47.4 million inspection records analyzed: Electric cars fail less often than gasoline cars at high mileage

A comprehensive dataset from the UK has been added to the debate on how durable electric cars are at high mileage. In a study commissioned by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) and conducted by New AutoMotive, 47.4 million MOT inspection records were analyzed.

According to the research, the inspection performance of electric and gasoline cars is quite similar at low mileages. However, as the mileage increases, the picture changes in favor of electric cars. Especially after 60,000 miles, or approximately 96,000 kilometers, the failure rate of electric vehicles in inspections stabilizes at a lower level, while the failure rate for gasoline and diesel vehicles continues to rise.

THE DIFFERENCE BECOMES APPARENT AFTER 100,000 KILOMETERS

Among vehicles in the 20,000 to 40,000-mile range, 12 percent of electric models failed the MOT test, while this rate was measured at 11.7 percent for gasoline cars. No significant divergence was observed between the two groups in this range.

At higher mileages, the gap widened. Among vehicles aged three to eight years with between 90,000 and 120,000 miles, 16.5 percent of electric cars failed the inspection. The failure rate for gasoline cars in the same group rose to 22.1 percent.

A similar trend continued for vehicles over 120,000 miles, or approximately 193,000 kilometers. While the failure rate for electric cars remained at the 16 percent level, this rate reached 23.5 percent for gasoline vehicles. According to the study, the MOT test failure rate for gasoline cars in this mileage group is approximately 47 percent higher compared to electric ones.

The study also looked at the tendency of older electric cars to remain on the road. 94.6 percent of 15-year-old electric cars underwent an MOT test again within 30 months after their previous inspection. The same rate was recorded as 88.1 percent for gasoline cars. However, researchers note that it cannot be concluded that every vehicle missing from inspection records has been scrapped; exports, temporary withdrawal from traffic, or other reasons may also be factors.

TIRES ARE A STANDOUT WEAK POINT

The data does not mean that electric cars have fewer problems in every area. The study found approximately 1.8 times more tire defects in electric vehicles compared to gasoline cars. It was stated that this difference is more pronounced in older electric models converted from internal combustion engine platforms.

In contrast, no evidence was found that the higher weight of electric vehicles creates a similar negative impact on the suspension. While 4.7 suspension defects were seen per 100 inspections in electric cars in the 60,000 to 90,000-mile range, this number was 6.1 for gasoline cars.

For brakes, a mixed picture emerged depending on usage habits. Thanks to regenerative braking, fewer brake problems were seen in high-mileage electric cars. However, it was noted that corrosion problems increased in older and less-used electric vehicles because the physical brakes are engaged less frequently.

An important limitation of the study is that battery health is not measured in MOT tests. The records examined cover roadworthiness headings such as brakes, tires, suspension, steering, and lighting; battery capacity, cell degradation, charging performance, software issues, and warranty-covered repairs are not included in this data.

Therefore, the study does not conclude that every high-mileage electric car is problem-free. However, the findings indicate that mileage alone is not enough to show that a second-hand electric car is in poor condition.