Funen will now have electric roadside assistance

Roadside assistance that operates on electricity has been on the wish list for years at SOS International and its subsidiary SOS Dansk Autohjælp. The development of electric cars has now come so far that it makes sense to use electric cars for roadside assistance.

The new VW ID. Buzz will be incorporated into the fleet at SOS Dansk Autohjælp on Funen from the end of April. It has been fitted out as a so-called Technician Vehicle and is crewed by a professional technician, so that quick roadside assistance can be provided on the spot.

"We are really looking forward to putting our electric service car into use. Technology is now so far advanced that it makes sense for us to start operating on electricity. Supplying roadside assistance places quite considerable demands on both range and efficiency,” says Sven Riggelsen, Supervisor for SOS Dansk Autohjælp on Funen.

The new Technicians Vehicle will not be used for towing cars. On the other hand, it can assist with, e.g. jump-starting, emergency sealing of punctured tires and other tasks that do not involve transport to a garage.

More electric roadside assistance on the way

“The experiences from the pioneer vehicle on Funen will, i.a., be used in SOS Dansk Autohjælp's strategy in the future,” explains Jan Bøjstrup Christensen, director of the Danish mobility division at SOS International:

“Our plan is to expand SOS Dansk Autohjælp's fleet with more electric cars, as past experiences have shown us where and when it makes the most sense. We are ambitious in terms of helping to reduce climate challenges. But electrically powered vehicles still have their limits. For example, diesel vehicles will continue to be necessary for towing cars and when we need assistance in moving larger vehicles”, says Jan Bøjstrup Christensen.

In 2022, SOS International invested in two electric Technicians Vehicle that operate in Oslo. Dansk Autohjælp has also supplied roadside assistance from electric bicycles in Copenhagen since 2021.