Electric cars with significant miles on the clock are significantly less likely to fail their MOT than their petrol equivalents, according to new analysis of 47.4 million MOTs.
There is little difference between electric and petrol cars at lower mileages, once both vehicle age and mileage are taken into account, suggests the research commissioned by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA).
Between 20,000 and 40,000 miles, one-in-eight battery electric vehicles (12%) failed their MOT compared with 11.7% of petrol cars.
The study, conducted by New AutoMotive, discovered that the MOT failure rate for an electric car slows when compared to petrol from around 60,000 miles.
In fact, the MOT failure rate for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) levels off at approximately 16%, while petrol and diesel failure rates continue climbing.
For cars aged three to eight years, with mileages from 90,000 to 120,000 miles, one-in-six electric cars (16.5%) failed their MOT compared with almost one-in-four petrol cars (22.2%). It suggests that electric cars are around 25% less likely to fail their MOT within that age/mileage profile.
Above 120,000 miles, the gap grows further, with a 16% failure rate for EVs compared with 23.5% for petrol.
Toby Poston, chief executive at the BVRLA, said: “Mileage has always been one of the first things people look at when buying a used car, and passing 60,000 or 70,000 miles can have a big impact on how a vehicle is perceived.
“This research suggests we need to think differently when it comes to electric vehicles.”
He explained: “Many of the EVs now entering the used market have had their first life in company and leasing fleets and have already covered substantial mileage.
“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. That matters because the used market is where the transition to electric becomes accessible to millions more motorists.”
