales of electric cars continue to grow in Europe and around the world, with national fleets sometimes exceeding millions of units on the road, these myths are holding back wider adoption.
For professionals, the challenge is not to minimize these fears but to understand them and address them educationally. Practical demonstrations, simple technical explanations, and targeted information campaigns can help remove these psychological barriers. Because if there is no scientific evidence to support the risk of electric shock when washing an electric vehicle, the persistence of this fear shows that the acceptance of electric is not only played out on autonomy figures or charging prices, but also in the heads of drivers.
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