Modern EVs are outlasting petrol and diesel cars

An international team of researchers have found that recent advances in the technology behind battery electric vehicles has given them a lifespan greater than that of petrol and diesel cars. 

The researchers, from the University of Birmingham, LSE, University of California San Diego, and University of Bern, Switzerland, referred to nearly 300 million UK MOT test records from 2005 and 2022 to estimate vehicle longevity across different powertrains.

They found that while early EVs were less reliable than ICE vehicles, technological advances mean the current crop of zero emission cars will last as least as long as their ICE counterparts and even longer under under more intensive use.

EVs now have an average lifespan of 18.4 years and can travel up to 124,000 miles, surpassing traditional petrol cars.

Furthermore, as each year goes by, the reliability of EVs is increasing faster than that for petrol or diesel cars. For each successive year of production, EVs have a 12% lower likelihood of failure, compared to 6.7% for petrol and 1.9% for diesel vehicles.

Tesla-badged cars were found to have the greatest longevity among EVSs, while Audi was the most reliable petrol car and Skoda the most reliable diesel.

The research concluded: ‘Earlier batches of EVs were not only costly but also offered little environmental benefits given their limited lifespan and use. However, if the trends estimated in this study persist, the total cost of ownership and environmental advantages of upcoming BEV models could far exceed previous estimations.’

Co-author Dr Viet Nguyen-Tien, from the LSE, added: ‘Our findings provide critical insights into the lifespan and environmental impact of electric vehicles. No longer just a niche option, BEVs are a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional vehicles – a significant step towards achieving a net-zero carbon future.’

Co-author Robert Elliott, Professor of Economics at the University of Birmingham, commented: ‘BEVs offer significant environmental benefits, especially as Europe switches to a more renewable energy mix. Despite higher initial emissions from production, a long-lasting electric vehicle can quickly offset its carbon footprint, contributing to the fight against climate change – making them a more sustainable long-term option.

‘Our findings offer consumers reliable data to make informed decisions about their vehicle purchases, whilst policymakers can use our insights to shape regulations and incentives that promote the adoption of durable and environmentally friendly vehicles and plan ahead their end-of-life treatment.’

The research, which can be read here, also touches on fleet replacement strategies and end-of-life treatment planning, including BEV battery recycling and second-life options.