American electric automaker Tesla astounds the industry with another achievement: it had taken the top four spots in iSeeCars’ latest survey list, for top twelve highest-driven EVs annually.
Survey results
The Tesla Model X dominated the survey rankings with 10,738 miles driven per year. The Model Y closely followed it with 10,199 miles. Meanwhile, the Model 3 and S landed 3rd and 4th spots with 9,960 miles and 9,340 miles driven per year, respectively.
Based on the results, EV drivers nowadays seem to favor bigger cabins, as the top two Tesla models were an SUV and a crossover.
It is also interesting to note that Tesla’s most popular Model Y and 3 failed to out-mile the more expensive Model X.
The Hyundai Kona is ranked fifth overall (8,260), followed by the Chevrolet Bolt in sixth place (7,753) and the Audi e-tron Sportback in seventh place (7,210).
The Most Driven 3-Year-Old Electric Vehicles – iSeeCars.com Study
| Rank | Model | Avg. Miles Driven Per Year | Avg. EPA Battery Range (miles) | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesla Model X | 10,378 | 341 | $76,193 |
| 2 | Tesla Model Y | 10,199 | 316 | $49,406 |
| 3 | Tesla Model 3 | 9,960 | 279 | $37,909 |
| 4 | Tesla Model S | 9,340 | 378 | $66,105 |
| – | 3-year-old EV average | 9,059 | 279 | $45,147 |
| 5 | Hyundai Kona Electric | 8,260 | 258 | $29,961 |
| 6 | Chevrolet Bolt EV | 7,753 | 259 | $25,928 |
| 7 | Audi e-tron Sportback | 7,210 | 218 | $53,602 |
| 8 | Jaguar I-PACE | 6,910 | 240 | $51,090 |
| 9 | Hyundai Ioniq Electric | 6,803 | 170 | $24,748 |
| 10 | Kia Niro EV | 6,630 | 239 | $32,301 |
| 11 | Nissan LEAF | 6,395 | 190 | $25,917 |
| 12 | Porsche Taycan | 4,846 | 226 | $117,484 |
With only 4,846 miles traveled annually, the Porsche Taycan ranked 12th in the poll as the least-driven EV. Nonetheless, it is reasonable, given that the Taycan costs an average of $117,484. For long distances, many individuals wouldn’t drive a vehicle this sporty.
The real deciding element, though, does not seem to be cabin size but rather the range.
“Range anxiety continues to impact how consumers utilize their EVs. Looking at 3-year-old electric cars, we see EV owners willing to drive an additional 23 miles per year for every additional mile of range their vehicle offers. That means EVs, on average, need an additional 161 miles of range to get them to the 12,578-mile annual driving distance we see from traditional, gasoline-powered vehicles.”
Analyst Karl Brauer
Apart from that, the results were also affected by the overall infrastructure.
Internal combustion engine vehicles have numerous options for refueling. In contrast, EV infrastructures are still currently limited.
Tesla owners benefit from the most developed infrastructure for EV charging. The vast majority—more than 99%—of chargers in the United States are designated for Tesla users. It offers Tesla owners a significant advantage, which appears to be the main element in this study.
“In a gasoline car, regardless of how far you’re going, there are always plenty of refueling options, and the process takes five to ten minutes. Until EVs can offer that level of convenience at a comparable cost, they will be at a distinct disadvantage in terms of use and market demand.”
Analyst Karl Brauer
All that said, Tesla can provide the most comparable experience regarding recharging or “refueling,” which is perhaps why it once again led the survey.
“Tesla drivers come the closest to matching the driving behavior of traditional car owners. Without Tesla, the average miles per year for EV drivers would drop from 9,059 to 6,719. It’s also interesting to see the Porsche Taycan, a direct competitor to the Model S, being the least-driven electric car.”
Analyst Karl Brauer
See Also:
- Tesla Model Y leads the Chinese all-electric SUV market in March
- Tesla Model 3 is the “most sought-after EV” around the globe
- Tesla Model Y persists in dominating China’s SUV market in Q1 2023
- Norway: Plug-in EV market grew 18% YoY in March 2023, Tesla Model Y leads
- Tesla Model 3 has the highest used car discount
From January through mid-May 2023, iSeeCars.com evaluated more than 860,000 used vehicles from the model year 2020. All-electric vehicles (EVs) were examined independently of gas-powered vehicles. Unsurprisingly, Tesla’s S3XY lineup dominated the four-highest spot in the rankings, given its brand reputation and enormous charging infrastructure.
