Consumer_Reports_-_April_2020

EV QUESTIONS, ANSWERED

ARE EVs MORE

OR LESS RELIABLE THAN

CARS WITH INTERNAL

COMBUSTION ENGINES?

EVs are generally more mechanically

reliable than gasoline models

because there are fewer parts,

according to Jake Fisher, CR’s

senior director of auto testing.

There’s no engine or conventional transmission,

which are complicated parts of a traditional

car. When EVs are unreliable, it’s generally

not the batteries or electric motors causing

problems; it’s the doors, infotainment systems,

or window buttons.

The best way to avoid an unreliable EV is to

avoid car manufacturers that produce unreliable

cars, Fisher says. For example, the Chevy Bolt

EV has had average reliability, not unlike some

other Chevrolet models. Tesla models have ping-

ponged between average and below-average

reliability over time. A major complaint about

Tesla’s consistently unreliable Model X involves

problems with its unconventional falcon-wing

doors. On the other end, the Toyota Prius Prime

and Honda Clarity have registered the highest

predicted reliability ratings for vehicles that

plug in, according to CR’s member surveys.

JAKE FISHER, CR’S

senior director of auto

testing, says that

generally speaking,

EV (and hybrid) batteries have

been longer-lasting, with better

performance, than many

people predicted years ago.

“Despite loss of some range

over their lifetimes, they’ll

be more than functional

for a long time,” he says.

Expect EV batteries to

lose about 2.3 percent of

their starting range per

year, according to Geotab, a

transportation technology

services company in Oakville,

Ontario, that analyzed data

from 6,300 real-world EVs.

For a Nissan Leaf starting with

149 miles of range, that would be

reduced after 5 years to about

132 miles. A Tesla Model 3 with

250 miles of range would have

a maximum range of 221 miles

after 5 years, or about 88

percent. After 10 years, the

Model 3 would have 192 miles

of range, and after 15 years,

it would get 164 miles on a

charge, about two-thirds of

its original range. Owners can

Do batteries in

EVs wear out

over time the

way they do in

smartphones?

FOR THOSE WHO

live in a house with

a garage, there are

three options for

at-home charging: 1) Plug into

a regular 110-volt wall outlet.

This is the cheapest option but

also the slowest, sometimes

requiring an entire day to

fully charge a battery. An

overnight charge, however,

can generally give 40 to

50 miles of range (if not

more), enough for most daily

commutes. It’s always

a good idea to use the cord

that comes with the car or

another well-insulated,

heavy-duty extension cord,

the kind you would use for

a major appliance or for

outdoor power equipment.

2) Plug the EV into a regular

240-volt outlet, the same kind

that runs a dryer or other

heavy-duty appliance. This

method charges a 25 kWh

battery about four times as

fast as the 110-volt option. But

if you don’t have an outlet

How do I

charge at

home whether

I rent or own?

A:

A:

A:

30 CR.ORG APRIL 2020