When it comes strictly down to numbers of miles and years, an EV will likely outlast an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. With regular use, the average lifespan of a gas vehicle is 150,000 miles or eight years, and EVs can last up to 200,000 miles, or about 12 years.
What is the lifespan of an electric car? On average, electric cars can last around 200,000 miles or 12 years, which is longer than the lifespan of an average gas car (150,000 miles or 8 years).
Consumer Reports' annual reliability survey has found that new electric vehicles (EVs) have fewer problems today than in the past. But EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are still likely to have more problems compared with both regular hybrid and conventional gas-only vehicles.
Contrary to popular belief, electric cars can last just as long, if not longer, than traditional vehicles. Most EVs can achieve 100,000 to 200,000 miles, or a life span of 10 to 20 years, before needing significant battery replacements, depending on driving habits and maintenance.
An international team of researchers has estimated that an electric car will have a lifespan of 18.4 years, compared with 18.7 years for petrol cars and 16.8 years for diesels, according to a peer-reviewed study published on Friday in the journal Nature Energy.
Lithium ion batteries are lightweight and rechargeable - making them perfect for a travelling vehicle. However, this means that their power capacity will decline over time, much like our handheld devices, resulting in approximately 80% of the original capacity after eight years of daily use.
On average, most car engines are designed to last between 150,000 to 200,000 miles. However, with the right care, many engines can last much longer, even up to 300,000 miles or more. In fact, there are numerous stories of vehicles reaching the 500,000-mile mark with their original engine still intact.
The out-of-pocket cost to replace an electric car battery varies significantly based on different factors, like your vehicle make and model, and whether the EV battery is still under warranty. In general, the price to replace an EV battery no longer under warranty can run anywhere from $5,000 to about $20,000.
While the used Mini Electric tops this chart, the Tesla Model Y gains the highest socre in the electric SUV reliability chart, and it is the highest scoring pure electric model overall. When it comes to reliability, electric cars are mid-league; those in this chart scored 90.7% last year and 87.7% this year.
Electric cars use completely different drivetrains, so you will never have to worry about routine oil changes that are necessary for traditional cars. Though your electric car does not need oil, it requires a routine check on these 3 fluids in EVs; coolant, brake fluid, and windshield washing fluid.
Electric car battery life is designed to last for a distance of at least 200 miles on a charge. Charging stations are also becoming more widely available around the country, so you shouldn't have a problem recharging even when covering a long distance.
Frequent short trips prevent the alternator from adequately charging the battery, leading to a persistent low-charge state. Increased Wear: Starting the car requires a significant amount of energy from the battery. Repeatedly using the battery without giving it a chance to recharge fully can wear it out faster.
Gas: Are EVs More Expensive to Insure? According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, EV insurance costs up to $44 more per month on average than insurance for gas-powered vehicles.
Rain, mud, slush, wind, extreme heat from the sun, can all damage the exteriors of a car for life. Parking your car inside a garage protects it from the elements. Your vehicle has many rubber components that can wear out if they get exposed to the harsh weather and fluctuating temperatures for an extended period.
What is the best electric car? The best electric car is the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6, with an overall score of 8.7 out of 10. The two best luxury electric cars are the 2025 Lucid Air and the 2025 Tesla Model 3, which both have an overall score of 9.2 out of 10.
Drivers in California may expect to pay 30 cents per kWh to charge on Level 2, and 40 cents per kWh for DC fast charging. At these rates, the same Nissan LEAF with a 150-mile range and 40-kWh battery would cost about $12 to fully charge (from empty to full) using Level 2, and $16 with DC fast charging.
Maintenance Comparison
All-electric vehicles typically require less maintenance than conventional vehicles because: The battery, motor, and associated electronics require little to no regular maintenance. There are fewer fluids, such as engine oil, that require regular maintenance.
Are EV batteries typically covered by insurance? An electric car insurance policy may help cover the cost of battery repairs resulting from a collision or a different covered incident, such as a fire. However, repairs for routine wear and tear or mechanical breakdowns would not usually be covered by your insurance.
The type of Tesla model you drive influences how much you'll spend to replace your battery. In general, the Tesla replacement battery cost ranges from $5,000 to $20,000.
The U.S. Department of Energy, meanwhile, predicts today's EV batteries ought to last a good deal past their warranty period, with these packs' service lives clocking in at between 12 and 15 years if used in moderate climates.
In general, most modern cars can cross 200,000 miles without any major issues, provided the vehicle is being well-maintained.
The extent to which EVs catch in any stat is largely driven by what state government incentives have been put in place to make the switch more attractive to consumers, and which states have create policies that force automakers to sell electric vehicles. California recently made headlines when Governor Gavin Newsom ...
If you take care of your engine, regularly change oil and other vital fluids on time and keep up with wear and tear, your engine may very well last 500,000 miles. It might even last forever!