A high mileage often puts buyers off purchasing a used car, but when it comes to electric vehicles, it may be time to adopt new evaluation criteria. An analysis conducted by NewAutoMotive on behalf of trade association Bvrla covering 47.4 million MOT tests found relatively small differences between electric cars and petrol cars at lower mileages, once vehicle age and distance travelled were taken into account. However, at higher mileages the picture changes.

Electric cars outperform petrol cars at high mileages

Among vehicles aged between three and eight years with mileages between approximately 90,000 and 120,000 miles, the probability of electric vehicles failing their MOT was found to be around 25 per cent lower than for equivalent petrol cars. Beyond 120,000 miles, the failure rate was 16 per cent for electric vehicles, compared with 23.5 per cent for petrol cars.

"Mileage is one of the first things people look at when buying a used car; crossing the 100,000-kilometre mark can significantly affect perceptions of a vehicle," said Toby Poston, chief executive of Bvrla. "What this data shows is that mileage alone should not put consumers off. A high-mileage electric car that has been well maintained can prove to be an extremely durable used vehicle."

The used market is boosting the accessibility of electric cars

"This is an important point, because it is precisely in the used market that the switch to electric becomes accessible to millions of other drivers. Building buyer confidence in these cars will be crucial to creating a healthy and affordable used electric market," said Ben Nelmes, chief executive of New AutoMotive. "High mileage is not an indicator of poor vehicle condition in the way buyers have traditionally assumed. The data suggests that the mechanical simplicity of the electric drivetrain becomes an ever greater asset as cars accumulate miles."

High mileage is not automatically synonymous with wear

This does not mean that high-mileage electric vehicles are superior in every respect. The research did in fact find a higher number of tyre defects in electric cars, while finding no evidence that their greater weight translates into more serious suspension problems. In addition, older electric models with low mileage showed a higher incidence of friction brake defects. The researchers attributed this latter phenomenon to corrosion caused by less frequent use of the braking system.

It should also be noted that the MOT certifies roadworthiness, but provides no information on battery health, its degradation or charging performance. Easier access to reliable information on battery condition remains essential to building buyer confidence. When buying a used electric car, it is therefore necessary to assess its history, overall condition, tyres and battery state, just as one would examine the engine, gearbox and service history of an internal combustion vehicle. What can be called into question is the assumption that a high mileage automatically means an electric car is worn out.