The electric vehicle (EV) presents a major and possibly unexpected challenge. Driving is already stressful on electronic components close to the engine and driveshaft in conventional vehicles with internal combustion or hybrid engines.

With EVs, experts expect reliability to be less of an issue overall because the drivetrain is a lot simpler mechanically. However, for the electronic circuits controlling everything, long-term stress will likely increase. Petrol-driven cars spend much of their time parked and dormant. Autonomous driving and sharing schemes point to vehicles spending many more hours of their lifetime on the road, servicing different users. And, with an EV, the power systems are active over a longer period because they will be recharged when parked.