Most people expect a new car to last longer than a new phone, though. It’s certainly a much bigger investment for anyone who isn’t stupid rich.
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Definitely. They also tend to have much better battery management and cooling systems.
The original post said a Tesla had 50% battery capacity after 5 years. Which is about the same as a phone. A figure that sounds very wrong, hence some reporting that shows this would be interesting.
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Exactly: there are Safety regulation, like crash test and fender design regulation, and “safety” regulation, like as I said lane assist and adaptive cruise control that are expensive and don’t add very much to the overall safety, and could be counterproductive. I’ve driven a SUV with that things and was beeping every moment with false alarms.
Imagine owning a Japanese car but when the warranty expires it mysteriously turns into a German one.
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FTF me.
My Toyota is 17 years old with a manual transmission. No screens, no frills. I want to keep it for another 20 years (it’s a Toyota so it probably will last that long), but it needs a new timing chain after 300k miles. Not cheap for a diff reason–extensive labor costs. Parts are a fraction.
I drive our other car, a 2023 Subaru and enjoy some of the bells and whistles, but meh. Starlink is sending our data to Lexisnexis and our rates could go up as a result. I don’t have accidents or get tickets, but I drive fast. My Toyota keeps it in the family.
To the extent that this is a problem (which is: some), it’s not an EV problem, it’s a modern car problem. The deeply embedded systems, sensors, and other doodads are widespread whether there’s an electric motor or a gas engine. If there’s a reason that it reads as more EV-specific, it’s that there’s a greater percentage of EVs among the vehicles built in this mold – but it’s essentially ubiquitous in recent model years.
(Disclaimer: IANAMechanic or even particularly a car enthusiast; consume appropriate ionic compounds.)
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My Renault Zoe I had from new (172 miles on the clock when it was delivered) showed zero battery degradation in the 2 years and 12,000 miles I drove it. As it was a rental I didn’t give a fucc about careful battery maintenance procedures, and just rapid charged it to 100% whenever I had the opportunity.
Obviously the process of battery decline might accelerate in later years of ownership. The quality of design and manufacture of the batteries must make a difference, too.
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My old hybrid Prius lasted 20 years before it was totaled in an accident. When I bought it, everyone said the hybrid battery wouldn’t last more than ten years because that’s just how batteries work. A year before it was totaled, I tested the battery using Dr. Prius and it was around 60% capacity. So it’s not inevitable that traction batteries will die before the car.
If those anecdotal numbers end up being correct for a wider, statistically valid set, I would attribute it to poor battery management and/or aggressive driving. IIRC the Model S is considered one of their more sporty models.
This is why the Tesla charge to unlock more range actually makes some sense. Limiting range is one of the most effective battery management strategies. The more you deplete the battery regularly, the quicker the batteries will degrade. More warranty visits and lower resale value are fully expected when you unlock and use more range from the same battery.
And yet, I’m seeing nothing that supports your claim.
https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a44877211/electric-car-repair-costs/
Tellingly, in a HLDI study of 11 models that offer both gasoline and fully electric versions — including the Hyundai Kona and Volvo XC40 — EV versions now cost a negligible two percent more to repair. For every such model, the gasoline version is significantly more likely to be written off after a wreck. Plug-in versions were also involved in 19 percent fewer collision claims, even after adjusting for mileage.
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Sure, I can imagine that. How is it relevant?
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That’s what all the Tesla apologists attribute it to. Charging too often/not charging often enough/charging while close to full charge/charging when too low /driving too hard/driving too slow. Thing is, if the parameters for battery management are that narrow, it’s a poorly designed car.
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As I wrote directly in my post, I was talking about Teslas, not EVs in general. All new cars are keeping pace with EVs for increased repair costs, as per the article in the OP.
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I suspect that the title is wrong and it should simply be “Percentage relative to base year 1990”
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I subscribe to the view that dents and scratches give a car character.
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As the former owner of a 2006 Subaru Forester that I drove for 15 years with less than 75,000 miles, let me advise you to replace the head gaskets sooner than later if you haven’t already. I owned a mid-80s Subaru that blew head gaskets on the regular. Twenty years later I figured, “surely they fixed that issue.” Nope. Off to the scrapyard when the repairs would have cost more than the car was worth.
I did love the car up to that point. Driving it felt so precise compared to any other car I ever owned, including my Acura Integra. It was practical, great in snow, comfortable, inexpensive, and fun. I’ll never buy another Subaru after that one, though, especially since they show no movement into EVs.
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I don’t know where you live, but in Canada, we get inundated with Subaru Solterra ads. They’re definitely not econobox type EVs though.
Ah yes, the infamous 2.5L Subaru boxer engine. Notorious for failed head gaskets. Definitely worth it to have them replaced before buying an older model Sub. Great cars otherwise. For anyone curious as to why: Subaru Head Gasket Failures Explained – Boxer Tech Garage
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My 2011 had to have the engine replaced at about 60,000 mi at Subaru’s expense as a result of a class action lawsuit. Before that it was drinking oil (about a quart every 500 mi, which until the lawsuit Subaru called “normal.”) Replacing the engine also solved a lot of other annoying related problems that Subaru wouldn’t acknowledge in my then-brand-new car.
Mine seems okay now (currently at 222,000 mi), but I won’t be buying another Subaru when it finally dies.
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Agreed fully! I was trying to make the point that EVs in general can be designed to last, not that Teslas are designed that way.
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