Should you buy a used electric car? New MOT data suggests you should
Car changing is a big deal
An analysis of MOT data suggests electric cars may become more reliable than petrol ones as the miles pile up – disputing a long-held used car rule.
An analysis of 47.4 million UK MOT tests suggests that electric cars become less likely to fail their MOT than petrol equivalents as mileage rises.
The research, commissioned by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) and carried out by the independent transport research organisation New AutoMotive, looked at official DVSA MOT records to examine how EVs perform as they get older and rack up more miles.
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EVs become more durable at higher mileages
The study found that at lower mileage, there’s little difference between electric and petrol cars once their age is taken into account.
Between 20,000 and 40,000 miles, 12% of EVs failed their MOT, compared with 11.7% of petrol cars.
From around 60,000 miles, however, the gap widens. EV failure rates level off at 16%, while petrol car failures continue to increase.
Among three- to eight-year-old cars with 90,000 to 120,000 miles on the clock, 16.5% of EVs failed their MOT, compared with 22.1% of petrol cars. Above 120,00 miles, the figures were 16% and 23.5% respectively.
Toby Poston, chief executive of the BVRLA, said: “What this data shows is that mileage alone should not put consumers off. A well-maintained, higher-mileage electric car can be an extremely durable used vehicle.”
Older EVs are staying on the road
The research also found that petrol cars don’t last as long as electric cars.
At age 15, 94.6% of electric cars returned for another MOT, compared with 88.1% of petrol cars.
Of those that did not return for another MOT, the numbers include vehicles that have been scrapped, exported or declared SORN, so the study doesn’t claim that all vehicles which disappear from the MOT dataset have been scrapped.
EVs also recorded higher median annual mileages than petrol cars at every age between four and 16 years old. At age 12, the median was around 4,920 miles a year for EVs, compared with 4,410 miles for petrol cars.
Electric cars still have some weak spots
EVs recorded around 1.8 times as many tyre defects as petrol cars across the dataset. The issue was particularly noticeable among some earlier electric cars based on combustion engine platforms.
The research found no evidence that the extra weight of EVs leads to more suspension problems. Between 60,000 and 90,000 miles, electric cars recorded 4.7 suspension defects per 100 MOT test, compared with 6.1 for petrol cars.
Brake defects were less common among high-mileage EVs, potentially because regenerative braking reduces use of conventional friction brakes. However, the analysis found that older, low mileage EVs had more friction-brake defects, which researchers suggest could be linked to corrosion from infrequent use.
Battery health is still important
The new MOT data only tells part of the story when buying a used electric car.
An MOT checks roadworthiness, including brakes, tyres, suspension, steering and lights, but does not measure battery health, capacity loss or charging performance.
The researchers say battery health information should be considered along with mechanical roadworthiness when assessing an individual used electric car.
Poston added: “This isn’t an argument for buying a used EV without doing your homework. Buyers should look at its history, condition, tyres and battery health just as they would scrutinise the engine, gearbox and service history of a petrol or diesel car.
“What we can now challenge is the idea that an electric car with 80,000 or 100,000 miles on the clock should automatically be regarded as worn out. The evidence simply doesn’t support that assumption.”
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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