Electric cars last as long as petrol and diesel vehicles, study finds

A longer lifespan would add to the environmental benefits of an electric car versus a petrol equivalent, because the addition of new wind turbines and solar power to the grid will make the electricity they use cleaner every year.

Battery cars are lasting as long as petrol and diesel cars, according to a study that has found a rapid improvement in electric vehicle (EV) reliability.

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.