Electric vehicles now outperform conventional cars in reliability and longevity, according to University of Birmingham research.
The study analyzed nearly 300 million MOT test records between 2005 and 2022 to assess vehicle durability across the UK fleet.
EVs average 18.4 years of service life and clock 124,000 miles – exceeding typical internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle figures.
While early electric models showed lower reliability, recent technological advances have dramatically improved their performance. EV reliability improved 12% year-over-year, compared to 6.7% for petrol and 1.9% for diesel vehicles.
The research, published in Nature Energy, examined vehicle “survival rates” across different powertrains. Tesla leads EV longevity, while Audi and Skoda top ICE vehicle reliability.
These findings align with vehicle data firm Geotab’s research showing EV batteries maintain usable capacity for at least 20 years.
“BEVs are a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional vehicles – a significant step towards achieving a net-zero carbon future,” said Dr Viet Nguyen-Tien from the London School of Economics.
The international research team included experts from:
- University of Birmingham
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- University of California San Diego
- University of Bern, Switzerland
Professor Robert Elliott of the University of Birmingham noted that despite higher production emissions, EVs quickly offset their carbon footprint through longer service life and increasing renewable energy use.
The study provides concrete data for consumers considering EV purchases and policymakers developing vehicle regulations.
