Consumer Reports On Tesla: "They Are Absolutely The Leader"

The publication has changed its tune on Tesla time and time again, but it says the Model Y underscores Tesla's lead.

Tesla Model 3 charging

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By: EVANNEX

Feb 19, 2020 at 8:06am ET

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EDITOR'S NOTE: This article comes to us courtesy of EVANNEX, which makes and sells aftermarket Tesla accessories. The opinions expressed therein are not necessarily our own at InsideEVs, nor have we been paid by EVANNEX to publish these articles. We find the company's perspective as an aftermarket supplier of Tesla accessories interesting and are happy to share its content free of charge. Enjoy!

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Consumer Reports Admits, The Electric Car Age Has Arrived

As legacy automakers introduce new electric vehicles to market, consumers win. More EV choices for car buyers is certainly better for the end consumer — and the environment. It's no wonder Consumer Reports is celebrating new EV entrants from the likes of "Audi, Jaguar, and Porsche... Hyundai and Kia, and upcoming models from BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Volvo, and Ford’s Mustang Mach-E."

Above: Tesla Model 3 (Image: Tesla)

Yes, more automakers introducing EVs provides more viable options. But there's a catch. Legacy automakers are having trouble keeping up with Tesla. “They are absolutely the leader,” says Jake Fisher, senior director of automotive testing at Consumer Reports (CR). “Through the years, they’ve made multiple changes to their motors and batteries and other things under the skin of their vehicles. This is a continual thing that they do.”

"Tesla’s competitors are coming close to matching the capacity of its battery packs, but they’re falling short of translating that into better range. The Audi E-Tron comes with a 95-kWh battery pack, close to the 100-kWh pack in the long-range version of the Tesla Model X. But the E-tron’s 204 miles of range is only 62 percent of the range of the similarly sized Model X (328 miles). The Porsche Taycan comes with a 93-kWh battery pack but manages only 201 miles of range, compared with 373 for the 100-kWh version of the Model S," adds CR. And Elon Musk recently tweeted that Tesla's long range plus Model S now has an EPA-rated range above 390 miles.

Above: Tesla's Model X (Image: Tesla)

“They’re able to get more miles out of each kilowatt-hour,” says Sam Abuelsamid, an automotive technology analyst with Navigant in Ann Arbor, Michigan. “They have shown the way for EVs.” He notes that the company is using software that maximizes energy regeneration and minimizes battery drain.

According to CR, "It’s not just that Tesla is making good, energy-dense batteries. They are also maximizing efficiency through aerodynamics, reducing weight, and refining equipment. They’re even using a different kind of chip that maximizes the transfer of energy within their vehicles’ electrical systems. It all adds up to lower energy consumption and less charging for consumers."

Above: Tesla's Model S (Image: Tesla)

And don't forget Tesla's vast, proprietary Supercharger network. CR concludes, "Tesla continues to focus on reducing range anxiety, even as competitors emphasize other driving attributes. And it underscores that the appeal of its cars is based on more than the brand’s cachet or the charisma of CEO Elon Musk."

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Source: Consumer Reports

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