Electric Cars Outlast Petrol Cars Beyond 60,000 Miles
A major UK study finds electric vehicles maintain reliability as mileage climbs, unlike petrol cars which see failure rates rise sharply.
Key points
- Electric vehicle failure rates stabilize at 16% past 60,000 miles, while petrol cars exceed 23%.
- At age 15, only 5.4% of electric cars are removed from the road, compared to 11.9% for petrol models.
- Electric vehicles record 1.8 times more tyre defects than petrol cars, a specific trade-off noted in the report.
A new analysis of millions of UK vehicle tests reveals electric cars are more durable than petrol models. The study, reported by The Driven IO, examined data from Great Britain. It found that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) hold their reliability better as mileage increases. Petrol cars, by contrast, show rising failure rates over time.
The research was commissioned by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA). Independent researchers at New AutoMotive conducted the study. They aimed to correct common misconceptions about long-term EV reliability. The findings suggest high-mileage electric cars can be a sound used purchase.
Failure rates diverge after 60,000 miles
The study analyzed 47.4 million official safety tests. These occurred between July 2024 and July 2026. For the first 40,000 miles, electric and petrol cars performed similarly. Both groups had failure rates around 12 percent.
However, the gap widens significantly beyond 60,000 miles. Electric vehicle failure rates level off at approximately 16 percent. Petrol and diesel vehicle failure rates climb relentlessly past 23 percent. This indicates electric drivetrains age more gracefully under high usage.
Among vehicles aged three to eight years with 90,000 to 120,000 miles, electric cars fail at 16.5 percent. Petrol vehicles fail at 22 percent, and diesel vehicles at 21 percent. Even past 120,000 miles, the durability gap remains substantial for electric owners.
Older electric cars stay on the road longer
The report also measured how long cars remain in use. At age 15, only 5.4 percent of electric vehicles have been removed from the road. For petrol vehicles, this exit rate is 11.9 percent. This means older electric cars stay on the road at double the rate of combustion engines.
Researchers also compared identical vehicle bodies available in both electric and petrol versions. In these twin-model tests, electric drivetrains won five out of nine comparisons. They tied in three and lost only one. This suggests the core design is not the weakness.
Tyre defects remain a notable weak point
The study debunked the myth that heavier electric cars suffer worse suspension problems. In fact, electric suspension defect rates are at or below petrol levels. However, electric vehicles recorded approximately 1.8 times as many tyre defects as petrol cars.
This tyre issue is particularly pronounced in earlier electric models. These were often adapted from platforms designed for combustion engines. Regenerative braking also complicates brake durability assessments. High-mileage electric cars generally experience fewer brake defects than their petrol counterparts.
