Tesla Owners Log More Miles Per Year Than Other EV Drivers, Study Shows
According to a study conducted by iSeeCars, owners of Tesla vehicles drive significantly more miles per year compared to the owners of rival EVs which could be attributed to the superior range of Tesla vehicles. The study states that the range advantage translates to a Tesla ownership experience that’s more similar to combustion vehicles when it comes to the number of miles driven annually.
How Tesla Fares Against Combustion Cars
The study highlights that while Tesla models perform better in terms of mileage driven per year than other EVs, combustion vehicles in the US market tend to be driven more annually. The study found that EVs would require 440 miles of range on a single charge in order to match gasoline-powered vehicles. Adding 161 miles of range to the average 3-year-old electric car would increase its average range from 279 miles to 440 miles to match gasoline cars.
The Tesla Advantage
The study also reports that Tesla comes the closest to creating a combustion-like driving experience and owner experience compared to its competitors in the EV market. According to Karl Brauer, executive analyst at iSeeCars, “Teslas go further on a single charge than rivals and the brand offers superior public charging compared to the EV competition.”
Models with Highest Annual Mileage
The study states that among the 12 EVs considered, Tesla’s models took the top four spots for annual mileage. The Model X crossover was at No.1 with an average of 10,378 miles, the Model Y crossover was at No. 2 with 10,199 miles, the Model 3 sedan tallied 9,960 miles, and the Model S hatchback traveled with an annual mileage of 9,340 miles. The other models considered were the Hyundai Kona Electric Crossover, Chevrolet Bolt, Audi e-tron Sportback, Jaguar I-Pace, Hyundai Ioniq Electric, Kia Niro EV, Nissan Leaf, and Porsche Taycan.
Factors Affecting EV Driven Miles
iSeeCars states that the number of miles driven among EV owners can be affected by several factors such as a car’s battery range and associated range anxiety. EVs also tend to be used as a second or third vehicle in a household and are used less often for long road trips. When the Teslas were removed from the calculation, the average annual mileage of the remaining eight EVs fell to 6,719 miles annually.
The EV Market Share
Experian registration data from the first quarter of this year shows that EVs captured 7% of the new-vehicle market at 257,507 units, up from a 4.6 percent market share in the year-earlier period. The data also highlights that Tesla had the bulk of the EV market, with about 6 of every 10 registrations.
Barriers to EV Adoption
J.D. Power reports that consumers are still wary of the new technology despite the growing market share of EVs. Barriers include a lack of reliable public charging infrastructure, relatively high purchase prices, and confusing new rules for federal EV incentives.
