Greg Brannon, director of automotive engineering and industry relations for the American Automobile Association (AAA), attributes some of that increase to the sheer number of new EVs on the market.
“I think we’re seeing more and more options available to consumers by virtually every automaker at this point,” he says.
Indeed, CR is currently testing the new Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model 3, which follow the Chevy Bolt, Tesla Model X, and a host of new plug-in hybrids.
Even so, actual sales of EVs remain relatively low. Although sales increased by almost 25 percent between 2016 and 2017, fully electric vehicles remain a paltry 0.05 percent of new car sales overall, according to manufacturer data compiled by CR.
“There’s always a gap between intentions and actual behavior, but we do see a year-over-year increase in actual purchase of EVs,” Brannon says.
Among those who said they plan to purchase an EV, 80 percent cited the environmental benefits as their primary motivator. Two-thirds of would-be EV buyers said that long-term cost savings would influence their purchasing decision, and they cited savings on fuel and the high predicted reliability of electric cars as major selling points.
According to Jake Fisher, CR's director of auto testing, EVs have been shown to be more reliable than cars powered by internal combustion engines. That’s because EVs are inherently less complicated, with fewer moving parts to break.
“For instance, some of the reliability problems we see are with new multispeed transmissions,” Fisher says. “Having a one-speed, direct drive eliminates any of those issues.”
That reliability is already showing in real-world data from CR’s reliability ratings, with high marks for most new EVs. For instance, CR gives high marks to the all-electric Chevy Bolt.
“It’s the most reliable car GM makes, which is especially impressive for a completely new model,” says Anita Lam, CR's associate director of data integration.
More American Drivers Want Electric Cars, AAA Survey Says
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