Conventional wisdom says to steer clear of high-mileage cars. New research suggests that rule may not apply to electric vehicles.
A study commissioned by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) and carried out by independent research group New AutoMotive analysed 47.4 million official MOT records to see how electric cars hold up as they age and clock up miles.
What the data shows
At lower mileages, there's very little difference: between 20,000 and 40,000 miles, 12.0% of EVs failed their MOT, compared with 11.7% of petrol cars. As miles build up, the picture changes. From around 60,000 miles, EV failure rates level off at about 16%, while petrol and diesel failure rates keep rising.
In the 90,000 to 120,000-mile band, 16.5% of EVs failed versus 22.1% of petrol cars, making EVs around 25% less likely to fail. Above 120,000 miles, the gap widens further, with a 16.0% failure rate for EVs compared with 23.5% for petrol.
The main reason is simplicity. An EV has no engine, exhaust or conventional gearbox, so there are fewer mechanical parts to wear out.
What to watch for
EVs aren't trouble-free. Tyre defects were recorded at around 1.8 times the petrol car rate, likely due to their extra weight and instant power. Older, low-mileage EVs also showed more brake problems, which researchers linked to corrosion because the conventional brakes are used less often thanks to regenerative braking.
The MOT also doesn't currently check battery health, so that's worth checking separately.
The MPH view
As proud members of the BVRLA, we welcome this research. It challenges one of the oldest rules of car buying. If you're considering a used EV, ask for a battery health report, check the service history, and look closely at the tyres and brakes. If you'd rather avoid the risk altogether, a new EV on a lease comes with a full manufacturer warranty.
Thinking about going electric? Talk to the team at MPH Vehicle Solutions. 01242 500 007
Source: BVRLA
