High-Mileage Electric Vehicles Prove More Reliable Than Petrol Cars, Study Finds
High-mileage electric vehicles in the UK are less likely to fail the mandatory roadworthiness test than petrol cars of comparable age and mileage, according to a study based on 47.4 million MOT test records.
The study was conducted by consulting firm New AutoMotive on behalf of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA). Analysts compared cars of the same age and similar mileage to exclude the effect that the EV fleet is, on average, significantly younger than the petrol fleet.
At low mileages, virtually no significant difference was found. However, after 90,000 miles—about 145,000 km—the indicators began to diverge noticeably.
Among cars with mileage between 90,000 and 120,000 miles, or roughly 145,000 to 193,000 km, 16.5% of EVs failed their MOT, compared with 22.1% of petrol cars of the same age. Thus, in this category, EVs were about a quarter less likely to fail the test.
After 120,000 miles, the gap was even larger: about 16% of EVs failed the test, compared with 23.5% of petrol cars.
The authors attribute the result, among other things, to the simpler design of electric powertrains. An electric car has no internal combustion engine, exhaust system, or conventional gearbox, so as mileage increases, there are fewer mechanical components that can wear out.
However, the results do not mean that EVs require less attention in all respects. The study found they have almost twice as many tire defects as petrol cars. This may be due to the greater mass of EVs and their high torque.
Some electric vehicles also more often showed problems with friction brakes. Because of regenerative braking, conventional brake mechanisms are used less frequently, which under certain conditions can promote corrosion.
The study also has an important limitation. The UK's MOT test checks brakes, suspension, steering, tires, lighting, and other vehicle safety elements, but does not assess the traction battery condition, its state of degradation, or charging speed.
Therefore, the study's results characterize the general technical condition and roadworthiness of vehicles better than battery longevity. When buying a used EV, BVRLA recommends separately checking the battery health, service history, tires, and the car’s overall condition.
The study gains particular relevance amid the growth of the used EV market. Many cars entering the market after corporate leases already have high mileage, and buyers traditionally view 80–100 thousand miles as a sign that a car is nearing the end of its service life. The new data show that for EVs, such an approach may be oversimplified.
Based on materials from: The Guardian, The Telegraph
