New Study Suggests EVs May Outlast Gas Cars. VinFast Owners Have Reason to Feel Confident

EV owners in the Philippines, particularly VinFast drivers, may take comfort in new research suggesting that electric vehicles can match or even surpass gasoline cars in long-term reliability. With fuel prices remaining volatile and many Filipino drivers weighing the long-term costs of car ownership, questions about durability and maintenance have become key considerations when exploring EV options.

The research was conducted by an automotive research group at Hanoi University of Science and Technology and presented earlier this year at the International Conference on Manufacturing and Production Technology in Malaysia. The team analyzed maintenance records and performance data from nearly 5,700 vehicles operating in Vietnam between 2020 and 2024.

Vietnam has emerged as one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing EV markets, offering a glimpse of how electric mobility could evolve in neighboring countries such as the Philippines, where adoption is still in its early stages.

The dataset included 1,047 VinFast electric vehicles and 4,620 gasoline vehicles operating in Vietnam between 2020 and 2024. The gasoline models came from multiple brands, including VinFast’s earlier internal combustion lineup as well as Hyundai and Chevrolet vehicles.
The goal was to compare how the two types of vehicles hold up over time. To do this, the researchers used three separate approaches: statistical reliability modeling, real-world service data, and controlled mechanical testing.

The first method used reliability modeling to estimate the probability of failures as vehicles age. In the early years, both vehicle types performed similarly. But after roughly 12 years of operation, the curves began to separate. The cumulative failure probability for gasoline vehicles rose above 81%, while electric vehicles remained around 63%. By year 15, gasoline cars approached a 98% probability of failure, compared with about 86% for EVs. 

Other international research has also suggested that modern electric vehicles can remain in service for around 18.4 years on average, approaching the lifespan of gasoline cars and in some cases exceeding diesel vehicles.

The second approach looked at real-world maintenance records. Once vehicles passed roughly 40,000 kilometers, electric cars began showing fewer faults than gasoline models. Between 80,000 and 125,000 kilometers, EV fault rates ranged from 0.021 to 0.029 incidents per 1,000 kilometers, compared with 0.025 to 0.034 for internal combustion vehicles.

The third method involved mechanical testing. In repeated downhill braking tests, brake disc temperatures in gasoline vehicles climbed from about 36.8°C to 147.6°C. Electric vehicles, using regenerative braking to convert kinetic energy back into electricity, showed almost no change, rising only slightly from 33.4°C to around 38.4°C.

“Electric vehicles demonstrate durability both in theory and in real-world conditions. The findings offer a scientific and objective view of long-term vehicle reliability,” said Dr. Dam Hoang Phuc, Associate Professor of Automotive Engineering at Hanoi University of Science and Technology and leader of the research team.

For the Philippines, where EV adoption is gradually gaining momentum, insights like these may help address one of the biggest hesitations among prospective buyers: whether electric vehicles can endure years of daily driving under real-world conditions.

Rising fuel costs have already prompted many Filipino motorists to explore alternatives to traditional gasoline vehicles. As more EV models enter the local market and charging infrastructure continues to expand, studies highlighting the durability of electric vehicles may further strengthen consumer confidence in the technology.

Why the Findings Are Good News for VinFast Drivers
Taken together, the findings point to a structural advantage built into electric vehicles.
An EV powertrain has far fewer moving parts than a gasoline engine. There are no pistons, fuel pumps, exhaust systems, or complex gear assemblies constantly under mechanical stress. Fewer components mean fewer potential failure points, which helps explain why EV fault rates tend to stabilize after the early years of use.

Regenerative braking also plays a role. By converting kinetic energy into electricity when slowing down, the system reduces the workload on physical brake components. Over time, that can translate into less heat buildup, lower wear, and fewer replacements.

The study also found that electric vehicles distribute weight differently. Because the battery pack sits low in the chassis, loads are spread more evenly across the structure. In braking tests, this resulted in lower stress levels on suspension components compared with gasoline vehicles.

For VinFast drivers, these findings are particularly relevant because the dataset itself included more than a thousand VinFast electric vehicles operating in real-world conditions. The analysis therefore reflects how the company’s EV platforms perform over tens of thousands of kilometers, not just theoretical models.

Durability, however, is only part of the equation for motorists considering the shift to electric mobility. In the Philippines, VinFast complements these advantages with programs designed to address common concerns among first-time EV buyers. Its battery subscription program helps reduce upfront vehicle costs while ensuring batteries are maintained and replaced if performance falls below a specified threshold. The company also offers a Residual Value Guarantee (RVG) program, allowing eligible owners to sell their vehicle back to VinFast at a predetermined value based on a fixed depreciation schedule, providing added confidence in long-term vehicle value.

As electric mobility continues to gain traction in the Philippines, evidence like this helps answer one of the most common questions from first-time EV buyers: will the car hold up over time?

Research like the Vietnamese study suggests that electric vehicles are not only cleaner and quieter, but also increasingly dependable as the technology matures.