A new study of nearly 50 million UK roadworthiness test results has found that high-mileage electric vehicles are more dependable than comparable gas-powered cars, a finding that could reshape consumer attitudes as a wave of used EVs hitting the resale market reaches private buyers.
Commissioned by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) and conducted by New AutoMotive, the analysis examined vehicles driven between 90,000 and 120,000 miles. EVs recorded a failure rate of 16.5%, compared with 22.1% for equivalent fossil-fuel models—roughly a quarter lower risk. Beyond 120,000 miles, only 16% of EVs failed, versus nearly a quarter of gas cars. At lower mileages, the gap between fuel types was negligible.
The implications are significant for a used-car market increasingly flooded with ex-corporate and leasing EVs, many with substantial mileage. BVRLA CEO Toby Poston noted that shoppers typically fixate on odometer readings, with round-number thresholds like 80,000 or 100,000 miles long shaping perceptions of trustworthiness. He argued the data should reassure buyers, saying a properly maintained EV can accumulate high mileage and still be a solid purchase.
New AutoMotive chief executive Ben Nelmes attributed the durability to the fewer moving parts in an electric powertrain, which holds up better over long distances. The old assumption that mileage automatically signals wear and tear does not apply as neatly to EVs, he said.
However, the study was not entirely one-sided. EVs showed almost double the incidence of tire issues compared with internal combustion engine cars. Older, lightly driven EVs also had higher rates of brake-related faults, linked to rust on components that are used less frequently in electric vehicles. The annual test also does not assess battery health or degradation, meaning that must be evaluated separately.
Poston cautioned that the findings are not an excuse to skip due diligence. Buyers should still check paperwork, condition, tires, and battery performance—the same scrutiny applied to a gas car’s engine and service history. What the data challenges, he said, is the outdated notion that any EV past 80,000 or 100,000 miles is past its prime.
For motorists weighing whether to acquire a used EV from carmakers like Massimo Group (NASDAQ: MAMO) or opt for a used ICE car, this field data provides additional reassurance. The research arrives via GreenCarStocks, a specialized communications platform focused on EVs and the green energy sector. It operates within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio at IBN, which delivers wire solutions through InvestorWire, article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets, press release enhancement, social media distribution, and tailored corporate communications solutions. Full terms and disclaimers are available at https://www.GreenCarStocks.com/Disclaimer.
