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How long does an electric car last? This study provides a precise answer

How long does an electric car last? This study provides a precise answer

A recent study by the London School of Economics attempts to answer a question that many drivers ask themselves: “How long do electric cars last?” The results are interesting. Hint: the answer won’t please the detractors of wattage. 

A team of researchers from the London School of Economics has just published a study in Nature Energy. The authors analyzed data from 30 million vehicles sold between 2005 and 2022 before arriving at an interesting conclusion. According to them, electric cars now have a lifespan equivalent to thermal cars. Little bonus: they are even “more reliable”.  


Lifespan of electric cars: 18.4 years

The researchers relied primarily on information from vehicles sold in the United Kingdom. They believe that "these records are sufficiently detailed to determine the end-of-life date of a car and the type of powertrain used by each of them." To quantify the progress made, the researchers provided some concrete figures. 

The results show that a ‘modern’ electric car has an average lifespan of 18.4 years and can travel an average of 200,000 km before it stops. For comparison, petrol cars have a slightly longer lifespan at 18.7 years on average, but they travel fewer kilometres, around 187,000 km. In practical terms, this means that petrol cars are ‘less reliable’.

Diesel cars have a shorter lifespan (16.3 years), but they are driven much more before they retire: 410,000 km on average. Of course, these are averages and, as you know, mileage can vary from car to car depending on many factors. For example, in the UK, the owner of a Tesla Model S has travelled 700,000 km with the original battery and engine.


The probability of failure decreases each year

The study reveals that while the first electric models had difficulty lasting as long as thermal cars, the evolution of technologies now allows them to play in the same league. The authors specify that "the most recent 100% electric cars can even last longer than equivalent thermal vehicles". The probability of failure has decreased by 12% each year. 

Dr Viet Nguyen-Tien, co-author of the study, said that “our results provide essential information on the lifespan and environmental impact of electric vehicles. They are no longer just a niche option, but a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional vehicles, a step towards a zero-emission future”. However, the researchers recommend that further research on the subject is needed.

Indeed, we are only at the beginning of this new era. “We do not yet know how electric cars will behave in 20 or 30 years”, the researcher says. The cost of replacing batteries is still very high. But the trend could quickly reverse. Another study showed that by 2030, replacing a battery will cost less than repairing a combustion engine.

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