EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports • Hacker News Board

Re: EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

#11

Post by njovin » Wed, Nov 16, 2022, 2:07 PM UTC

> And they found that for Tesla in particular, issues with body hardware, steering suspension, paint and trim, and climate systems on the models were of most concern. Rick and I tested the Model 3 a few years back and we found a lot of issues with fit and finish and parts on the inside of the car

I wish they'd separate cosmetic issues from functional ones. IMO it's pointless to lump "paint is uneven" in with "steering doesn't work." Maybe they do in the actual report but it's paywalled.

Anecdotally I've seen quite a few minor cosmetic non-driving-related issues with Teslas but overall they've been very reliable (not requiring any motor, brake steering, or suspension maintenance) for everyone I know who owns one.

Re: EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

#12

Post by HDThoreaun » Wed, Nov 16, 2022, 2:08 PM UTC

rrwo wrote: post #5

Interesting, since EVs supposedly have lower maintenance costs overall https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric_maintenance.html > All-electric vehicles typically require less maintenance than conventional vehicles because: > The battery, motor, and associated electronics require little to no regular maintenance > - There are fewer fluids, such as engine oil, that require regular maintenance > - Brake wear is signif…

Seems like most of the issue is just that Tesla does shoddy construction, not anything inherent to EVs

Re: EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

#13

Post by KaiserPro » Wed, Nov 16, 2022, 2:09 PM UTC

In Which magazine, EVs were about as reliable as normal cars, however if you removed tesla from the ratings, then EV reliability jumped significantly to way above standard petrol/diesel.

https://www.which.co.uk/ has the details, but you need to be a member to find out. Basically the fit, finish and reliability of the accessories were trash.

Re: EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

#14

Post by trabant00 » Wed, Nov 16, 2022, 2:11 PM UTC

Mechanical complexity is just one type of the overall complexity of a car. There are plenty examples of even ICE vehicles having poor electrical reliability. Now we have lots of software added into the mix. And EVs are pretty new technology too. Cars where at first less reliable than horse and buggy.

Never bought the "moving parts" marketing. But I don't see how it could have gone different either. And early addopters taking a hit does speed progress a lot. So I guess overall there is no news or info here, things are as they could only be.

Re: EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

#15

Post by kube-system » Wed, Nov 16, 2022, 2:12 PM UTC

njovin wrote: post #11

> And they found that for Tesla in particular, issues with body hardware, steering suspension, paint and trim, and climate systems on the models were of most concern. Rick and I tested the Model 3 a few years back and we found a lot of issues with fit and finish and parts on the inside of the car I wish they'd separate cosmetic issues from functional ones. IMO it's pointless to lump "paint is uneven" in with "steerin…

Paint is not a cosmetic issue, failing paint can cause mechanical failure due to corrosion. Improvements in automotive coatings is the number one reason that cars aren’t “worn out” at 5 years and 50,000 miles like they did in the 70s.

Re: EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

#16

Post by mgadams3 » Wed, Nov 16, 2022, 2:12 PM UTC

I've owned 3 EVs and Tesla is the lowest quality car I've ever owned. Teslas weigh down the average b/c they're the majority of EVs on the road.

Re: EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

#17

Post by throwaway22032 » Wed, Nov 16, 2022, 2:13 PM UTC

Is it not just the case that there simply hasn't been enough time to work out the kinks?

The Tesla Model S is only ten years old. So my 20 year old bulletproof Japanese petrol car is twice the age of the entire class of modern day EVs.

My petrol car could probably have done the first ten years of its' life with oil changes and nothing else at all. I mean, it's done the last few years that way. But there's been a century of serious engineering work to get it to that place.

And yeah, having owned a Tesla, the earlier models at least were designed to be fun luxury toys. Even something like the windows - frameless, auto-retracting things that can freeze in winter, vs a mechanical wind down thing on a Civic or whatever.

Re: EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

#18

Post by abraxas » Wed, Nov 16, 2022, 2:16 PM UTC

If you exclude Teslas and plug in hybrids then most EVs are incredibly reliable. Yes, power electronics wear out and break on occasion but that’s nothing in comparison to the complexity of an internal combustion vehicle. And car manufacturers only have a few years experience mass producing EVs. Once they gain experience there will be no competition from fossil fuel cars. The future is not internal combustion.

Re: EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

#19

Post by kube-system » Wed, Nov 16, 2022, 2:17 PM UTC

Kon-Peki wrote: post #7

Markoff wrote: post #2

Article: While demand for electric vehicles has surged in last two years, new data from Consumer Reports finding that EVs are among the least reliable cars in the auto industry. Pras Subramanian here with the details and Pras, clearly something that the auto industry doesn't necessarily want to hear. PRAS SUBRAMANIAN: Yeah, you know, I was a little surprised to hear that. Because EVs, generally speaking, are simpler…

> So Consumer Reports put together 3 of their top hybrids here. The Lexus NX came out a few years ago in the premium luxury segment here. Very nice car, attractive car, good mileage there. The Ford Maverick. Now we actually had this truck. It is a small compact utility pickup truck. Unibody construction, 38 MPG with hybrid. Yeah. What's really surprising about the Ford Maverick rated so highly is not really that it's…

A part or a feature can’t fail if the car doesn’t have it. In this way, simple vehicles have an inherent advantage.

Re: EVs are the least reliable vehicle type: Consumer Reports

#20

Post by inetknght » Wed, Nov 16, 2022, 2:18 PM UTC

Bostonian wrote: post #4

The government should not ban gas-powered vehicles and force people to buy the "least reliable vehicle type", as California and other states are doing.

Gas powered vehicles still have utility in rural areas. But in the suburbs and especially in the cities? EV is the least-worst option. Pedestrians, bicycles, and mass transit should be the focus in suburbs and cities.