It’s official: Electric cars last 18 years on average, matching a typical petrol or diesel for longevity

January 28, 2025January 28, 2025 John Mahoney 2593 Views 0 Comments Audi, EV lifespan, Skoda, Tesla

A fresh probe into electric cars longevity has found that battery-electric vehicles are lasting as long as a typical petrol or diesel, with many already judged more reliable than their combustion-powered equivalent.

And surprise, surprise, global leader Tesla is the EV brand leading the way.

As part of the research, carried out by the University of Birmingham and the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of California San Diego and University of Bern, more than 300 million records were crunched involving more than 30 million cars.

Relying on British MOT annual roadworthy test data recorded from 2005 until 2022, the two universities investigated when a vehicle was scrapped and what powertrain each one used.

The results were enlightening, suggesting early EVs initially struggled to match their combustion-powered counterparts for longevity but as more advanced EVs were introduced reliability rapidly improved.

One of the most surprising findings were that for every year of production of an average EV, the likelihood of failure dropped by a significant 12 per cent – far higher than the 6.7 per cent improvement for a petrol or 1.9 per cent boost for a diesel.

Researchers concluded that from its data a current-generation EV is now on track to last 18.4 years and cover at least 200,000km before it is pensioned off.

An average petrol car, meanwhile, should remain in use for 18.7 years but is expected to travel only 187,000km.

Diesels, on the other hand, should last only 16.3 years but the investigation found that during its life it will be driven considerably further (410,000km) before its final trip to the scrapyard.

But hybrids/plug-in hybrids topped the lot with a 25-year estimate and 337,000 kilometres.

As well as longevity, the extensive research found that the top-performing most reliable EV brand was Tesla, followed by Nissan, Volkswagen, Kia and BMW.

The combustion vehicles that lived longest were made by either Audi (petrol) or Skoda (diesel).

Nissan Leaf update for MY22 — Nissan Leaf.

The top hybrid and plug-in hybrid brand was Toyota, followed by Honda, Hyundai, Kia and Lexus.

Despite the good news for electric car owners both universities acknowledge that’s it’s unknown how well the latest most advanced electric vehicle technology will fare.

Dr Viet Nguyen-Tien from the LSE, said: “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.”

Professor of Economics at the University of Birmingham Robert Elliott acknowledge that while an EV initially had a higher manufacturing carbon footprint, “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”, said Elliott.