Tesla is Leading the Pack in Long-Term Maintenance Costs

In the world of electric vehicles (EVs), Tesla name stands out from the rest. A recent study by Consumer Reports has shed light on why this might be the case. The study found that over a decade, Tesla vehicles cost less to maintain than any other brand. On average, Tesla owners spent just $403.50 per year on maintenance, a figure significantly lower than that of other brands.

The Advantages of Electric Vehicles
The findings of the study align with what we already know about EVs. Electric motors and batteries have far fewer moving parts than internal combustion powertrains. This means they require less regular maintenance and have a lower potential for things to break. As a result, EVs tend to be more reliable.

While owners of older Teslas may occasionally need to replace something costly like a battery pack, such instances are rare. In contrast, issues tend to be more common and more expensive in other luxury cars like BMWs.

To arrive at these findings, Consumer Reports asked car owners about their maintenance and repair costs over the last 12 months. They then analyzed the results for vehicles from the 2014 to 2023 model years. This allowed them to estimate maintenance and repair costs for each brand over a five-year and 10-year span.

The Rankings
Following Tesla in the ranking were Buick and Toyota, both tied at $4,900 for 10-year costs. Luxury brands dominated the bottom nine spots, with Land Rover having the highest long-term maintenance cost of $19,250.

The Caveats
It’s important to note that the study does not include other recurring costs like fuel and insurance. It also excludes collision-related repairs, which can be higher for EVs. For instance, Hertz decided to dump a large portion of its Teslas in part because of higher collision-repair costs.

Despite these limitations, the research makes a compelling case for buying an EV, particularly a Tesla. However, due to factors like inflation, ownership costs will likely be higher over the next 10 years than the study suggests. For this reason, consumers should focus more on the ranking than the dollar figures.

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Source: InsideEVs