Electric car parts life expectancy: How long an EV lasts?

Electric car life expectancy

EV technology is not as matured as combustion engine technology. Battery technology is a field where a lot of researches going on. In the previous post, we discussed the life expectancy of the electric car battery. This is the third and final part of the electric car life expectancy blog series.

First part was about the electric car motor life.

In this post, we are going to discuss other components in an electric car and their life expectancy.

Electric Car Life Expectancy – Blog Series

  1. Life expectancy of electric car motor
  2. Life expectancy of electric car battery
  3. Life expectancy of electric vehicle components

Why is an electric car important? Environmental pollution, depletion of fossil fuels, etc. focus the attention of manufactures to the green electric vehicle.

Do you know how many moving parts does an electric car have?

An Electric car has 1 by 10th number of moving parts of a conventional car. Obviously, the wear and tear will be less in an electric car. Let’s consider the different parts of an electric vehicle, and discuss what would be the life expectancy of each part.

Parts of an Electric Car and How long they last?

Battery and Motor are the main parts of an electric vehicle. Different types of batteries are explained here and motors are explained here.

#1 Transmission system

Battery electric vehicle does not have traditional gears as that of conventional vehicles. Gears in an electric car are much simpler than that of conventional vehicle gears.

Hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have gear and transmission systems and they are more complicated than conventional vehicles. Power split mechanisms etc. are additional parts in HEV to split the power from ICE and Electric machine and to transfer to the wheels.

#2 Brakes in an EV

Conventional vehicles use friction braking and electric cars can have regenerative braking. An electric car with regenerative braking increases the life expectancy of the brakes.

It avoids the use of friction brakes frequently and hence improves the life of brakes. Electric vehicle brakes shall be replaced as soon as they get damaged.

The total life of the vehicle would not much be affected by the life expectancy of brakes. Brakes are less expensive than other components such as battery and motor.

#3 Power electronics components

Electric vehicles contain a power electronics converters, charging circuits, and other circuits for auxiliaries. Internal combustion engine vehicles have the electronics circuits to supply the auxiliaries.

Circuit failure in conventional vehicles can not be considered as vehicle failure. But the power electronics circuit’s failure in electric vehicle stops the working of the vehicle itself.

#4 Mechanical parts and body of EV

Other mechanical parts of an electric vehicle are long-lasting. Their life expectancy is similar to that of a conventional vehicle.

Safety requirements of a vehicle make manufacturers build the body of vehicle strong. So they last for more than 15 years.

Electric car life expectancy

An electric car usually lasts for 8 years. The battery of the electric car is the most expensive component in an EV.

Vehicle manufacturers guarantee 3 to 7 years for the batteries and more for electric motors. So, proper maintenance of an electric car would help it to last more than 8 years.

Since EVs are the future of transport, vehicle manufacturers try to increase the life expectancy of vehicle.

Electric cars are economical if they last for long. Otherwise, the initial cost of EV would be a burden on the customers compared to a conventional vehicle.


Electric cars have an expected life expectancy of a minimum of 8 years. Both battery and motor of an electric vehicle last for these many years. Even though the technology is not as matured as conventional vehicles, EVs life is comparable with their life.

Key points

  • EV battery is an expensive component
  • Motor and vehicle body last long (more than 10 years)
  • Electronics parts also last long
  • The average life of an EV can be considered as 8 years