High-mileage electric cars are more reliable than petrol ones, study finds
EVs with 90,000 to 120,000 miles on the clock are more likely to pass MOTs than petrol models of the same age
TL;DR
- EVs are 25% less likely to fail MOT tests than petrol cars between 90,000 and 120,000 miles.
- Beyond 120,000 miles, 16% of EVs failed compared to 23.5% of petrol cars.
- The mechanical simplicity of EV drivetrains contributes to their increased reliability at higher mileages.
- EVs showed nearly twice as many tyre defects as petrol cars.
- Older, low-mileage EVs had increased friction-brake defects due to less frequent use.
- MOT tests do not assess battery health, degradation, or charging performance, which are crucial for used EVs.