by Gabrielle DeSantis

Electric cars are becoming more mainstream as we push towards a more sustainable driving ethos, as evidenced by vehicles like F-150 Lightning. As a result, consumers are starting to ask more “normal” car questions about them. Chief among those are two things: cost and reliability. Frankly, the whole cost thing is beating a very dead electric horse. So, let’s look at reliability instead. Ok, maybe cost too.

The 2021 Nissan Leaf brings Japanese reliability to EVs

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Let me beat that dead electric horse for a moment. Currently, a 2021 Nissan Leaf will run you around $31,000 MSRP. That makes it not only one of the cheapest, but also one of the most reliable electric cars. Moreover, you’re getting that super practical hatchback layout as well.

In fact, I’m quite a fan of the Nissan Leaf. Consumer Reports is too. Overall, they scored the Nissan Leaf as one of the most reliable electric cars, with a 73/100 overall score. That’s not too shabby. Of course, there’s also the savings of owning an EV too. You’ll get that nice tax rebate, and maintenance costs are predicted to be lower than a gas equivalent.

The 2021 Tesla Model 3 is an EV status symbol

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We really can’t make a list of the most reliable electric cars without including Telsa, now can we? Hell, we can’t really make a list of EVs without including a Tesla, full stop. That’s ok because, on the surface, the Tesla Model 3 is a fantastic EV. Of course, it’s also much more than that. Elon has managed to make Tesla a status symbol, much the way BMW was 20 or so years ago.

Because who even, like, are you if you don’t drive a Tesla? Yes, they do have their issues (panel gap) and their foibles (interior quality), and even Teslas makes mistakes (Full Self Driving crashes). But Consumer Reports rated the Tesla Model 3 an 82/100. It’s notably higher in predicted owner satisfaction than even the most reliable electric car. Not bad Tesla.

What is the most reliable electric car?

Consumer Reports actually has a lot to say about the 2021 Chevy Bolt. However, most importantly, they loved the reliability of the thing. So much so that the recent 2021 Chevy Bolt recalls haven’t affected that rating at all. Then again, I don’t know if Consumer Reports goes back and updates these things after they make them. Regardless, fires are always a risk for EVs, and that may not be changing for a while.

Neither will the appeal of the Bolt. People love it, and you get some of that practical hatch lifestyle brought by the Nissan Leaf to the EV game. Frankly, I’m inclined to agree with Consumer Reports. However, we’ll have to see how future models with better batteries hold up over time.

The post The Most Reliable Electric Cars According to Consumer Reports appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Interest is growing for electric vehicles as each new model year comes out. However, despite its popularity, people are still hesitant about committing to an EV just yet. What is holding them back? Range anxiety is the main reason people aren’t ready for the upgrade to electric power. According to Choose EV, finding the right one that suits your specific needs would help. 

What do we mean by range anxiety?

Range anxiety is when an EV owner knows the car’s battery is getting low and they still have a good distance to go to get to their destination. With gas-powered cars, the anxiety isn’t there as much because there are tons of fuel stations all over the country, so you’re likely to find one and get gassed up before you get stranded on the side of the road. 

When you’re dealing with an electric vehicle, however, you have to seek out a charging station to top off the battery so you can continue driving. While you can easily find them in some areas, you may not be so lucky in others. They’re just not as readily available as gas stations. 

So, you can see why it would worry some drivers if they find that their battery is getting low and they’re not finding a charging station as quickly as they would like. To help alleviate some of the anxiety, there are plenty of smartphone apps and navigational tools within your vehicle that you can use to find charging stations near your location. There might be a few close to you that you didn’t even know were there. 

What are considered good and bad EV ranges?

You would think that the longer the range, the better off you’ll be with your EV choice. However, there’s more to it than that. Your unique situation needs to be considered to determine what’s good for you because long-range EV models are typically more expensive. 

If you don’t travel all that much every week, would a 400-mile range suit you? If you can get by with 250-miles or so, why pay money for the extra range you might never need? In that case, according to Kelley Blue Book, you could go for a Chevy Bolt EV with a range of 259-miles that goes for approximately $37,890. 

The Hyundai Kona Electric is another lower-range model that you can get for $38,565. With this subcompact SUV, you can get 201 hp and an acceleration of 6.4 seconds for a 0 to 60 mph run. 

On the other hand, if you need the longer range, you’re better off with something that will offer 330+ miles, like the Tesla Model S, which is one of the best on the market. This will get you 373 miles on a charged battery, but it will cost you around $81,990. If you’re looking for an SUV instead, the Tesla Model X is a good choice. This one offers 371 miles of range and will run you about $89,990.

What factors can affect an EV’s range?

While automakers claim some decent ranges for their models, it isn’t always going to get that same amount when you take it out onto the road. There are a few factors that affect the amount of range you’ll actually get. The path you ultimately take will affect it in different ways. Driving downhill, the speed of the car, and the traffic you encounter all factor into the final result. 

The closest measurement we can receive is going by what EPA sets the range at. They use the SAE J1634 test procedure that accounts for as many variables as possible. While even that isn’t perfect, it’s still a good baseline to plan your journey by. 

The electric battery has come a long way with the automotive industry. Since its introduction, we’ve made many strides, and the next few years will see even more advances. It’s predicted that 300 miles will soon be the average range, and we could likely see over 400 miles by the year 2028.

RELATED: Gross vs. Usable Battery Capacity: Why Your Electric Car Range May Vary

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