8 Affordable EVs That Last Longer Than Average Gas-Powered Cars

08/05/2024

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Electric vehicles might seem like they’re on the cutting edge of automotive technology, but in some ways, they are simpler than their gasoline-powered forebears. For one thing, EVs have “far fewer moving parts” than gas-powered cars, according to the California-based Ontario Auto Center. This means you don’t have to worry about changing your oil or maintaining an exhaust system.

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It also means EVs should last longer than internal combustion engine vehicles. Ontario Auto Center estimates that with regular use, the average life span of a gas-powered vehicle is 150,000 miles or eight years, while EVs can last up to 200,000 miles, or about 12 years — with some lasting even longer. So what impacts cars’ life span, and what EVs last longer than gas-powered cars?

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What Affects Cars’ Life Span?

As with any vehicle, the expected life span of an EV partly depends on how well you maintain it. Here are some tips from Ontario Auto Center to ensure that your EV stays in good condition and lasts a long time.

Keep your eye on the temperature: You want to avoid extreme hot or cold temperatures, which can negatively impact battery performance. On warm days, park in the shade or in a sheltered space, and on cold days, park in a heated garage.
Avoid fast charging: Fast charging is convenient because it gets a battery fully charged quickly, but it also taxes the vehicle’s systems. Use fast charging only when there is no other option.
Keep the charge level in the middle: Most EV makers recommend never letting the charge be either completely depleted or full. Ideally keep the vehicle somewhere between 20% and 80% charged to extend the battery life.

Similarly, proper care and maintenance are key to keeping a gas-powered car in good shape. That means getting regular oil and filter changes, keeping your tires properly inflated, paying attention to maintenance warnings on the dashboard, and having a trusted mechanic inspect the vehicle regularly to find potential trouble spots.

The best gas-powered cars can last a long time with the right maintenance. An analysis from iSeeCars determined that at least 20 models have a potential life span of at least 230,000 miles, led by the Toyota Sequoia with a potential life span of more than 296,000 miles. Even average gas-powered cars should stay on the road for 150,000 miles or more.

Those are impressive numbers, but they still lag the potential life spans of certain EVs. In 2023, TopSpeed ranked the EVs that are likely to last the longest with the right care and maintenance. Many should last at least 300,000 miles, while some might stay on the road for half a million miles.

To maximize the longevity of your EV, TopSpeed recommends researching models with high ratings for reliability, battery capacity/reliability and range. You should also check the warranty offered by each manufacturer before making a purchase because many cover up to 100,000 miles or eight years.

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