What Is The Most Reliable Electric Car?

When you set out to buy a new or used car, you're likely thinking of one thing: what vehicle will last the longest? Getting a reliable electric car can mean the difference between having a car that breaks down in a few months or having usable transportation for years to come. Unfortunately, consumers have several common complaints about electric vehicles; finding one that works well means doing as much research as possible before you buy.

Are Electric Cars More Reliable?

For the most part, electric vehicles should be more reliable than internal combustion engine cars due to their construction. All electric cars don't need nearly as many moving parts as traditional vehicles because their propulsion is fueled entirely by their battery. Because these vehicles lack the numerous components that an internal combustion engine requires, their reliability is primarily determined by their battery quality.

The quality of a lithium-ion battery degrades over time, making it essential to purchase brands with the best batteries possible and to do everything possible to preserve their health. This means using slow charging whenever possible, ensuring your EV battery isn't consistently charged to 100%, and keeping your electric vehicle out of high temperatures. High temperature environments can reduce the range and performance of your car and even cause the cells to fail in some cases.

EV Battery Charging Best Practices?

To check if your battery is staying healthy, you'll want to check the range regularly. While you don't want to charge the EV battery fully all the time, bring it up to 100% once every few months. Record the total range, and compare that number to previous check-ins. No matter what you do, the number will decrease over time; but if you choose a reliable electric car with a high-quality battery, your range should only drop by a small amount during each check-in.

Of course, it's much easier to keep a car running if you do your research beforehand. Getting a vehicle history report can help you find out more information about any available vehicle so you can be sure you're getting a car with an excellent battery. You can also look at highly rated vehicles to see what organizations have deemed the most reliable electric cars on the market.

10 Most Reliable Electric Car Brands

How reliable an EV is will depend on what organization is rating the vehicles and your personal opinion. According to Consumer Reports, the ten most reliable EVs for are:

2022 Porsche Taycan and 2022 Hyundai Kona EV

The Porsche Taycan, the manufacturer's first mass-produced EV, was given an overall score of 61. The Taycan comes in 9 different models with batteries ranging from 79.2 kWh to 93.4 kWh, compatible with a DC fast-charging system; this system can fill a battery in as little as 22 minutes. The base model of the Taycan costs $125,600.

The Hyundai Kona EV, which shares the same chassis as its internal combustion engine counterpart, is one of the highest-selling EVs in the US for 2022. With a score of 61 and a range of 256 miles provided by a 64 kWh battery, the Kona EV comes with a DC fast charging system capable of taking its battery from 10% to 80% in 47 minutes. The base model of the Hyundai Kona EV costs $46,450.

2022 Chevy Bolt

The 2022 Chevrolet Bolt, which was given an overall score of 62, shares the same battery size as the Bolt EUV: 65 kWh. Capable of traveling 259 miles on a single charge, the Chevy Bolt's battery can fill up at a rate of 200 miles per hour (depending on the charge unit's output and vehicle settings.) The base model of the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt costs $38,198.

2022 Chevy Bolt EUV

Consumer reports gave the Chevrolet Bolt an overall rating of 65, despite battery pack issues that caused GM to issue a widespread recall for the vehicle's lithium-ion battery. The Bolt EUV still received a high score due to its utility and high-quality design; very few issues have been reported after the recall. The vehicle features a 65 kWh battery with a range of over 246 miles; with a fast charger, the battery can fill up at a rate of 190 miles per hour. The base model of the 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV costs $40,198.

2022 Nissan Leaf

One of the first electric vehicles to hit the market, the current iteration of the Nissan Leaf received an overall score of 78. With a 40 kWh battery capable of achieving a range of 149 miles, a level 2 charger can fill up the Leaf's battery in 7.5 to 11 hours. The 2022 Nissan Leaf is one of the more reasonably priced EVs on the market, with a starting price of $39,498.

2022 Kia EV6 and 2022 Tesla Model 3

With a shared overall score of 79, the 2022 Kia EV6 and the 2022 Tesla Model 3 tied for their spots in the top 10. The Kia EV6 is built similarly to the Ioniq 5 and features either a 58 kWh or 77.4 kWh battery pack, depending on which you choose. With a range of 310 miles, a fast charger can fill up the EV6's battery in under 20 minutes (or 73 minutes with a 50-kW charger.) The standard price for the EV6 starts at $44,995.

Also receiving a score of 79, the 2022 Tesla Model 3 is one of the best-selling EVs in Canada, beating Kia's Ioniq 5. This updated model features a new 82 kWh battery and a range of 272 miles; the battery can charge at a rate of 198 miles every 15 minutes (when plugged into a supercharger.) The 2022 Tesla Model 3 starts at $61,980.

2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5

The basic version of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which received a score of 80, features a 58 kWh battery capable of propelling the car for nearly 220 miles on a single charge. The upgraded all-wheel-drive model has a 77.4 kWh battery with a range of 257 miles. The Ioniq 5 can go from 10% to 80% charge in 18 minutes when connected to a fast charger and starts at a base price of $47,550.

2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E

The Mach-E, with an overall score of 82, features two battery options, a basic version, 70 kWh, with a range of 229 miles, and an upgraded 91 kWh, with a range of 300 miles. This Ford EV also has excellent acceleration and can go from zero to sixty in under 3.5 seconds. In addition, the vehicle can charge up to 28 miles of range per charging hour and starts at a base price of $51,495.

2022 Kia Niro Electric

Topping the list with a score of 88 is the 2022 Kia Niro Electric, a front-wheel-drive vehicle with a 64 kWh battery powering a front-mounted motor. The vehicle has numerous features, including a standard 10.25-inch touchscreen, in-car navigation, a Harman Kardon sound system, and plenty of interior storage. The Niro Electric has a range of 239 miles and can charge up to 80% in just under an hour (with a fast charger.) This most reliable electric car is also very affordable, starting at $44,995.