High-Mileage EVs Show Lower MOT Failure Rates Than Petrol
A UK study of 47.4 million MOT records finds electric vehicles are about 25% less likely to fail at high mileage than gasoline cars.
Electric vehicles have a lower MOT failure rate than petrol and diesel cars at high mileage, according to an analysis of 47.4 million UK vehicle inspections. The research, commissioned by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) and conducted by transport consultancy New AutoMotive, provides the largest-ever real-world comparison of EV and internal combustion engine reliability.
At around 60,000 miles, the EV failure rate levels off at about 16%. In contrast, gasoline and diesel vehicle failure rates continue to climb beyond that point. Among vehicles with 90,000 to 120,000 miles, 16.5% of EVs failed their MOT compared to 22.1% of gasoline cars, making EVs about 25% less likely to fail. For vehicles over 120,000 miles, the EV failure rate held steady near 16%, while the rate for combustion-powered cars rose to 23.5%.
| Mileage Range (miles) | Mileage Range (km) | EV Failure Rate | ICE Failure Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20,000 - 40,000 | 32,180 - 64,370 | 12.0% | 11.7% |
| 90,000 - 120,000 | 145,000 - 193,000 | 16.5% | 22.1% |
| Over 120,000 | Over 193,000 | 16.0% | 23.5% |
The study focused on vehicles aged between three and eight years old. Ben Nelmes, chief executive at New AutoMotive, noted that comparing vehicles by age alone is misleading because EVs in the dataset tend to be younger but accumulate higher mileage than their ICE counterparts.
Tire wear and brake corrosion emerge as key EV-specific issues
While EVs suffer more tire defects and occasional brake problems from disuse, they avoid many mechanical failures seen in ICE vehicles. Across the dataset, EVs recorded nearly twice as many tire defects as gasoline cars. In lower-mileage EVs, brakes were also flagged more frequently. Researchers linked this to corrosion from infrequent use, as regenerative braking reduces the need for physical friction brakes.
Despite their additional weight, EVs did not show a higher rate of suspension problems. In fact, between 97,000 and 145,000 km, EVs averaged 4.7 suspension defects per 100 tests, while gasoline cars averaged 6.1. EV issues were generally limited to consumable wear-and-tear parts, a benefit attributed to electric drivetrains having fewer mechanical components.
What the MOT does and doesn’t tell us about EV health
The MOT inspection covers safety-critical components but excludes battery health, meaning the study misses key EV longevity factors. MOT tests are legally required annual inspections for cars over three years old in the UK. They check tires, brakes, suspension, steering, lighting, seat belts, vehicle structure, and emissions. The inspection does not evaluate the internal-combustion engine, clutch, gearbox, or, for EVs, battery capacity, degradation, or charging capability.
The battery inspection in an MOT is limited to checking physical security or visible damage when accessible. No diagnostic tool is used to assess capacity retention. The dataset therefore does not capture battery degradation, charging speed, or software problems. However, separate real-world battery studies suggest most modern EV batteries may outlast the useful life of the vehicles. Third-party tools can assess battery health via the OBD-II port. Car Scanner said one of its screens "shows the vehicle’s own battery management system reporting a State of Health (SOH) of 97.6%".
Older EVs show strong return rates for testing
A high proportion of EVs remain in use and return for MOTs even at 15 years, suggesting better real-world longevity than gasoline cars. At 15 years, 94.6% of EVs that reached this age returned for another inspection within 30 months. For gasoline cars of the same age, the return rate was 88.1%. Vehicles absent from the data may have been scrapped, exported, or taken off the road. At 15 years, 94.6% of EVs that reached this age returned for another inspection within 30 months, compared to 88.1% of gasoline cars.
