Are Electric Cars & SUVs More Reliable Than Gas
With more and more drivers craving the efficiency, exhilaration, and environmental benefits that come from owning electric vehicles – reliability is another topic of interest for a potential EV buyer. After all, we’ve got over a century’s worth of information and data related to the reliability of conventional gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles. If you’ve been curious about exactly how reliable electric cars are compared to their gas counterparts – you’re in the right place! Our team at the Germain Motor Company has studied the subject and has the answers you’ve been looking for.
Maintenance & Interruptions
Saving money is a huge motivator behind the purchase of many electric vehicles. After all, who wouldn’t want to spend less money on fuel costs? Another great benefit that comes from going all-electric is the fact that routine maintenance costs are also much lower compared to a gasoline vehicle. Since you no longer have to worry about fluid and oil changes, only typical wear components like tires and batteries will need to be replaced over time. Mechanical adjustments like engine valves, exhaust systems, or other internal components are simply not needed for an all-electric powertrain.
Since they require maintenance less frequently, wouldn’t that mean that electric cars are more reliable? The truth lies somewhere in the middle. Some recent studies have indicated that electric cars do tend to have minor issues appear within a 3 to 4-year window of purchase. However, the good news is that these issues are so minor that they’re covered under warranty more often than not. We’ll cover this topic more in the next section.
More Technology ≠ Worse Reliability
While perhaps it goes without saying, electric cars are simply packed with more technology features compared to their gasoline counterparts. Naturally, with more technology comes more potential for technology issues. It’s worth noting that when EVs get flagged for “reliability issues”, these issues typically pertain to technology features like infotainment screens, backup cameras, and other electronic systems. Driveability and operational functions are typically not affected.
Better still, their electronic nature means that most of these small issues are corrected with software updates. When a gas-powered vehicle experiences a mechanical problem, the issue can take hours and sometimes weeks to diagnose and repair. Most minor problems with an EV can be corrected in a matter of minutes and sometimes even from the convenience of your own home via over-the-air updates.
Conclusion – EV Reliability Continues to Improve
To summarize, electric vehicles are engineered with sophisticated technology that’s designed to boost efficiency, performance, and connectivity. As a result, EVs have a higher potential for minor glitches and issues with their tech. However, these issues are typically minor and don’t involve downtime or costly fixes since they’re often covered by a warranty. They can also be fixed in a matter of minutes in many cases. Mechanical breakdowns are virtually nonexistent as well, something that can’t be said about conventional gas vehicles. Electric vehicles have come a long way in recent years and will only continue to improve in the future. If you’re concerned about the reliability of an electric vehicle – don’t be!