UK drivers are reporting serious technology failures in their electric vehicles, with some claiming the cars accelerated without warning, locked them inside, or refused to start. The incidents have raised concerns about the safety of electric cars, though manufacturers dispute the allegations.
NHS doctor Ravpreet Kaur said her BMW iX suddenly engaged its driver assist system, accelerated to over 65mph, and began zigzagging before crashing into a lamp-post in Buckinghamshire. Her husband, heart specialist Harman Singh, said the family was lucky to escape unhurt and described the incident as a 'serious public safety issue'.
BMW strongly refuted the claims, stating that data from the vehicle showed the accelerator was being pressed until 4.5 seconds before the crash, and that deceleration could only have been achieved by braking. 'Our investigation established that there was no hardware or software defect,' the company said.
In a separate incident, Brian Morrison from Glasgow said his electric MG would not slow down from 30mph, forcing him to crash into a police van. Other owners have reported similar issues, including Chloe Scott-Moncrieff and Oli Jones, whose Hyundai Ioniq 5 suffered spontaneous battery drain and locked its doors, trapping Jones inside.
Hyundai said it had been unable to replicate the fault and that the doors opened after the battery was disconnected. The company added that it had replaced a battery and door lock as a precaution.
