A new study has revealed that electric vehicles (EVs) are just as reliable for drivers who have traditional vehicles over a long period of time.
According to the new research battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs) can match the longevity of traditional petrol and diesel cars and vans, marking a key milestone in the shift toward electric.
Published in Nature Energy, the research teams from the University of Birmingham, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), University of California San Diego, and University of Bern in Switzerland revealed that, on average, BEVs now have a lifespan of 18.4 years and can travel up to 124,000 miles.
This is more than the traditional petrol car from the same generation.
The researchers analysed nearly 300 million UK Ministry of Transport (MOT) test records spanning from 2005 to 2022, which track the condition and legality of vehicles on the road.
This data helped estimate vehicle lifespans and provide a comprehensive overview of survival rates for different powertrains.
While it was found that early BEVs were less reliable than internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), advances in technology have resulted newer BEVs reaching comparable lifespans, even under more demanding conditions.
The study showed that BEVs exhibited the fastest improvement in reliability, with a 12% lower likelihood of failure for each successive year of production.
This is compared to 6.7% for petrol vehicles and 1.9% for diesel vehicles.
The study also highlighted the top-performing brands for vehicle longevity, with Tesla leading the way among BEVs. For petrol and diesel vehicles, Audi and Skoda top the list.
