EVs more durable at high mileages, says new research

When buying a used car, one of the first questions is how many kilometres it has done.

And with a boom in EVs this year that will increasingly lead to a big second-hand market, how do electric cars perform at high mileage compared to their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts?

According to one of the largest independent surveys ever conducted, EVs appear less likely to fail than ICE vehicles of the same age, when both have more than 100,000km on the odometer.

The British study, commissioned by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, analysed the results of 47.4 million mandatory Ministry of Transport (MOT) tests, done between July 2024 and July 2026.

An analysis of the data by independent transport research group New AutoMotive found little difference between EVs and ICE cars at lower mileages, with failure rates of 11.7% and 12% respectively at 20,000-40,000 miles (32,000-64,000km).

But according to the BVRLA release, “from around 60,000 miles the pattern changes markedly”.

“Rather than continuing to deteriorate as mileage increases, the MOT failure rate for electric cars levels off at approximately 16 per cent, while petrol and diesel failure rates continue climbing,” it said.

In vehicles aged 3-8 years that had done between 90,000 miles (144,800km) and 120,000 miles (193,100km), EVs were about 25 per cent less likely to fail than an ICE car.

EVs maintained that failure rate of about 16 per cent at the 200,000km mark, whereas among ICE vehicles it increased to 23.5 per cent.

The BVRLA said the study was designed to provide large-scale empirical evidence to inform public debate, which had “oscillated between naive claims that electric cars never fail and opposing assertions that battery weight destroys suspension assemblies and eats tyres”.

Battery health not included

The MOT tests covered standard roadworthy items, including brakes, tyres, suspension, steering and lights. The BVRLA pointed out that battery health does not fall under MOT testing, so was not scrutinised.

“This isn’t an argument for buying a used EV without doing your homework,” the BVRLA said.

“Buyers should look at its history, condition, tyres and battery health just as they would scrutinise the engine, gearbox and service history of a petrol or diesel car.

“What we can now challenge is the idea that an electric car with 80,000 or 100,000 miles on the clock should automatically be regarded as worn out. The evidence simply doesn’t support that assumption.”

Why it matters for Australia

Although the information is based on British data, it adds encouraging information for consumers seeking a lower-priced, higher-mileage EV.

Many of the EV models sold in Great Britain are either also offered in Australia directly or share the same structures and technologies with EVs from many other brands sold here.

These include EVs within the wider Hyundai Motor Group, including Kia, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, Volkswagen Group, BMW group, Geely (which owns Volvo, Zeekr and Polestar), the Stellantis group (Fiat/Alfa Romeo, Peugeot/Citroen, Chrysler/Jeep) and Leapmotor.

Other findings

The British research also showed that EVs were almost twice as likely to suffer from tyre defects, especially in models that were based on older vehicle platforms not designed to be solely electric.

On the other hand, despite their generally higher weight due to the traction battery pack (adding from about 200-500kg depending on size), EVs recorded fewer suspension defects (a rate of 4.7 per 100 tests versus 6.1 for petrol equivalents).

Brake failure due to wear and tear was also significantly reduced in higher-mileage EVs that were less than 7 years old, according to the study. Researchers attributed this to regenerative braking, where the EV slows if the driver reduces pressure on the accelerator, so the brakes are needed less often.

But vehicle age was a factor: in EVs of the same mileage but more than ten years old, there were more brake defects than in equivalent ICE cars. This was put down to a lack of regular use causing corrosion on brake components, exacerbated by the region’s wet weather and salt put on roads to help melt snow.

There are many other variables between conditions in Australia and the UK, which Australian consumers should bear in mind if considering buying a used EV. These include geography, climate, road types and infrastructure, that would affect vehicle durability.