A groundbreaking study by London School of Economics and University of Birmingham has revealed that modern battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs) are now just as durable as traditional petrol and diesel cars, marking a major shift in sustainable transport.
Analysing nearly 300 million MOT test records from 2005 to 2022, researchers tracked vehicle longevity across various powertrains. While early BEVs lagged behind internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in reliability, rapid advancements have seen them catch up, even in high-mileage use.
The study found BEVs showed the fastest reliability improvements, with a 12% lower failure risk per production year, compared to 6.7% for petrol and 1.9% for diesel. On average, BEVs now last 18.4 years, covering up to 124,000 miles, outpacing petrol models in mileage.
Among manufacturers, Tesla leads in BEV longevity, while Audi and Skoda top petrol and diesel categories.
Dr Viet Nguyen-Tien from LSE said: “BEVs are no longer a niche alternative – they are a durable, sustainable transport solution.” Professor Robert Elliott added that their longevity helps offset higher production emissions, strengthening their role in the fight against climate change.
