If you have considered buying an electric car, then you probably want to know how long they last. This might include their lifespan, how long they last on a single charge, and how long they last between maintenance checks.
In this guide, I’ll be taking a closer look at how long you should expect your electric car to last. So let’s dive right in.
What Is The Lifespan Of An Electric Car?
Let’s start by looking at traditional gas-powered cars, the lifespans of which are impacted by a number of factors.
These include things such as extreme acceleration/deceleration, towing heavy loads, and pushing your vehicle beyond its limits by driving at fast speeds and revving past its redline.
Failure to complete regular maintenance on your vehicle will also impact its lifespan, but generally a gas vehicle will run for 240,000 kilometers, or 150,000 to 200,000 miles. But what about an electric car?
As electric vehicles have been around for a much shorter period, it is impossible to predict the number of years for which an electric car will run. However, companies who manufacture electric cars do give guarantees that prove electric vehicles will run for a number of years.
For example, Nissan guarantees that the batteries in their electric vehicles will last for 8 years or 100,000 miles.
Most EV manufacturers will provide a guarantee like this one, so if you want a better idea of the lifespan of a specific electric vehicle, you should research how long the manufacturer guarantees the battery for.
How Long Do Electric Cars Last?
Just as gas vehicles are guaranteed for a certain number of miles or kilometers, so are electric vehicles. However, if you are considering purchasing an electric car, it is likely that you want to know more about the vehicle than just its lifespan.
While the lifespan of the vehicle might impact your purchasing decision, it is likely that you will also want to know how long it lasts in other ways before you buy.
In particular, if you are purchasing an electric car, it is likely that you will want to know how long it should last on one charge. Electric vehicles aren’t like gas vehicles, and you can’t just quickly refill them while you are on a road trip.
The time which it takes for an electric car to charge is considerably longer than the time it takes to fill up your tank, which is why it is worth finding out how long your car will last on one charge before you buy.
Likewise, it is a good idea to know how regularly your electric car will require maintenance. So, let’s find out.
On One Charge
The amount of time/distance that your electric vehicle will last on a single charge depends entirely on how powerful the battery is.
Most electric vehicles will have a standard 40 kWh battery. A battery of this size will usually be able to power your vehicle for around 150 miles. How long this lasts you in terms of time will depend on your driving habits.
If you just do small, short distance trips, then you will usually be able to leave around 3 days between charging your vehicle. However, if you are going on a road trip, you will use the 150 miles much quicker, so will have to fill up more regularly.
But it is important to note that not all electric cars will have a 40 kWh battery. Some models of EV, including a number of Tesla models will have a 100 kWh battery. A battery of this size will be able to hold a much larger charge, usually giving you a range of around 375 miles on a single charge.
Without Maintenance
As we have said, the amount of maintenance that is completed on your vehicle will also have a huge impact on its lifespan. Just like gas vehicles, electric cars will also require maintenance. So how often should you do this?
Ideally, you should take your electric car for a service every 2 years. This will ensure that any issues with the vehicle are identified and fixed before they damage the lifespan of your vehicle. If you fail to service your car, then it is likely that you will reduce the lifespan as a result.
Do Gas Cars Last Longer Than Electric Cars?
There is much debate over whether gas cars or electric cars last longer. As electric vehicles are still a fairly recent concept, it is impossible to know for certain whether they will last longer than gas-powered cars.
However, there has been a lot of suggestion that this could be the case due to the fact there are less moving parts in an electric car.
But, if you compare mileage, most gas-powered vehicles are expected to drive for between 150,000 and 200,000 miles. In contrast, electric vehicles are usually only guaranteed for around 100,000 miles.
Of course, gas-powered vehicles will require a lot of maintenance in order to hit this mileage, but it is still almost double the amount which electric cars are guaranteed for. So, there really is a lot of debate on this topic.
However, no matter whether you have an electric car or a gas-powered car, the only way to guarantee its lifespan is to complete regular maintenance on your car. So, if you want your car to last, take it to the garage regularly.
Summary
In short, most electric cars will come with a guarantee from the manufacturer. Typically, this guarantee is around 8 years or 100,000 miles. But the lifespan of your vehicle will be impacted by a number of factors, including your driving habits, and how regularly you service it.
Thank you for reading!
He made this website to help answer people’s questions about new technologies, green vehicles, and as the title suggests, really anything to do with zero emission vehicles.
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