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Plug-in hybrids and EVs cost less to maintain and repair, finds Consumer Reports

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#1 ·
from Plug-in hybrids and EVs cost less to maintain and repair, finds Consumer Reports

Plug-in hybrids and EVs cost less to maintain and repair, finds Consumer Reports
Bengt Halvorson
BENGT HALVORSON SEPTEMBER 25, 2020


Electric vehicles are often sold and promoted on the basis that they’ll cost less to maintain and repair versus gasoline-powered vehicles.
In a whitepaper released Thursday, the consumer advocacy organization behind Consumer Reports, informed by CR’s reliability survey data, tested that boilerplate assumption against its real-world data, finding that electric vehicle drivers are typically saving big—an average of 50% versus equivalent gas vehicles, over the life of the vehicle.

Perhaps even more surprising among CR’s findings is that plug-in hybrids cost less to maintain and repair than conventional gasoline vehicles—actually undercutting EVs in those costs after passing 100,000 miles.


2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

It’s an unexpected advantage because typically, plug-in hybrids are more mechanically complex than either other type of powertrain, with more potential components to break or require maintenance attention. They often, for instance, combine a conventional engine and transmission, in all of their complexity, and add a battery pack, power electronics, motors, and sometimes additional clutch packs.

Crunching its numbers for the entire vehicle fleet, but split up by powertrain type, CR found that both battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles cost 3 cents a mile to maintain and repair, while other internal combustion vehicles cost 6 cents per mile to maintain and repair.

That amounts to a lifetime maintenance-cost total of $4,600 for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, or $9,200 for traditional gasoline models. Vehicle lifetime, as defined by the analysis, was 200,000 miles.

Maintenance and repair costs by powertrain type - Consumer Reports - Sept 2020
Maintenance and repair costs by powertrain type - Consumer Reports - Sept 2020

Consumer Reports doesn’t offer a reason for PHEVs’ advantage. Perhaps there is a sweet spot to be discussed in how the electrified components avoid wear to the traditional powertrain items—and, perhaps, extend the life of items like braking systems through regenerative braking. Or perhaps the repairs and maintenance simply cost more for EVs when needed.

This could be a continuation of a longtime trend. Some years ago, CarMD tracked that repair costs for hybrids were falling, while they were rising for other gasoline vehicles.

CR notes that its sample size of PHEVs and EVs with more than 100,000 miles was small—with the EVs mostly including early versions of the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S. With a total of 200 PHEV vehicles that have more than 100,000 miles, it also likely didn’t have a sample set that represented all the different layouts for these widely varied vehicles.

2019 Nissan Leaf Plus - Driven, March 2019
2019 Nissan Leaf Plus - Driven, March 2019

The data is based on annual surveys from hundreds of thousands of vehicle owners about real-world reliability and costs.

The organization notes that it filtered out responses that were incomplete, as well as feedback on outlier vehicles—ones that traveled less than 2,000 miles or more than 60,000 in a year, and vehicles that reported more than $20,000 in maintenance costs in the past year.

It also accounted for any bias based on the brands of vehicles purchased by CR members versus those purchased by the public at large, by reweighting its results according to market-share data from Wards Intelligence.
 
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#2 ·
from Plug-in hybrids and EVs cost less to maintain and repair, finds Consumer Reports

Plug-in hybrids and EVs cost less to maintain and repair, finds Consumer Reports
Bengt Halvorson
BENGT HALVORSON
SEPTEMBER 25, 2020


Electric vehicles are often sold and promoted on the basis that they’ll cost less to maintain and repair versus gasoline-powered vehicles.
In a whitepaper released Thursday, the consumer advocacy organization behind Consumer Reports, informed by CR’s reliability survey data, tested that boilerplate assumption against its real-world data, finding that electric vehicle drivers are typically saving big—an average of 50% versus equivalent gas vehicles, over the life of the vehicle.

Perhaps even more surprising among CR’s findings is that plug-in hybrids cost less to maintain and repair than conventional gasoline vehicles—actually undercutting EVs in those costs after passing 100,000 miles.


2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

It’s an unexpected advantage because typically, plug-in hybrids are more mechanically complex than either other type of powertrain, with more potential components to break or require maintenance attention. They often, for instance, combine a conventional engine and transmission, in all of their complexity, and add a battery pack, power electronics, motors, and sometimes additional clutch packs.

Crunching its numbers for the entire vehicle fleet, but split up by powertrain type, CR found that both battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles cost 3 cents a mile to maintain and repair, while other internal combustion vehicles cost 6 cents per mile to maintain and repair.

That amounts to a lifetime maintenance-cost total of $4,600 for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, or $9,200 for traditional gasoline models. Vehicle lifetime, as defined by the analysis, was 200,000 miles.

Maintenance and repair costs by powertrain type - Consumer Reports - Sept 2020
Maintenance and repair costs by powertrain type - Consumer Reports - Sept 2020

Consumer Reports doesn’t offer a reason for PHEVs’ advantage. Perhaps there is a sweet spot to be discussed in how the electrified components avoid wear to the traditional powertrain items—and, perhaps, extend the life of items like braking systems through regenerative braking. Or perhaps the repairs and maintenance simply cost more for EVs when needed.

This could be a continuation of a longtime trend. Some years ago, CarMD tracked that repair costs for hybrids were falling, while they were rising for other gasoline vehicles.

CR notes that its sample size of PHEVs and EVs with more than 100,000 miles was small—with the EVs mostly including early versions of the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S. With a total of 200 PHEV vehicles that have more than 100,000 miles, it also likely didn’t have a sample set that represented all the different layouts for these widely varied vehicles.

2019 Nissan Leaf Plus - Driven, March 2019
2019 Nissan Leaf Plus - Driven, March 2019

The data is based on annual surveys from hundreds of thousands of vehicle owners about real-world reliability and costs.

The organization notes that it filtered out responses that were incomplete, as well as feedback on outlier vehicles—ones that traveled less than 2,000 miles or more than 60,000 in a year, and vehicles that reported more than $20,000 in maintenance costs in the past year.

It also accounted for any bias based on the brands of vehicles purchased by CR members versus those purchased by the public at large, by reweighting its results according to market-share data from Wards Intelligence.
I've been a subscriber since the 1960s because it's a great way to educate before a high dollar purchase.
 
#3 ·
Just read the article and wondered how CR, which I subscribe to came up with their findings:

On an ICE for 50,000 the cost is $.028 per mile or $1,400.

The only difference in maintenance between an ICE and EV over the first 50,000 miles is:

  • oil change and filter every 7,500, @$50 a change, 7 changes $350
  • brakes maybe, (?) $300
Everything else is the same: cabin filters, wiper blades, tires, etc. so that totals $650 not $1400.

So unless CR gives a breakdown on the $1400 this is not really very reliable.
 
#13 ·
As I posted I have been a subscriber for over 40 years.

I will be happy to post details.

.
I tried to locate the article at CR Online but was unsuccessful maybe you might be able to track it down. I participate in the annual survey but I generally change vehicles during the warranty period and I haven't had any ICE vs PHEV issues. I would enjoy reading about the actual cost breakdown but I'm not certain that they would get that far 'into the weeds' because the article seemed to be a general FYI confirming that EVs and PHEVs are less costly to maintain. Maybe you'll be more successful in your search.
 
#11 ·
from Plug-in hybrids and EVs cost less to maintain and repair, finds Consumer Reports

Plug-in hybrids and EVs cost less to maintain and repair, finds Consumer Reports
Bengt Halvorson
BENGT HALVORSON
SEPTEMBER 25, 2020


Electric vehicles are often sold and promoted on the basis that they’ll cost less to maintain and repair versus gasoline-powered vehicles.
In a whitepaper released Thursday, the consumer advocacy organization behind Consumer Reports, informed by CR’s reliability survey data, tested that boilerplate assumption against its real-world data, finding that electric vehicle drivers are typically saving big—an average of 50% versus equivalent gas vehicles, over the life of the vehicle.

Perhaps even more surprising among CR’s findings is that plug-in hybrids cost less to maintain and repair than conventional gasoline vehicles—actually undercutting EVs in those costs after passing 100,000 miles.


2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

It’s an unexpected advantage because typically, plug-in hybrids are more mechanically complex than either other type of powertrain, with more potential components to break or require maintenance attention. They often, for instance, combine a conventional engine and transmission, in all of their complexity, and add a battery pack, power electronics, motors, and sometimes additional clutch packs.

Crunching its numbers for the entire vehicle fleet, but split up by powertrain type, CR found that both battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles cost 3 cents a mile to maintain and repair, while other internal combustion vehicles cost 6 cents per mile to maintain and repair.

That amounts to a lifetime maintenance-cost total of $4,600 for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, or $9,200 for traditional gasoline models. Vehicle lifetime, as defined by the analysis, was 200,000 miles.

Maintenance and repair costs by powertrain type - Consumer Reports - Sept 2020
Maintenance and repair costs by powertrain type - Consumer Reports - Sept 2020

Consumer Reports doesn’t offer a reason for PHEVs’ advantage. Perhaps there is a sweet spot to be discussed in how the electrified components avoid wear to the traditional powertrain items—and, perhaps, extend the life of items like braking systems through regenerative braking. Or perhaps the repairs and maintenance simply cost more for EVs when needed.

This could be a continuation of a longtime trend. Some years ago, CarMD tracked that repair costs for hybrids were falling, while they were rising for other gasoline vehicles.

CR notes that its sample size of PHEVs and EVs with more than 100,000 miles was small—with the EVs mostly including early versions of the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S. With a total of 200 PHEV vehicles that have more than 100,000 miles, it also likely didn’t have a sample set that represented all the different layouts for these widely varied vehicles.

2019 Nissan Leaf Plus - Driven, March 2019
2019 Nissan Leaf Plus - Driven, March 2019

The data is based on annual surveys from hundreds of thousands of vehicle owners about real-world reliability and costs.

The organization notes that it filtered out responses that were incomplete, as well as feedback on outlier vehicles—ones that traveled less than 2,000 miles or more than 60,000 in a year, and vehicles that reported more than $20,000 in maintenance costs in the past year.

It also accounted for any bias based on the brands of vehicles purchased by CR members versus those purchased by the public at large, by reweighting its results according to market-share data from Wards Intelligence.
Very interesting.

It is hard to imagine why the BEVs' costs would rise so much from 100k to 200k miles, while the PHEVs' costs rise much more slowly. I'd love to know more...
 
#21 ·
OK here goes, as promised I found the actual report in Consumer Reports Magazine Nov. 2020 that the original posted article may have been based on. To reiterate, this report is based on the annual Auto Survey conducted by CR and on 200,000 respondents. I've participated in the survey for decades and it's very comprehensive however I'm open to any unbiased and factual report that may differ. Anyone looking for details beyond the findings will have to look at the CR Annual Vehicle Survey or do their own research since I am not able to comment on the questions asked of the participants.
 

Attachments

#27 ·
scussion Starter • #1 3 h ago
Consumer Reports published a new EV Ownership Cost Report. In it they reveal the amount of money people can save in EV ownership costs compared to their gas powered counterparts.


2616


Full Report:

https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/EV-Ownership-Cost-Final-Report-1.pdf
EV cost of ownership savings:

https://advocacy.consumerreports.or...2020/10/EV-TCO-Overall-Fact-Sheet-FINAL-4.pdf
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Owning a plug-in electric vehicle today will save consumers thousands of dollars compared to owning a gas-powered vehicle, according to a new analysis by Consumer Reports comparing electrics to CR’s top-rated vehicles, as well as the best-selling, most efficient, and best-performing gas-powered vehicles on the market.

The analysis found lifetime ownership costs for the most popular EVs on the market under $50,000 are typically $6,000 to $10,000 less than the best gas-powered vehicles in their class*. Tesla’s Model 3, the best selling EV on the market, delivered the biggest savings: at least $15,000 compared to both the BMW 330i (best selling) and Audi A4 (top rated).

The overall out-of-pocket-costs for many consumers who finance will be lower in their very first year of ownership, despite the fact that the upfront cost of electric vehicles remains higher today than their gas-powered counterparts.

Where the savings come from:

  • EV drivers are paying half as much to repair and maintain their vehicles -- averaging $4,600 over the life of an EV.
  • EV owners are spending 60% less to power their vehicle with electricity instead of gasoline. Owners of EVs with a range of 250 miles or greater will be able to do 92% of their charging at home, needing only six stops at a public fast-charger per year.
  • Mainstream EVs, those with at least 200 miles of range or greater, are projected to hold their value as well as comparable gas-powered vehicles.
“There’s been so much progress over the last few years that many mass market electric vehicles will now save consumers money right off the lot,” says senior policy analyst Chris Harto, who authored the new report. “Today’s mainstream electric vehicles have what many consumers are looking for, including enough range for most people to do their daily driving without relying on public charging, while also delivering excellent acceleration and a quiet ride.”

Consumers in the market for a used vehicle, which make up 70% of car purchases, are poised to benefit significantly as they get access to these mainstream EVs over the coming years. Since previously-owned vehicles cost less upfront but have greater maintenance and repair costs, consumers in the market for a used vehicle are in line to pocket a significant portion of an EV’s overall lifetime savings potential.

“The auto industry has spent most of its ad money tugging at our emotions and promoting gas-powered vehicle performance, but failed to market EVs, all the money they will save, and the performance they deliver,” says David Friedman, Vice President of Advocacy at CR. “The future of cars can and will be electric if the entire industry starts making and marketing compelling EVs for everyone. And that’s a future consumers are getting a glimpse of today.”
 
#30 ·
Interesting: CR talks about resale value:

How can they even predict the resale value of cars that have been out less than a year, Model Y and have not even hit the market: MachE or less than two years Model #?

I agree with MackDrive, this is incomprehensible.
 
#32 ·
from Plug-in hybrids and EVs cost less to maintain and repair, finds Consumer Reports

Plug-in hybrids and EVs cost less to maintain and repair, finds Consumer Reports
Bengt Halvorson
BENGT HALVORSON
SEPTEMBER 25, 2020


Electric vehicles are often sold and promoted on the basis that they’ll cost less to maintain and repair versus gasoline-powered vehicles.
In a whitepaper released Thursday, the consumer advocacy organization behind Consumer Reports, informed by CR’s reliability survey data, tested that boilerplate assumption against its real-world data, finding that electric vehicle drivers are typically saving big—an average of 50% versus equivalent gas vehicles, over the life of the vehicle.

Perhaps even more surprising among CR’s findings is that plug-in hybrids cost less to maintain and repair than conventional gasoline vehicles—actually undercutting EVs in those costs after passing 100,000 miles.


2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

It’s an unexpected advantage because typically, plug-in hybrids are more mechanically complex than either other type of powertrain, with more potential components to break or require maintenance attention. They often, for instance, combine a conventional engine and transmission, in all of their complexity, and add a battery pack, power electronics, motors, and sometimes additional clutch packs.

Crunching its numbers for the entire vehicle fleet, but split up by powertrain type, CR found that both battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles cost 3 cents a mile to maintain and repair, while other internal combustion vehicles cost 6 cents per mile to maintain and repair.

That amounts to a lifetime maintenance-cost total of $4,600 for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, or $9,200 for traditional gasoline models. Vehicle lifetime, as defined by the analysis, was 200,000 miles.

Maintenance and repair costs by powertrain type - Consumer Reports - Sept 2020
Maintenance and repair costs by powertrain type - Consumer Reports - Sept 2020

Consumer Reports doesn’t offer a reason for PHEVs’ advantage. Perhaps there is a sweet spot to be discussed in how the electrified components avoid wear to the traditional powertrain items—and, perhaps, extend the life of items like braking systems through regenerative braking. Or perhaps the repairs and maintenance simply cost more for EVs when needed.

This could be a continuation of a longtime trend. Some years ago, CarMD tracked that repair costs for hybrids were falling, while they were rising for other gasoline vehicles.

CR notes that its sample size of PHEVs and EVs with more than 100,000 miles was small—with the EVs mostly including early versions of the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S. With a total of 200 PHEV vehicles that have more than 100,000 miles, it also likely didn’t have a sample set that represented all the different layouts for these widely varied vehicles.

2019 Nissan Leaf Plus - Driven, March 2019
2019 Nissan Leaf Plus - Driven, March 2019

The data is based on annual surveys from hundreds of thousands of vehicle owners about real-world reliability and costs.

The organization notes that it filtered out responses that were incomplete, as well as feedback on outlier vehicles—ones that traveled less than 2,000 miles or more than 60,000 in a year, and vehicles that reported more than $20,000 in maintenance costs in the past year.

It also accounted for any bias based on the brands of vehicles purchased by CR members versus those purchased by the public at large, by reweighting its results according to market-share data from Wards Intelligence.
This is one of the reasons I’m not interested in a hybrid. Too many components that can break.
 
#33 ·
from Ownership-cost advantages of EVs even stronger for SUVs and pickups, study finds

Ownership-cost advantages of EVs even stronger for SUVs and pickups, study finds
Stephen Edelstein
STEPHEN EDELSTEIN OCTOBER 9, 2020


Electric cars offer lower ownership costs than internal-combustion vehicles that can "more than make up for an EV's higher purchase price", according to a new Consumer Reports study.
The ownership-cost advantage is particularly strong against the SUVs and pickup trucks American buyers are increasingly flocking to over traditional sedans.

When comparing vehicles of similar size, an electric car can cost 10% to 40% more than a similar gasoline model, according to the study. But most owners will save $6,000 to $10,000 in running costs over the life of the car (measured as 200,000 miles), the study found.

For lower-priced models, ownership-cost savings usually exceed the higher purchase price of an EV, according to the study. As one example, a Chevrolet Bolt EV costs $8,000 more than a Hyundai Elantra GT when new, Consumer Reports noted, but the Bolt EV costs $15,000 less to operate over a 200,000-mile lifetime.

Ownership-cost advantages grow with vehicle size and length of ownership, according to the study. Car owners can save an average of $800 in fuel costs in the first year, but pickup-truck owners—for the upcoming GMC Hummer EV SUT, for instance—could save $1,300 in the same period, with SUV cost savings falling in between.

After seven years of ownership, an electric car will save its owner $4,700, but an electric pickup truck will save its owner almost $9,000, the study predicted. Over the lifetime of a vehicle, predicted savings were $9,000 for cars and $15,000 for trucks.

Discounted first-owner fuel costs for ICE and BEV (from Consumer Reports study)
Discounted first-owner fuel costs for ICE and BEV (from Consumer Reports study)

Granted, there are no electric pickup trucks currently on sale. But Rivian, Tesla, Ford, and General Motors all plan to launch electric trucks in the near term.

A Consumer Reports whitepaper released last month also found that electric cars cost less to maintain and repair than internal-combustion vehicles—by an average of 50%, in fact.

This research echoes some of the findings that AAA has noted—although costs will vary widely between models.

However, some studies have pointed out that service bills might be higher for EVs, perhaps part of a strategy for dealerships to make up for their less-frequent service visits.

Automakers are touting potentially-lower ownership costs, at any rate. Ford has made that part of the sales pitch for its upcoming F-150 Electric pickup, while Volkswagen has said ownership costs for the European-market ID.3 hatchback will be lower than for comparable gasoline cars.

But steeper depreciation remains a serious issue for all EVs—other than those from Tesla.
 
#34 ·
from Plug-in hybrids and EVs cost less to maintain and repair, finds Consumer Reports

Plug-in hybrids and EVs cost less to maintain and repair, finds Consumer Reports
Bengt Halvorson
BENGT HALVORSON
SEPTEMBER 25, 2020


Electric vehicles are often sold and promoted on the basis that they’ll cost less to maintain and repair versus gasoline-powered vehicles.
In a whitepaper released Thursday, the consumer advocacy organization behind Consumer Reports, informed by CR’s reliability survey data, tested that boilerplate assumption against its real-world data, finding that electric vehicle drivers are typically saving big—an average of 50% versus equivalent gas vehicles, over the life of the vehicle.

Perhaps even more surprising among CR’s findings is that plug-in hybrids cost less to maintain and repair than conventional gasoline vehicles—actually undercutting EVs in those costs after passing 100,000 miles.


2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

It’s an unexpected advantage because typically, plug-in hybrids are more mechanically complex than either other type of powertrain, with more potential components to break or require maintenance attention. They often, for instance, combine a conventional engine and transmission, in all of their complexity, and add a battery pack, power electronics, motors, and sometimes additional clutch packs.

Crunching its numbers for the entire vehicle fleet, but split up by powertrain type, CR found that both battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles cost 3 cents a mile to maintain and repair, while other internal combustion vehicles cost 6 cents per mile to maintain and repair.

That amounts to a lifetime maintenance-cost total of $4,600 for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, or $9,200 for traditional gasoline models. Vehicle lifetime, as defined by the analysis, was 200,000 miles.

Maintenance and repair costs by powertrain type - Consumer Reports - Sept 2020
Maintenance and repair costs by powertrain type - Consumer Reports - Sept 2020

Consumer Reports doesn’t offer a reason for PHEVs’ advantage. Perhaps there is a sweet spot to be discussed in how the electrified components avoid wear to the traditional powertrain items—and, perhaps, extend the life of items like braking systems through regenerative braking. Or perhaps the repairs and maintenance simply cost more for EVs when needed.

This could be a continuation of a longtime trend. Some years ago, CarMD tracked that repair costs for hybrids were falling, while they were rising for other gasoline vehicles.

CR notes that its sample size of PHEVs and EVs with more than 100,000 miles was small—with the EVs mostly including early versions of the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S. With a total of 200 PHEV vehicles that have more than 100,000 miles, it also likely didn’t have a sample set that represented all the different layouts for these widely varied vehicles.

2019 Nissan Leaf Plus - Driven, March 2019
2019 Nissan Leaf Plus - Driven, March 2019

The data is based on annual surveys from hundreds of thousands of vehicle owners about real-world reliability and costs.

The organization notes that it filtered out responses that were incomplete, as well as feedback on outlier vehicles—ones that traveled less than 2,000 miles or more than 60,000 in a year, and vehicles that reported more than $20,000 in maintenance costs in the past year.

It also accounted for any bias based on the brands of vehicles purchased by CR members versus those purchased by the public at large, by reweighting its results according to market-share data from Wards Intelligence.

Ordinarily I would agree with the premise, but not now. I own a 2012 Ford Focus Electric. It has a little more than 60,000 miles on it. The main battery went out two weeks ago, and the dealer has informed us that a replacement battery would cost $15,459. That is ridiculous. It is much, much more than the car is worth. This car is only 8 years old with 60,000 miles, and now it is worthless. I did some research and found that replacement batteries for many brands run $1500-$2500, but the Ford was $15,000. It would be impossible for me to recommend anyone buying a FORD electric.
 
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