A new survey by the American consumer organization Consumer Reports shows that hybrid and electric cars have improved. But that they still have by far the most problems.
A new survey by Consumer Reports, analyzing over 300,000 cars, concludes that electric cars and plug-in hybrids have far more problems than traditional cars with combustion engines.
According to the survey, electric cars have an average of 42 percent more problems, while plug-in hybrids have as many as 70 percent more problems compared to conventional cars.
Problems with technology and platforms
Steven Elek, automotive analyst at Consumer Reports, explains that the higher failure rates are due to the fact that electric car technology is still relatively new. At least to the extent we see them on the roads now.
– Car manufacturers are still working to solve problems in their powertrains and platforms, says Elek.
The problems range from minor nuisances such as squealing brakes and defects in the interior to serious and costly faults in batteries, engines and gear systems.
Plug-in hybrids stand out with even more problems. The investigation highlights that their combination of two separate powertrains – an electric motor and an internal combustion engine – increases the risk of technical errors.
Compared to traditional hybrids, which have developed significantly and can now compete with petrol cars, plug-in hybrids are still less reliable.
Harmful risks of burnt-out electric cars
In addition to technical challenges, investigations also point to the potentially harmful health consequences if an electric car catches fire.
The batteries in electric cars contain large amounts of lithium and other chemical substances, which can release toxic gases during combustion.
These substances can damage the respiratory tract and cause long-term health problems for people exposed to roe. Fires in electric cars are difficult to put out and often require special equipment, which worsens the situation.
The survey also provides an overview of the most and least reliable brands. Toyota tops the list with both regular petrol and diesel cars as well as the hybrids. While the American brand Rivian, which will build the next Volkswagen Golf, scores the absolute lowest. Rivian's poor placement is attributed to challenges with their new electric car technology.
Consumer Reports highlights that the data includes both owner experiences and technical assessments, and that the problems of electric cars do not necessarily mean that they are unsuitable, but rather that the technology is still developing.
