Consumer Reports Says That NEW EV You Bought Will Save You 50% On Maintenance And Repairs

According to new data and analysis from Consumer Reports, plug-in electric car owners are saving 50 percent on maintenance and repair as compared to gas cars. As we wait for EVs to reach price parity with ICE vehicles, we can have peace of mind knowing that with cost of ownership factored in, there are huge savings related to EV ownership.

Consumer Reports used data from its 2019 and 2020 reliability surveys, which includes information about thousands of electric and gas vehicles. The analysis concluded that electric car (BEV and PHEV) drivers are saving an average of 50% over gas cars when it comes to maintenance and repair over the life of the vehicles, which is defined as 200,000 miles.

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atc98092 - 9/25/2020 3:09:08 PM

+4 Boost

Probably save more than that. The one thing that might increase a bit is tire replacement, since an EV weighs more than an equivalent ICE car. You still need tire rotations, wheel alignments, some fluids still exist (washer, brake). But there are no more oil changes, brakes will last far, far longer than an ICE car.

Also, in the vast majority of cases charging an EV is much less expensive than buying gas. In my Outback, I was spending $200 per month on gas, easy. Now with my Niro PHEV, I spend about $25 per month gas and electricity combined.

USNA1999 - 9/25/2020 6:30:50 PM

+2 Boost

Good news

SanJoseDriver - 9/25/2020 6:43:19 PM

+3 Boost

On the Model 3 today there is no maintenance needed for 4 years and repairs are free during that time as well. (Older Model S need annual maintenance) So things are improving.

Let's like 2-3 years down the line with the Model 3/Y. 600 parts are being replaced with castings, batteries are being simplified, Modules are now gone, and weight will be cut by 500 lbs for the same battery size (range boosted by at least 30% btw at a lower cost).

Other companies will simplify as well, so EVs in general will only become more reliable and cost less to maintain over time. It may become far less than half the cost and with a much longer lifespan than a traditional ICE car.

ricks0me - 9/25/2020 7:54:08 PM

+1 Boost

No doubt that EV's are cheaper on the maintenance side. Here is where I question Consumer Reports. 200,000 miles is defined as the life span of a car. They are entitled to their opinion. I see two things wrong with this.
#1 >> Someone might keep an EV long enough to replace the battery pack. Big savings just went out the window
#2 >> 200,000 miles is defined as the life span of a car. You can put any number you want in that statement

atc98092 - 9/25/2020 8:23:32 PM

+1 Boost

1) no idea what a replacement battery might run 5+ years down the road, and no idea how long the original battery will last. You're just guessing. If the average owner drives 15,000 miles per year, that puts them at 10 years for 150,000 miles. For their lifespan figure of 200,000 miles, that close to 13 1/2 years.

2) They had to set a baseline somewhere. You're correct that you could put any number in there. Many people don't keep their cars past 100,000 miles. I think 200,000 was an acceptable number. Especially when you look at how long a time period that works out to be.

MDarringer - 9/25/2020 8:34:31 PM

0 Boost

Consumer Reports Says That NEW EV You Bought Will Save You 50% On Maintenance And Repairs until the battery dies and then your car is totaled.

PUGPROUD - 9/26/2020 6:09:54 AM

-1 Boost

During my long life one constant has been that future projections of any type are almost always wrong. False assumptions, forgotten assumptions, unintended consequences, miscalculations, etc turn up later to reveal a different future for better or for worse. Time will tell.

SanJoseDriver - 9/26/2020 7:40:10 PM

+1 Boost

So far EVs have beaten expectations on maintenance costs, I don't think this is a prediction but the reality today. Batteries have also rarely needed to be replaced and degraded much less than what many predicted.

carloslassiter - 9/28/2020 8:59:29 AM

+1 Boost

So many people deathly afraid of the future.