Massive UK study finds high-mileage electric cars more durable than petrol

A large study of UK vehicle inspection records finds that electric cars hold up better over time than gas-powered ones, especially at higher mileage. The study used Britain's MOT test, an annual roadworthiness check on brakes, suspension, tires, and exhaust, to see which cars stayed on the road. Early on, gas and electric cars fail at similar rates. But past 40,000 miles, gas cars start failing more often, and the gap grows: by 120,000 miles, gas cars are about 7.5 percentage points more likely to have failed than electric ones.

Electric cars had fewer suspension and brake problems overall, since regenerative braking (using the electric motor to slow the car instead of the brake pads) means less wear on brakes. One exception: electric cars over 10 years old had more brake trouble than gas cars, likely because the brakes sit unused so often that they corrode. Electric cars also wore through tires faster, especially models that were originally designed as gas cars and simply had a battery added, making them heavier than the chassis was built for. Purpose-built electric models fared better on tires.

The study did not track battery health, since that isn't part of the MOT test. A separate, larger study on battery health found EV batteries typically keep about 90% of their capacity even after 90,000 miles. Together, the findings suggest that if you're weighing an electric vehicle for your next car, durability and long-term upkeep look at least as good as, if not better than, a comparable gas model.