Electric vehicles now as reliable and durable as petrol and diesel cars, study finds

Researchers analyzed nearly 300 million UK vehicle inspection records from 2005 to 2022, finding that the reliability of electric cars has improved rapidly.

 Electric vehicles now as reliable and durable as petrol and diesel cars, study finds. (photo credit: Paul Maguire. Via Shutterstock)
Electric vehicles now as reliable and durable as petrol and diesel cars, study finds.
(photo credit: Paul Maguire. Via Shutterstock)

A recent comprehensive study revealed that modern electric vehicles are now as durable and reliable as traditional petrol and diesel cars. According to the research, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) now have an average lifespan of 18.4 years, matching that of their internal combustion engine counterparts.

The study, published in the journal Nature Energy, analyzed nearly 300 million records from the UK Department for Transport, reviewing vehicle inspection data from 2005 to 2022 to assess the durability and longevity of electric cars over time. According to The Guardian, the research was conducted by a team from the University of Birmingham, the London School of Economics and Political Science, the University of California San Diego, and the University of Bern.

“Battery electric vehicles offer significant environmental benefits, especially as Europe shifts to a more renewable energy mix. Despite higher initial production emissions, a long-lasting electric vehicle can quickly offset its carbon footprint, contributing to the fight against climate change, making it a more sustainable long-term option,” said Robert Elliott, a co-author and Professor of Economics at the University of Birmingham.

The study found that the likelihood of a technological failure in electric cars fell by an average of 12 percent per year, compared to 6.7 percent for petrol cars and 1.9 percent for diesel cars. This indicates that electric vehicles are becoming more reliable at a faster rate than traditional vehicles.

“Our findings provide a critical insight into the lifespan and environmental impact of electric vehicles. They are no longer just a niche option; battery electric vehicles are a viable alternative to traditional vehicles and an important step towards achieving a zero-carbon future,” said Dr. Viet Nguyen-Tien of the London School of Economics and Political Science, according to Auto Express.

The study reveals that modern battery electric vehicles can travel up to 200,000 kilometers, surpassing the mileage of traditional gasoline cars, which average around 187,000 kilometers. Diesel vehicles, however, accumulated the most average kilometers at 257,000.

Despite concerns over reliability, Tesla's electric cars were found to be the top-performing electric vehicles in terms of longevity, leading among battery electric vehicles with the longest expected lifespan.

The researchers discovered that electric cars have a faster improvement in reliability, with contemporary battery electric vehicles showing fewer faults than before. The likelihood of a technological failure in electric cars decreased by 12% per year, which shows the rapid advancement in electric vehicle technology.

Although early battery electric vehicles were less reliable than internal combustion engine vehicles, rapid technological advances have allowed new electric cars to achieve comparable lifespans, with a mean projected lifespan of around 18.4 years. This marks an improvement in the reliability and longevity of electric vehicles.

“Electric cars and the batteries, they're just living longer, and the technology is improving, and it would have improved again since this study,” said Elliott, according to New Scientist.


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Data on electric car reliability has been limited because the earliest mass-market electric cars are only just reaching the end of their lives.

The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.