A new study highlights the reliability of electric cars, less good than thermal cars, but there is a but!

The American firm JD Power, specialized in data analysis, and which releases every year a highly anticipated study on the most reliable car brands, is back with a new report. This time, it is about comparing the reliability of electric vehicles compared to their thermal counterparts. In fact, we know that the former, with batteries, require less maintenance than the latter, with their internal combustion engine. But is this enough to conclude that they are more reliable? Exactly. The new study by JD Power has challenged this shortcut that we tend to take: while people who own thermal vehicles reported having 180 problems per 100 vehicles, those who drive electric vehicles reported 266, still out of 100.

Smartphones on wheels…with smartphone problems

In any case, this confirms a previous study published just a year ago that rated electric vehicle brands less well than those that sell thermal vehicles. But then, what are the problems encountered by owners of zero-emission vehicles (at the exhaust)? Well, in reality, the new study by JD Power shows that the problems reported have very little to do with the mechanics of electric vehicles themselves, whether it be the engine or the battery. On the other hand, it is the technology that poses a problem… Indeed, Software bugs seem to cause most of the problems on what are often referred to as “smartphones on wheels”. And like a smartphone or a computer, there are bugs. The problem is that these are still annoying enough that owners are, or at least feel, obliged to go back to the garage.

Alerts and connection problems

Whether it’s false alerts about an unfastened seat belt or potential traffic hazards, ranging from a simple “beep” to “phantom” emergency braking, there’s enough to annoy electric vehicle owners. Not to mention touchscreens that cause 30% more problems, or smartphone connection issues, or loss of connection. Knowing that 50% of Apple phone owners and 42% of Samsung owners are attached to accessing the features associated with them in a transparent manner. And therefore, problem-free if possible. “Owners of newer, tech-packed electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are experiencing problems of sufficient severity that they are taking their new vehicle to the dealership at three times the rate of gasoline-powered vehicle owners,” says Frank Hanley, senior director of automotive benchmarking for JD Power.

Results to be put into perspective

While a phone connection problem may seem less serious than a mechanical problem, which perhaps allows us to put the results of this study into perspective, no one should need to be a computer scientist to drive their car (any more than they should be a mechanic), whatever it may be. Beyond prices, autonomy or recharging issues, electric car manufacturers may also have an avenue to explore here so that the transition currently underway towards vehicles presented as cleaner is going better. Because above all, it is the customer who buys the car who makes his own choice, as the slowdown in electric sales and the resurgence in thermal vehicles reminds us.