Reliability Findings
- Hybrid Vehicles:
- Overall Reliability: Hybrids are generally very reliable. They tend to have fewer issues than gasoline-powered vehicles, with Consumer Reports indicating they have about 26% fewer problems.
- Brake Life and Engine Use: The use of regenerative braking in hybrids significantly reduces wear on brake pads and can also decrease engine usage, contributing to their reliability.
- Top Brands: Brands like Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, and Toyota offer highly reliable hybrids.
- Electric Vehicles (EVs):
- Current Reliability: EVs have more problems compared to both hybrids and gasoline-powered vehicles. According to Consumer Reports, EVs from the past three model years have had 42% more issues than gas-only cars, though this represents an improvement over previous years.
- Improvement Trends: Despite being less reliable, EVs are becoming more dependable, with problems decreasing over time.
Plug-in Hybrids (PHEVs)
- Reliability: PHEVs generally fall between regular hybrids and EVs in terms of reliability. They are less reliable than traditional hybrids and gas-only cars but have shown significant improvements, with 70% more problems than gas-only cars, down from 146% the previous year.
- Examples: Models like the Ford Kuga PHEV have specific reliability issues, such as 12-volt battery problems.
In summary, while hybrids are more reliable and generally perform better than EVs, the reliability gap between EVs and other vehicle types is narrowing as technology improves. Plug-in hybrids are less reliable than traditional hybrids but offer a compromise between the benefits of hybrids and the electric range of EVs.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-do-hybrid-vehicles-compare-to-evs-in-terms-of-reliability/
