A new study analyzing nearly 50 million UK roadworthiness test results has found that high-mileage electric vehicles are more dependable than comparable gasoline-powered cars. The research, conducted by New AutoMotive on behalf of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), examined vehicles with 90,000 to 120,000 miles on the odometer. EVs recorded a failure rate of 16.5%, while fossil-fuel models failed at a rate of 22.1%—meaning electric cars were roughly 25% less likely to fail at that stage. The pattern persisted beyond 120,000 miles, with only 16% of EVs failing compared to nearly a quarter of gas cars. For lower-mileage vehicles, the gap between the two fuel types was negligible.
The findings arrive as a growing wave of used EVs is hitting the resale market, driven largely by former corporate and leasing vehicles that often carry substantial mileage. BVRLA CEO Toby Poston noted that shoppers typically focus on odometer readings when evaluating a used car, and certain round-number thresholds have long influenced perceptions of a vehicle's trustworthiness. He argued that the new data should reassure rather than deter buyers, emphasizing that a properly maintained EV can accumulate serious mileage and still be a solid used purchase. New AutoMotive chief executive Ben Nelmes echoed that view, saying the old assumption that high mileage automatically signals excessive wear and tear does not apply as neatly to electric cars. He attributed this to the fewer moving parts in an EV powertrain, which tend to hold up better over long distances.
However, the study was not entirely favorable to EVs. Electric vehicles showed almost double the incidence of tire issues compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. Older, lightly driven EVs also exhibited higher rates of brake-related faults, which researchers linked to rust accumulating on components that are used less frequently in electric vehicles. Additionally, the annual roadworthiness test does not assess battery health or degradation over time, meaning that information must be evaluated separately from the mechanical results.
Poston cautioned that the findings are not a reason to skip due diligence. Prospective buyers should still check a used EV's paperwork, condition, tires, and battery performance—the same scrutiny they would apply to a gas car's engine and service history. What the data does challenge, he said, is the outdated notion that any EV exceeding 80,000 or 100,000 miles should be considered past its prime.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 real-world data provides additional reassurance. As the used EV market expands, such evidence could play a key role in shifting consumer perceptions and supporting the transition to electric mobility.
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