People considering a used electric car with a high odometer reading may want to rethink a familiar concern.
In the U.K., MOT data suggests heavily driven EVs can hold up better than petrol cars with similar usage.
Here's what to know
Roadworthiness data from 47.4 million MOTs suggests that electric cars in the 90,000-to-120,000-mile range fail by about a quarter less often than same-age petrol vehicles, as The Guardian reported.
In New AutoMotive's study for the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, EVs in that mileage bracket posted a 16.5% failure rate, versus 22.1% for petrol cars. The pattern continued above 120,000 miles, where 16% of EVs failed compared with 23.5% of petrol vehicles.
Below those mileage levels, The Guardian noted the difference was far less pronounced.
Toby Poston, chief executive of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, said buyers often put a great deal of weight on mileage, but these findings indicate that assumption can be misleading when applied to EVs.
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"What this data shows is that mileage alone should not put consumers off," Poston told the outlet. "A well-maintained, higher-mileage electric car can be an extremely durable used vehicle."
More background
For many shoppers, mileage has long served as a shorthand for wear. Ben Nelmes, chief executive of New AutoMotive, explained to The Guardian that high mileage "isn't a proxy for poor condition in the way buyers have traditionally assumed." EVs may hold an advantage in this area.
"The data suggests the mechanical simplicity of an electric drivetrain starts to become increasingly valuable as cars accumulate miles," Nelmes added.
The research also highlighted areas where EVs were more likely to run into trouble. Tire defects showed up at nearly twice the rate seen in petrol cars, and older EVs with relatively low mileage had more friction-brake defects, which researchers said was tied to corrosion from the brakes being used less often.
It is also important to remember the limits of the test itself. An MOT covers basic roadworthiness items such as brakes, tires, suspension, steering, and lights. It does not evaluate battery health, battery degradation, or charging performance, which are factors buyers would still need to assess separately in a used EV.
What can be done?
A high mileage figure on its own should not automatically rule out a car. Like any used petrol or diesel model, a used EV still needs a thorough inspection.
That means looking at the vehicle's history, overall condition, tires, and battery health, while treating the MOT as only one part of the decision rather than the whole picture.
"The used market is where the transition to electric becomes accessible to millions more motorists," Poston told The Guardian. "Giving buyers confidence in these cars will be critical to creating a healthy and affordable secondhand EV market."
Where can I learn more?
This isn't the first time high-mileage EVs have surprised when it comes to durability.
• Owners past 100,000 miles say batteries are rarely the problem, even under heavy use.
• Used EVs can easily outlast gas cars on battery health, surprising many analysts.
• Several long-running EV battery examples show how modern packs keep performing into later ownership.
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