OtherSurprisingUK22 Sep 20261 min read

A high-mileage electric car may have plenty of life left

A used electric car with 100,000 miles on the clock might have more life left than you expect. New research offers reassurance for drivers considering a second-hand switch.

New AutoMotive analysed 47.4 million MOT tests for the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association. Among cars aged three to eight with 90,000–120,000 miles, 16.5% of electric cars failed, compared with 22.1% of petrol cars: roughly a quarter less likely to fail.

Electric cars’ failure rates levelled off around 60,000 miles, while petrol cars’ rates kept climbing. The researchers suggest simpler electric drivetrains become an advantage as mileage increases.

Among cars aged three to eight with 90,000 to 120,000 miles, 16.5% of electric cars failed their MOT compared with 22.1% of petrol cars — The comparison controls for both age and mileage. Figures concern MOT failures, not every type of fault. Graphic: Good News Gilbert. Evidence source.

There are limits. Government guidance says an MOT does not assess engine, clutch or gearbox condition. This study also leaves battery health unmeasured, and electric cars recorded more tyre defects.

For buyers, the useful lesson is to consider the individual car’s condition, history and battery health. High mileage alone needn’t rule out an electric car, giving people more confidence to consider a used one.