For years, electric vehicles have faced skepticism regarding their reliability and longevity compared to gasoline and diesel cars. However, a new scientific study challenges this belief, revealing surprising data that may reshape public perception.
What does the study say?
A team of international researchers analyzed millions of data points on vehicles in circulation in the UK between 2005 and 2022. Their findings indicate that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) not only have a lifespan comparable to internal combustion engine vehicles but, in some cases, even surpass them.
The study reveals that an electric car can cover an average of nearly 200,000 km during its lifetime—more than a gasoline-powered vehicle of the same generation. Additionally, the average lifespan of an EV is approximately 18.4 years, compared to 18.7 years for gasoline cars and 16.8 years for diesel vehicles.
Beyond longevity, the most striking finding concerns reliability. Year after year, electric vehicles are becoming less prone to malfunctions compared to their gasoline and diesel counterparts.
According to the study, each new generation of BEVs sees a 12% reduction in the risk of malfunctions. In contrast, gasoline vehicles improve by only 6.7%, and diesel cars by a mere 1.9%.
A longstanding concern regarding EVs has been battery degradation. However, the data suggests that modern lithium-ion batteries last longer than anticipated, maintaining good capacity even after many years of use.
Economic benefits thanks to lower maintenance costs
From a financial perspective, EVs offer significant savings. The Argonne National Laboratory estimates that the average maintenance cost for an electric vehicle is around €0.03 per km, compared to €0.10 per km for gasoline cars.
This study emerges at a crucial time for the automotive market. While EV adoption is growing especially in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, the transition remains slow in the rest of Europe due to concerns over costs and charging infrastructure availability.
However, these new findings could shift perceptions. If EVs can now last as long as—or even longer than—traditional vehicles while offering economic and environmental benefits, the market could evolve faster than anticipated.
The industry may be on the verge of a major transformation, where BEVs are no longer seen as a niche alternative but as the logical and cost-effective choice for the future of mobility.
