A high-mileage figure may not be the warning sign many used-car buyers expect, with new analysis suggesting electric vehicles (EVs) can become more reliable than petrol cars as the miles build up.
The study, carried out by consultancy New AutoMotive for the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), examined 47.4 million MOT tests. It found that once vehicles had covered between 90,000 and 120,000 miles, EVs had a failure rate of 16.5%, compared with 22.1% for petrol cars of the same age.
Beyond 120,000 miles, the gap remained. Some 16% of EVs failed their MOT, against 23.5% of petrol cars. At lower mileages, however, the difference between the two powertrains was relatively small.
The findings are particularly relevant as increasing numbers of high-mileage electric cars enter the secondhand market. Many have previously operated in company or leasing fleets, meaning they can reach the used market with considerably higher mileages than privately owned cars.
For motorists considering such vehicles, the results challenge the assumption that an EV showing 80,000 or 100,000 miles is necessarily approaching the end of its useful life. The researchers suggest the simpler mechanical layout of an electric drivetrain may become an advantage as vehicles accumulate miles.
There are important qualifications. EVs recorded nearly twice as many tyre defects as petrol cars in the analysis, while older electric cars with relatively low mileage showed more friction-brake defects. The researchers linked this to corrosion caused by brakes being used less frequently.
MOT data also has limits. It assesses statutory roadworthiness, including components such as brakes, tyres, suspension, steering,, and lights, but does not currently assess battery degradation, battery health or charging performance.
For used-car buyers, therefore, an MOT record is only part of the picture. Vehicle history, servicing, physical condition, and an independent assessment of the battery remain important when evaluating a high-mileage EV.
The findings nevertheless add to the evidence that mileage alone may be a poor guide to the condition of a modern electric car, particularly as more former fleet vehicles become available to private buyers.
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