While the used Mini Electric tops this chart, the Tesla Model Y gains the highest socre in the electric SUV reliability chart, and it is the highest scoring pure electric model overall. When it comes to reliability, electric cars are mid-league; those in this chart scored 90.7% last year and 87.7% this year.
Modern EVs are designed to last 15-20 years, comparable to or even longer than traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The key factor in their longevity is the battery. EV batteries are typically considered at the end of their life when they drop below 70 to 80 per cent of their original capacity.
The out-of-pocket cost to replace an electric car battery varies significantly based on different factors, like your vehicle make and model, and whether the EV battery is still under warranty. In general, the price to replace an EV battery no longer under warranty can run anywhere from $5,000 to about $20,000.
What is the best electric car? The best electric car is the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6, with an overall score of 8.7 out of 10. The two best luxury electric cars are the 2025 Lucid Air and the 2025 Tesla Model 3, which both have an overall score of 9.2 out of 10.
Electric car owners do the vast majority of their charging at home, rather than at public charging stations. Charging an electric car will typically add $30 to $60 a month to your utility bill. Electric cars are generally cheaper to fuel and maintain than conventional cars, although they may cost more to buy.
EVs can provide long-term fuel savings
Your actual expense could be higher if your EV has a big battery or your electric rate is higher than average, but it will almost certainly be cheaper than filling a gas tank — even in states where gas prices are lower.
Electric vehicles are not “zero” emissions—they create more emissions than internal combustion engine vehicles when they are produced, and they also cause emissions when they are charged, usually by burning fossil fuels.
Cons of EVs: They Have Limited Driving Ranges
While some EVs have very short ranges on a single charge, others meet or exceed the distance you can drive a gas car on a single tank. When considering EVs with various ranges, it's important to know how many miles you drive daily.
Some disadvantages to electric cars include that they can't travel as far as gas-powered vehicles, you need to find EV charging stations for them, and they incur higher initial costs.
Besides being too expensive for the average buyer, selection is limited in terms of body style, said Corey Cantor, an industry analyst with Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The vast majority are relatively expensive SUVs, and there are few sedans or compact cars for customers who want something different.
CONNECTIVITY: The data suggests that more than half all charging failures come from a station not being able to connect to its network for authentication. Because most EV charging networks use cellular links in their stations, they're subject to the cell-service vagaries we've all suffered.
Suppose you drive about 1,207 miles per month (Americans go an average of about 14,489 miles annually). For an EV, you will use about 402 kWh in that time frame. Using the most recent U.S. household average estimate of 17.01 cents per kWh, charging an electric car at home would cost about $68.62 per month.
In California, charging an electric car is generally cheaper than fueling a traditional gasoline vehicle. With electricity rates often lower than gasoline prices per mile driven, EV owners can enjoy significant cost savings.
After endless "EV slowdown" headlines published this year (which don't tell the whole story), 2025 is bound to turn things around, at least when it comes to the estimated total cost of ownership. According to several industry estimates, EVs will become cheaper to own than gas cars sometime between 2025 and 2026.
Current longevity projections
When it comes strictly down to numbers of miles and years, an EV will likely outlast an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. With regular use, the average lifespan of a gas vehicle is 150,000 miles or eight years, and EVs can last up to 200,000 miles, or about 12 years.
EPA-estimated 320 miles of maximum range
The best-selling electric vehicle in America is the Tesla Model Y, and it's not even close.
While more and more models see some level of electrification, EVs go all the way, getting their power only from a battery that must be recharged to keep them moving. Sometimes referred to as battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), they have at least one electric motor that drives the wheels to get them down the road.
Are EV batteries typically covered by insurance? An electric car insurance policy may help cover the cost of battery repairs resulting from a collision or a different covered incident, such as a fire. However, repairs for routine wear and tear or mechanical breakdowns would not usually be covered by your insurance.
Electric cars use completely different drivetrains, so you will never have to worry about routine oil changes that are necessary for traditional cars. Though your electric car does not need oil, it requires a routine check on these 3 fluids in EVs; coolant, brake fluid, and windshield washing fluid.
Bottom line: the cheapest estimate for an out-of-pocket, uncomplicated battery replacement on the Model S should cost about $12,000-$13,000 for the battery, $100-200 for miscellaneous parts, and $500-600 for labor. This puts the grand total at around $13,000-$14,000 for a full Model S battery replacement.