Despite everyone going gaga over electric vehicles (EVs), questions over their reliability continue to hover. A recent study carried out by Consumer Reports shows that EVs are still very unreliable in comparison to conventional internal combustion engine-powered vehicles.
EVs less reliable than ICE vehicles
The survey takes into account responses of more than 3.3 lakh EV owners for model years 2020 to 2023. It reveals that EVs from the past three model years had 79 percent more problems than conventional cars, despite having fewer moving parts and simpler drivetrains.
The survey further mentions 20 potential problems related to ownership of EVs including engine, transmission, electric motors, leaks, and infotainment systems. More than pure EVs, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which come with a battery for short-range electric driving and an internal combustion engine for long-range driving, are the least reliable category showing 146% more problems than conventional cars.
Jake Fisher, Senior Director of Auto Testing, Consumer Reports, stated, ““Most electric cars today are being manufactured by either legacy automakers that are new to EV technology, or by companies like Rivian that are new to making cars. Fisher added that some of the most common problems EV owners report are issues with electric drive motors, charging, and EV batteries.
The report reveals that technologies arising from the development of EVs are the primary reason for the low reliability score. However, reliability of EVs will improve once the initial knots are untangled.
Hybrids more reliable than ICE vehicles
According to the same report, traditional strong hybrid vehicles are more reliable than conventional petrol and diesel-powered vehicles. The latest study by Consumer Reports mentions that regular hybrids are the most reliable segment. Hybrids have 26% fewer problems than conventional models, despite featuring both a conventional fossil fueled engine and an electric motor.
Therefore, hybrids have more potential problem spots than conventional ICE-powered cars. Hybrids are also not as richly equipped as modern EVs, which is why Fisher says they are great options for drivers who aim for higher fuel efficiency over other bells and whistles.
