Anyone who strikes early faces a problem

Anyone who opts for an electric car early on sees difficulties ahead. Over time, the battery goes flat, and it needs to be replaced – or the vehicle will be resold. But e-car drivers are faced with a Herculean task.

Hardly a chance for used electric cars

Anyone who has wondered after a few years that the cell phone battery suddenly loses performance noticeably knows the problem that e-cars also face: Batteries are not made to last forever, their capacity decreases over the years . The older an electric car, the weaker the battery becomes.

What you can then do as an owner is dig deep into your pocket. If the battery drains excessively, drivers can turn to the manufacturers, who guarantee a certain capacity for years. But if the guarantee does not apply, it will be expensive – after all, the battery is still the most expensive component in an electric car.

Many German drivers are used to the days of combustion engines: if the repairs get expensive, you can always sell them on and buy a new car yourself. But with e-cars, this option is practically non-existent: In a survey by Civey, there were only 29 percent of those surveyed indicated that a used electric car would be an option for them (Source: Automobilwoche via electric car news). 55 percent, on the other hand, would only buy new electric cars.

We have put together a small, basic battery customer for you in the video:

E-cars: It’s not worth selling

The used car market for e-cars faces several problems: The lack of clarity about the condition of the battery is causing problems little interest from potential buyers and low prices – especially the older the vehicles are. The first generation of e-cars should soon become practically unsaleable.

The industry relies on ever more efficient batteries with high performance and range for new cars – another reason to buy new, because older ones can’t keep up. Funding also plays a role here. It’s not impossible to get a subsidy for a used vehicle, but the chances are minimal. Consumer protection is therefore calling for a fundamental overhaul of e-car subsidies. Until then, owners of an e-car will have to accept the fact that the value of the Stromer falls quickly and deeply.