Australians are buying electric cars in record numbers, with 27,078 battery-powered models registered in August 2026, surpassing petrol and diesel sales. However, the reliability of used electric cars remains a concern. A new UK study analyzed 47.4 million Ministry of Transport tests to assess the durability of used electric vehicles.
The study found that above 60,000 miles, used electric vehicles are more durable than petrol cars, with a failure rate of approximately 16 percent, compared to 23 percent for petrol and diesel vehicles. Among cars aged between three and eight years old, 16.5 percent of electric cars failed tests, compared to 22.1 percent of petrol-powered vehicles.
The research suggests that mileage should not be a major concern for buyers of used electric cars. Toby Poston, chief executive of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, said the data should dispel consumer concerns about the reliability of used electric vehicles. A well-maintained, higher-mileage electric car can be an extremely durable used vehicle, he added.
However, the study did find that used electric cars had more tyre defects than petrol cars, with approximately 1.8 times as many tyre defects recorded. While the study did not analyze battery health, a recent report from AVILOO revealed that battery health varies significantly between models and individual cars of the same model.
Marcus Berger, CEO of AVILOO, said the test results highlighted a significant change among variants of the same electric model. The state of health of a battery can affect a car’s range, value, and reliability, making independent testing essential to determine a car’s battery health. The study’s findings suggest that buyers of used electric cars should consider having the battery tested independently to ensure they know what they are getting.
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