UK Study: Electric Cars Outlast Petrol Rivals at 120k Miles

A large-scale analysis of UK vehicle data has settled a long-running debate about electric car longevity. By examining millions of annual roadworthiness tests, researchers found that electric vehicles (EVs) stay on the road longer than their petrol counterparts, with the reliability gap widening significantly as mileage increases.

Skepticism about EV durability has persisted due to the technology's relative novelty, despite the fact that modern electric cars have been in use for nearly two decades. This new evidence suggests that concerns about long-term mechanical failure are overstated, particularly when comparing vehicles with similar lifetime distances.

Reliability gap widens with mileage

In the early years of ownership, failure rates for EVs and petrol cars are nearly identical. However, once vehicles pass the 40,000-mile mark, petrol cars begin to fail at a higher rate. By the time a vehicle reaches 120,000 miles, petrol models are 7.5% more likely to have dropped out of the test population compared to electric models.

This trend holds true even when accounting for age, as EVs tend to accumulate more annual miles than petrol cars. The study indicates that the fewer moving parts in an electric drivetrain contribute to this improved long-term durability, countering the fear that new technology is inherently less robust.

Tire wear remains a key trade-off

While EVs show superior overall reliability, they do exhibit significantly higher tire wear than petrol vehicles. This is largely attributed to the extra weight of the battery pack and the instant torque delivery of electric motors. The study notes that this issue is particularly pronounced in multi-powertrain vehicles, such as the VW Golf, where the chassis was not originally designed to support the added mass of a battery.

Purpose-built electric vehicles, like the BMW i3, show less extreme tire wear compared to these hybrid platforms. Nevertheless, tire replacement remains a more frequent maintenance cost for EV owners, serving as the primary trade-off for the gains in mechanical reliability.

Brake maintenance requires specific attention

Regenerative braking reduces wear on friction brakes in most EVs, leading to fewer brake-related issues than petrol cars. However, the data reveals a catch for older vehicles: electric cars over ten years old experienced higher brake failure rates than their petrol equivalents.

Researchers attribute this to corrosion caused by the underuse of traditional brake components. To mitigate this, EV drivers are advised to occasionally engage friction brakes to prevent rust. Additionally, while the study did not track battery health, other recent data suggests batteries retain about 90% of their capacity after 90,000 miles, supporting the overall durability narrative reported by Electrek.